The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-25

G. Grosvener Dave. managing director
Of the Southern Commercial Congress, de-
Nverod an address last week before the
Commercial Law League Of America at
Narragansett Pier on the subject OF the
Conservation Of national resources and
legislative provision" The address was
made to lawyers, and dealt chiefly with
those subjects coming 10 the front in a
legislative way for the conservation Of
the natural resources Of the United
States.
After explaining to his hearers that the
legislative labors Of the nineteenth century
were directed chiefly to working out the
relation between man and his neighbor
Mr.. Dave said that a new thought dawn
Cd upon the minds Of men with the TWEEN
tleth century. which may be formulated
as mans relation 10 the unborn, or con-
servatlon He said that the legislation Of
the coming years would be largely in the
nature OF provision.
Speaker Defines Conservation.
Mr.. Dave defined conservation as fol-
lows:
1T does not mean ceasing 20 use. ii
does not mean choking of wise business
enterprise. 1t does not mean a mawkish
sentimentallty regarding those whose
voices we shall never hear. X does mean
using. not abusing; transforming, not
wasting. enjoying. but not eXhausting. II
means that our acts OF to-day must be
shaped In such way as 20 hold dear and
safeguard the interests Of human beings
who may come 100, 900, or 1000 years af-
ter we have disappeared from the earth.
when we once catch the thought OF
conservation we see Immediately that IL
touches every phase Of our races being.
The conservation Of childhood and Of coal
mines. of water powers and waste sub
stances. all affect the latter days upon
the earth.
Thus conservation comes 70 have a
broad significance. and it's result will be
TO write that nation down as greatest
whose units have the keenest sense OF re-
sponsibility In relation TO the race.
Mineral, Soil, Water Power.
I'VE viii consider the gifts Of nature
IN minerals. soils. and water. For practi-
cal discussion we may say that the
waters coming down from the hills will
flow on forever. being dependent upon
the restless winds that drink their I'M
from the ocean. In practice. however,
these streams have a tendency TO wide
fluctuations wherever the head Of the
stream lies IN bare mountain tops. There
fore. while streams may last forever, the
destruction Of soil covering. and con-
sequent vegetable growth. means that
those streams through fluctuations car
fail TO render an enduring service to man
"As the waterpowers OF the country
are sufficient II chained 20 operate every
IL.
train and boat. and light every city. town
and villege IN the country. the right con
troll OF water becomes Of apparent i'm
portance. Thus, II waterpowers viii en-
dure as long as the earth Is habitable
they will ultimately become mans sol,
dependence for purposes above mere
existence.
should Protect the Soil.
1.-THE surface Of the earth is covered
with soil, which represents chemical
action through ages. The action of water
and air upon rocky substances tends "a
disintegrate them and this sets free sub
stances for plant food. and the plants In
their turn. through the chemical action
Of death or decay, return 10 the soil part
Of that which they took away. Covered
with vegetation. this soil year after year
patiently renders It's benson to man, II
he gives It kindly and proper attention
Left bare by the plow. ridged by the
scooter. and lighter than the rocks. rair
has within its power the possibility oil
sweeping away the soil and carrying II
away, either to the ocean or to the river
bed. or Of depositing part Of It upon the
delta lands Of the great rivers
when that soil Is gone. Il is gone
and the slow chemical processes Of ages
Will be required to restore IT, Further
more, as only through the soil can ",
grow food, the conservation Of the soil &
vital necessity.
There IS an additional reason To-
striving 10 conserve the soil. becaus
wien II is washed away by the rain int,
the streams those streams themselves be
come shoaled and in many cases un
navigable Thus the robbery Of the lant
surface has resulted In additional ex
pense I'm keeping rivers open Perhap
the most decided example Is in the cas-
Of the Sacramento River, whose naviga
bility became greatly impaired through
the hydraulic mining in the upper por
lions Of the river. Another example (
furnished by the Mississippi, which. con
stantly carrying silt with It on its jour
uey toward the Gulf. raises its own bed
and thus levees have 20 be raised 81
order 10 keep back the rising crest Of tn
Father Of Waters.
Waste OF Minerals.
Now. II you will look with me beneatl
the surface Of the earth. you will hn
there great gifts awaiting mans us
which carry with them even NOR
visible responsibility than the flowing
river and the impulse of nature 10 cloth
the earth with verdure.
Beneath the soil are hidden thou
sands Of substances called mineral. The,
have been placed there through chemical
volcanic, and constructive processes owe
myriads Of years.
If you go into a coal mine and knocl
off a piece Of coal though the surface o
that coal looks fresh and shiny, II !
true that It has lain in it's present posi-
ton for long ages before man ever IN
habited the earth. You take II IN you
hand and you see the evidence OF a tim
when the earth was different from N
present, when vegetation was devourin
the carbon IN the air and fastening
FOR use OF man IN the latter days.
You throw the coal into a kitche
stove In q little while the constituen
parts have broken up. and nothing bu
ashes remain. The lump OF coal is s
common that people fail to realize IN
meaning Of its disappearance. You ca
burn wood and new wood can grow; bu