The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-29
SPECIAL
MESSAGE
SUBMITTED BY PRESI-
DENT TO CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT SENDS REPORT OF
GOVERNORS MEETING HELD
LAST MAY.

In submitting to congress a special
message transmitting the report of the
national conservation commission Presi-
dent Roosevelt said:
"This report, which is the outgrowth
of the conference Of governors last
May, was unanimously approved by the
Joint conference held in Washington, d G
between the national conservation COM
mission and governors OF states, state
conservation commission and conserva-
ton committees OF great organizations
of citizens. 1t is therefore in peculiar
sense representative Of the whole ma
ton and all it's parts.
cit is one of the most fundamentally
important documents ever laid before
the American people. 1t contains the
first inventory of it's natural resources
ever made by any nation. In condensed
form it presents statement Of our
available capital in material resources,
which are the means OF progress, and
calls attention to the essential condi-
tons upon which the perpetuity, safety
and welfare Of this nation now rest
and must always continue to rest.
"The facts set forth in this report
constitute an imperative call to action.
The situation they disclose demands that
we, neglecting for time, if need be,
smaller and less vital questions, shall
concentrate an effective part of our
attention upon the great material foun-
dations of national existence, progress
and prosperity.
"The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu-
lation is now adding about one-ffth to
its numbers in 10 years and that by the
middle of the present century perhaps
150,O00,000 Americans, and by it's end
very many millions more, must be fed
and clothed from the products of our
soil. With the steady growth in popu-
lation and the still more rapid increase
in consumption our people will hereafter
make greater and not less demands per
capita upon all the natural resources for
their livelihood, comfort and conven-
fence. 1t is high time to realize that
our responsibility to the coming millions
is like that of parents to other children,
and that in wasting our resources we
are wronging our descendants. -
The president urges an appropriation
of $4,000 to carry on the conservation
work outlined through cooperation Of
state and federal commissions. Immedi-
ate action is urged in the formation of
these commissions. The report presents
mass of astonishing statistics. 1t shows
that the mineral production of the
United States for 1907 exceeded So ,000,-
100000, and contributed IS per cent of
the total freight traffic of the country.
The waste in the extraction and treat
ment of mineral products during the
same year was equivalent to more than
$300,000,00O. The available and easily
accessible supplies OF coal in the United
States aggregate approximately 1,4OO,-
OO0,0O0,000 tons. At the present in
creasing rate of production this supply
will be so depleted as to approach ex-
haustion before the middle Of the next
century.
The known supply of high grade iron
ores in the United States approximates
3,s4O,00O,00O tons, which at the present
increasing rate of consumption can not
be expected to last beyond the middle
of the present century.
The known supply of petroleum is
estimated at 15,OOO,00O,o0O to 100000
100000 barrels. The production is
rapidly increasing, while the wastes and
the loss through misuse are enormous.
hO supply CdH HUI uo eApcCIeu CO ldSI
beyond the middle of the present cen
fury.
The known natural gas fields aggre-
gate an area of 5000 square miles. The
daily waste of natural gas-the most
perfect known fuels over 100000
900 cubic feet, or enough to supply
every city in the United States of over
100000 population:
There is urgent need for greater
safety to the miner. The loss of life
through mine accidents is appalling and
preventive measures can not be taken
too soon.
The total land area of continental
United States is 1900, 100000 acres Of
this but little more than two-fifths is
in farms, and less than one-half of the
farm area is improved and made a
source of crop production. The value
OF the farms is nearly one-fourth the
wealth of the United States. There
are more than 100000 acres of pub
lie grazing land. The number of per-
sons engaged in agricultural pursuits
is more than 100000.
The area of cultivated land may pos
sibly be doubled. In addition. to the
land awaiting the pillow, 100000 acres
OF swamp land can be reclaimed, 49,
100000 acres of desert land irrigated
and millions of acres of brush and
wooded land cleared. The average yield
of wheat in the United States is less
than IA bushels per acre, in Germany
% bushels and in England 80 bushels.
We get 80 bushels of oats per acre,
England nearly As and Germany more
than AZ. Our soils are fertile, but our
mode of farming neither conserves the
soil nor secures full crop returns. Soil
fertility need not be diminished, but
may be increased. The large yields
now obtained from farms in Europe
which have been cultivated for thou
sand years prove this conclusively.
Proper management will double our
average yield per acre.
We grow one-ffth of the world s
wheat crop, three-ffths of it's cotton
crop and fourth-ffths of its corn crop.
We plant nearly 50,0O0,O00 acres of
wheat annually, with an average weld
of about IA bushels per acre; 100000
600 acres of corn, yielding an average
of 25 bushels per acre; and 30,000,000