The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-22

The use of the public grazing lands
should be regulated in such ways as to
improve and conserve their value.
Rights to the surface of the public
land should be separated from rights to
forests upon it and to minerals beneath
it. and these should be subject to sepa-
The coal. oil, gas. and phosphate rights
should be Withdrawn from entry and
leased under conditions favorable for
economic development
Waste of Minerals.
The accompanying reports show that
the consumption of nearly all Of our min
eral products is increasing more rapidly
is about one-sixth of our product, or
nearly 100000 for each working day in
teria1s through fire is about another miI-
lion a day The loss of life in the mines
losses of life and property can be avoided.
Our mineral resources are limited in
9radn5yd anT can t nos Re rapT 9r
rate of consumption the supply will be ex-
hausted while yet the nation is in its in
or substitutes are found. Further inveSti-
cation is urgently needed in order to inn
prove. methods and to develop and supply
substitutes.
It is of the utmost Importance that a
bureau of mines be established in accord
ance with the pending bill to reduce the
loss of life in mines and the waste of min
eral resources and to investigate the
the duration of our mineral supplies. Both
the need and the public demand for such
a bureau are rapidly becoming more ur-
gent It should Cooperate with the states
in supplying data to serve as a basis for
the state mine regulations. The establish
transfer from other bureaus of work
which it is agreed should be transferred
and slightly enlarged and reorgan1zed
for these purposes.
Conclusions Reached.
The joint conference already mentioned
adopted two resolutions to which l call
oil aff o g n
tended to promote cooperation between
the state and the nation upon all of the
great questions here discussed. 1t is as
Resolved, That a joint committee be
SIX members of state conservation COM
missions and three members of the ma
duty 1t shall be to prepare and present to
the state and national commissions, and
through them. to the governors and the
organizations concerned with the conser-
walton of natural resources. (On motion
Chairman and secretary of the conference
were added to and constituted part of
The second resolution of the joint con-
ference to which l refer calls upon the
congress to provide the means for such
munity of interest among all our people
in the great natural resources runs
walton commission and the proceedings of
the joint conference. These resources,
fare, can be wisely developed, rightly
used, and prudently conserved only by
the common action of all the people,
acting through their representatives in
state and nation. Hence the fundamental
necessity for cooperation. Without it we
shall accomplish but little, and that little
badly The resolution follows:
We also especially urge on the congress
of the United States the high desirability
Of maintaining a national commission on
the conservation of the resources of the
country, empowered to cooperate with
state commissions to the end that every
sovereign commonwealth and every sec
ton of the country may attain the high
degree of prosperity and the sureness OF
perpetuity naturally arising in the album
dant resources and the vigor, intelligence,
and patriotism of our people.
In this recommendation / most heartily
concur, and I urge that an appropriation
of at least so, 900 be made to cover the ex-
penses of the national conservation com
mission for necessary rent, assistance,
and travelling expenses. This is a very
small sum. I know of no other way in
which the appropriation of small a
sum would result in so large benefit to
the whole nation.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The White House, January %, 1909.