Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-06
CONSERVATIVE PLANS
WILL BE DISCUSSED
MEXICO AND CANADA BOTH
KEENLY INTERESTED
Method of Checking and Preventing
Forest Fires to Be Considered by
Conference In Washington

WASHINGTON, March 5.--Keen in
terest is being manifested as to what
will be the program of subjects OF the
North American conservation CONFER
ence between representatives of Cam
ada, Mexico and the United states IN
this city February is. In his letter to
President Diaz of Mexico and Lord
Grey of Canada, President Roosevelt
outlined as the purpose of the confer
ence the consideration of mutual In
terests involved in the conservation or
natural resources" and the preparation
of "a general plan adapted to promote
the welfare of the nations concerned
There is a pretty well defined feeling,
however, that definite topics will have
to be discussed. That the Canadians
take this view is indicated by the fact
that they have sent to the national
conservation commission compilations
of specific regulations governing the
disposal of their natural resources.
Last summers forest fires on both
sides of the line between the United
States and Canada are so recent In the
minds of both countries that undoubt-
eddy the possibility of some co-opera-
tive scheme of fire protection is likely
to be touched on. There are other i'm
portant international questions con-
corning natural resources which can
hardly fail of consideration.
The Canadian and Mexican delegates
to the conference are coming prepared
to contribute suggestions and to receive
them. Their representatives at the in
ternational meeting will be prominent
specialists on the various phases of the
subject to- be discussed.
Canada Follows Suit
Conservation has not been limited to
the United States. Early last year, for
inc Of hn
perlands in British Columbia, except
what has been leased, was placed in
forest reserves. This action was taken
to check waste by bringing the care
and cutting of timber resources more
cffectually under government control.
The action affected 150,000,000 acres-as
much land as was put into all national
forests of this country up to 1907. In
the Yukon all water power rights are
granted for only twenty years, and at
the expiration of that time their con-
troll reverts to the public.
The water power question is one OF
the most important and far-reaching
before the United States today. Presi-
dent Diaz of Mexico has a comprehen-
sive knowledge of forestry, and under
stands fully the benefits to be gained
by it's application. He is also deeply
interested in the Improvement of agri-
cultural methods, and the farmers OF
the country are rapidly adopting scfen-
tific methods. Mexico has few large
waterways, but the nation has provided
for the expenditure of several million
dollars for the improvement of internal
navigation.
Recent discussion in the Canadian
parliament of President RooseSelts
proposal for cooperation for the COIL
servation of the natural resources of
the whole continent indicates that the
support of the conservation movement
in the dominion will be as thoroughly
non-partisan, as it is in the United
States. r. l.. Borden. leader of the OPP
position, was as enthusiastic In his sup
port as was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
premier, who expressed his deepest ap-
prevail of the movement.