New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-23
IFroHa The Tribune Bureau

Washington. Jan. 22.-President Roosevelt to-
hay submitted 10 Congress the report Of the
National Conservation Commission, which is one
Of the results Of the conference of Governors.
and makes strong plea for the preservation of
The natural resources of the country. Accom-
J1anyfng the document is an Introductory mes
sage from the President. in which he urges Sc
ricus consideration Of the report and an appro-
griation Of S50G0o for the continuance of the
commission. He declares that the report is one
of the most fundamentally important docu-
snents ever laid before the American people"
and that j. Contains the first inventory OF its
natural resources ever made by any nation"
To the members of Congress who read the re-
port to-day the necessity for immediate action
on many OF the recommendations became evi-
dent and from the expressions heard at the
capitol il seems improbable that the present ses-
sion viii PASS without some legislation along
fhe lines suggested by The commission and sec
bnded by the President.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Presidents message follows:
no the Senate and House of Representatives:
! transmit herewith report of the National
Conservation Commission, together with the &C
Conpanying papers This report, which is the
outsrowth of the conference of Governors last
May. was unanimously approved by the recent
soint conference held in this CITY between the
National Conservation Commission and Gov
errors OF states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees of great organiza-
Elons Of citizens. II is therefore IN q peculiar
sense representative Of the whole nation and all
fts parts
With the statements and conclusions Of this
report heartily concur and / commend IL TO
the thoughtful consideration both OF the Con-
Eress and OF our people generally. 1t is one of
the most fundamentally important documents
ever laid before the American people 1t con-
aains the first inventory OF its natural resources
ever made by any nation In condensed form il
presents s statement of our available capital in
material resources, which are the means Of
progress, and calls attention TO the essential
conditions upon which the perpetuity, safety and
welfare Of this nation rest and must always
continue 10 rest. II deserves and should have
the widest possible distribution among the peo-
PIE
The facts forth in this report constitute
an imperative call TO action. The situation they
disclose demands that we. neglecting for a time
If need be- smaller and less vital questions. shall
concentrate an effective part Of attention
upon the great material foundations Of national
existence, progress and prosperity
This first inventory of natural resources pre-
pared by the National Conservation Commission
IS undoubtedly but The beginning of a series
which viii be Indispensable for dealing intelli-
gently with what We have. II supplies as close
an approximation TO the actual facts as IL was
possible 10 prepare with the knowledge and time
aNsuaole The progress of knowledge Of
this country viii continually lead 10 more accu-
rate information and better use Of the sources
Of national strength. But we cannot defer ac-
ton until complete accuracy in the estimates
can be reached. because before that time many OF
our resources viii be practically gone II is NOT
necessary that this inventory should he exact in
every minute detail 1t is essential that il
should correctly describe the general situation;
and that the present inventory does As II
stands il is irrefutable proof that the con
servRtion Of our resources is the fundamental
question before this nation, and that our first