The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-01-28

| people 11uSL De CileChSu OT lnelT DfOtec-
weakened. If we compare the actual fro
damage on similar areas on private and
year, the government fire patrol saved
commercial timber worth as much as thd
total cost of caring for all national forl
1 especially to the ~congrcsd
the facts presented, by the commission al
stream flow in its bearing upon the imi
portance of the forest lands in nationa!
ownership. Without an understanding Of
both these natural ~source must large;
ly fall.
The time has fully arrived for recognize
Ing In the law the responsibility to tbs
community, the state. and the nation
which rests, upon the private owners OF
would SO handle his forest as to causA
erosion and to inJure stream flow must
be not only educated, but he must ba
controlled. .
The report Of the National Conservation
commission says:
Forests in private ownership can not be-
fire. We need good fire laws. well ins
forced. Fire control is impossible with
out an adequate force of men whose sold
duty is fire patrol during the dangerous
| season. 4.
I hold as first among the tasks befora
the states and the nation in their re-
spective shares in forest conservation the
organization of efficient fire patrols and
III VI 6SOA IA Jaws ol lay
part of the states. !
The report says further: |
Present tax laws prevent reforestatioa
upon the land itself, exclusive of the TIM
IS well adapted to actual conditions on
forest investment and Is practicable and,
certain. 1t is far better that forest land
than that 1t should pay an excessive rev..
enue temporarily and then cease to yield
at all.
Second only. in Importance to good fire
laws. we'll inforced. is the enactment of
tax laws which will permit the perpetua-
ton OF existing forests by use.
Lands. .
With our increasing population the time
is not far distant when the problem of
supplying our people with food will be-
come pressing. The possible additions to
become necessary to obtain much larger
crops from the land, as is now done in
more densely settled countries. To do
better strains of wheat, corn. and other
crop plants, with a reduction in losses
from soil erosion and from insects. ami
mails, and other enemies Of agriculture.
The United States department. Of agricul-
ture Is doing excellent work in these d.,
ported.
The remaining public lands should be
classified and the arabic lands disposed
OF to home makers. In their interest the
timber n stone act and the commute
ton clause of the homestead act should
be repealed, and the desert land law
should be modified In accordance with
the recommendations Of the Publ Lands
commission.
should be regulated IN such ways as to!
improve and conserve their alu
Rights to the surface of the public land
should be separated from rights to for
ests upon 1T and to minerals beneath it,,
and these should be subject to separate
disposal.
still remaining with the government
should be Withdraw from entry and
Minerals.
The accompanying reports show that
the consumption Of nearly all of our min
an our population. Our mineral waste
y about one-sixth of our product, or
nearly 100000 for each working day in
through fire is about another million a
day: The loss of life in the mines is APP
palling.. The larger part of these losses of
life and property can be wooded.
Our mineral resources are limited in
quantity, and can not be incresead or re-
p paes ef Mi5h the , [papi slgni 1ncr n!;H ng
exhausted While yet the nation is in its
infancy, unless better methods are de-
Investigation is urgently needed in order
to Improve methods and to develop and
apply substances.
~ . vi vic Nv lllIlJolIdIlCS lIldl Il
bureau of mines be established in accord
ance with the pending bill to reduce the
loss Of life in mines and the waste of
mineral resources and to investigate the
methods and substitutes for prolonging
the duration. OF our mineral supplies.
Both the need and the public demand for
such a bureau are rapidly becoming more
Urgent. 1t should cooperate with the
hhta s;s I'll IN supplying data to serve as a
enlistment OF this bureau will mean
merely the transfer from other bureaus
o. o., n w9rK Th and , II Is agreed should "nd b, be
organized for these purposes.
Conclusions.
The joint conference already mentioned
your special attention. The first was in
tended to promote cooperation between
the states and the nation upon all of the
f5Hle 3 questions mere discussed. 1t Is as
Resolved. That a Joint committee be
appointed BY the chairman, to consist OF
missions and three members Of the Ma
ttonai Conservation commission. whose
the state and national commissions. and
through them to the governors and the
president, a plan for united action by all
walton of natural resources" (Onm motor
Of o6,, Gnyerno or, Noel. OF Miss,sslppi: thu
ence were added to and constituted 9
part of this committeel.
The second resolution Of the Joint con.
W Which, REFER Calls upon TIT
Congress- to provide the means for suc CT
cooperation. The principle OF the com
munity of interest among ali our people
in the great natural resources run.
through the report of the National Con
servation commission and the proceeding:
of the joint conference. These resources
which form the common basis of gu
welfare. can be wisely developed, right.
used. and prudently conserved ONLY b,
the common action of all the people, act
Ing through their representatives in stat,
and nation. Hence the fundamental ne
cessity for cooperation. Without It W,
shall accomplish bur little. and that littl,
badly. Tho resolution follows:
w also especially urge on the con
Eress of the United States the high de
! STABILITY OF maintaining a national com
mission on the conservation OF the re
sources Of the country. empowered to CO
operate with state commissions to the en-,
! that every. sovereign commonwealth AM
every section of the country may attain
. the high degree of prosperity and tn,
sureness. of perpetuity naturally arising
In the abundant resources and the vigor
Intelligence and patriotism of our people
In this recommendation I most hearth,
. concur. and I urge that an appropriate
> OF at least $4,000 be made to cover tn,
expenses Of the National Conservatiol
commission Tor necessary rent. assistance
s and travelling expenses. This is a yer.
which the appropriation Of 50 small
!. sum would result in SO large q benedt Il
D the Who nAtiona