Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1909-01-29

Presidents Message Proclalnls
Need Of Conserving C0un-
tfy's Resources. 81.
REPORT. OF NATIONAL. j.. 81 &.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION

!. On Sending Il to Congress- Executive
Declares Facts Contained In Docu
! snent Constitute ain imperative Col
20 Acknowledgement Welfare o.
| Our People Cannot Exist Save on j..
| Firm Foundation Of Material Wei
4 9oins"-He Defends General Courss
!, OF He Administration.
Washington, Jan. a. - President
Roosevelt sent to congress today 9
message transmitting the report Of the
national conservation commission. &c
prefaces the report with his own com.
ment, stating in vigorous terms his
conviction that immediate action d
needed If the rightful heritage Of pos.
terity in natural resources is to be pre-
served.
The message says:
To the Senate and House Of. Repre-.
sentatives:
1transmit herewith q report of the
national conservation commission, to.
gether with the accompanying papers
This report, which is the outgrowth
Of the conference Of governors last
May, was unanimously approved by
the recent joint conference held in this
city between the national conserva.
ton commission and governors OF
states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees of great
organizations Of citizens. It Is there.
fore in peculiar sense representative
of the whole nation and all it's parts.
With the statements and conclusions
Of this report I heartily concur, and I
commend 1t to the thoughtful considera.
ton both Of the congress and Of our
people generally. 1t Ia one Of the most
fundamentally important documents
ever laid before the American people.
1t contains the first inventory Of ita
natural resources ever made by any
nation. In condensed form 1t presents
q statement of our available capital in
material resources, which are ( the
<3AoAAo VI pASE3AOSop o1AA dtlCAt1UN
10 the essential conditions upon which
the perpetuity, safety and welfare of
this nation now rest and must always
continue to rest. 1t deserves and should
have the widest possible distribution
among the people.
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
foundations Of national existence, prog
ress and prosperity.
Immediate Action Needed.
This first inventory Of natural re-
sources prepared by the national con-
servation commission is undoubtedly
but the beginning Of series which
Will be Indispensable for dealing intel
ltgently with what we have 1t sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts as 1t was possible to pre-
pare with the knowledge and time
available. The progress Of our knowl-
edge Of this country will continually
lead to more accurate Information and
better use Of the sources of national
strength. But we cannot defer action
until complete accuracy in the esti-
mates can be reached, because before
that time many Of our resources will
be practically gone. 1t Is not neces-
sary that this inventory should be ex-
act In every minute detail. 1t is essen
tial sthat it should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. AS it stands
1t is an irrefutable~ proof that the con.
servation Of our resources is the fun
damental question before this nation
and that our first and greatest task ia
to set our house In order and begin to
live within our means.
The first of all consfdera tons is the
permanent welfare Of our people, and
true moral welfare, the highest form
of welfare, cannot permanently exist
save on firm and lasting foundation
Of material we'll being. In this re-
5gpect our situation is far from salts
Factory. After every possible allow.
,ance has been made and when every
hopeful indication has been given ite
full weight the facts still give reason
for grave concern. 1t would be un-
worthy Of our history and our intelli-
genee and disastrous to our future to
shut cur eyes to these facts or attempt
TO laugh them out of court. The PEG.
pie should and win rightly demand
that the great fundamental question
shall be given attention by their repre-.
Sentatives. do not advise hasty OF
all considered action on !: disputed
points, but 1 do urge. where the facts
are known, where the public interest
III clear, that neither Indifference and
inertia nor adverse private interests
shall be allowed to stand In the way
aoe the public good. 5 .Es III: +: 4,
Our nj Responsibility For tis Future. /
The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu:
5sation 10 now adding about one-hftt, b
Ills numbers in ten years and that b.
The mid die o4 the present century Per.
haps 100. 900, 600 Americans and BY hi
Rna very many millions more must be