Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-01-29
GOVERNORS REPORT
ROOSEVELT SHOWS CONGRESS
THEIR CONCLUSIONS.
Most Remarkable Document Ever Laid
Before the American People-Shows
Inventory of Natural Resources
Calls Attention to Conditions on
Which Future Welfare Depends.

In submitting to congress special
message transmitting the report of the
national conservation commission Presi-
dent Roosevelt said:
"This report, which is the outgrowth
of the conference OF governors last
May, was unanimously approved by the
oint conference held in Washington, D G
between the national conservation COM
mission and governors of states, state
conservation commission and conserva-
tion committees of great organizations
Df citizens. 1t is therefore in a peculiar
sense representative of the whole ma
tion and all its parts.
cit is one of the most fundamentally
important documents ever laid before
the American people. 1t contains the
first inventory of it's natural resources
ever made by any nation. In condensed
form it presents a statement of our
available capital in material resources,
which are the means of progress, and
calls attention to the essential condi-
lions upon which the perpetuity, safety
and welfare of this nation now rest
and must always continue to rest.
"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, shah
concentrate an effective part of our
attention upon the great material foun-
dations of national existence, progress
and prosperity.
"The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu-
lation is now adding about one-ffth to
its numbers in 10 years and that by the
middle of the present century perhaps
15O,00O 900 Americans, and by its end
very many millions more, must be fed
and clothed from the products of our
soil. With the steady growth in popu-
latlon and the still more rapid increase
IN consumption our people will hereafter
make greater and not less demands per
capita upon all the natural resources for
their livelihood, comfort and conven-
fence. 1t is high time to realize that
our responsibility to the coming millions
is like that of parents to other children,
and that in wasting our resources we
are wronging our descendants. -
The president urges an appropriation
of $4,000 to carry on the conservation
work outlined through cooperation of
state and federal commissions Immedi-
ate action is urged in the formation of
a mass of astonishing statistics. 1t shows
that the mineral production of the
United States for 1907 exceeded So, OOO,-
100000, and contributed IS per cent of
the total freight traffic of the country.
The waste in the extraction and treat
ment of mineral products during the
same year was equivalent to more than
$300,0 100000. The available and easily
accessible supplies of coal in the United
States aggregate approximately 1,400,-
00000000 tons. At the present in
creasing rate of production this supply
will be SO depleted as to approach ex-
haustion before the middle of the next
century.
The known supply of high grade iron
ores in the United States approximates
3,840,000,000 tons, which ,at the present
increasing rate of consumption can not
be expected to last beyond the middle
of the present century.
The known supply of petroleum is
estimated at 100000 to 100000
100000 barrels. The production is
rapidly increasing, while the wastes and
the loss through misuse are enormous.
The supply can not be expected to last
beyond the middle of the present cen
fury.
The known natural gas fields aggre-
gate an area of 5000 square miles. The
daily waste of natural gas-the most
perfect known fuels over 100000
900 cubic feet, or enough to supply
every city in the United States of over
100000 population.
There is urgent need for greater
safety to the miner. The loss of life
through mine accidents is appalling and
preventive measures can not be taken
too soon.
The total land area of continental
United States is 1,9OO,0O0,000 acres. OF
this but little more than two-ffths is
in farms, and less than one-half of the
farm area is improved and made 6
source of crop production. The value
of the farms is nearly one-fourth the
wealth of the United States There
are more than 300,OO0,OOO acres of pub
lie grazing land. The number of per
sons engaged in agricultural pursuits
is more than 100000.
The area of cultivated land may pos
sibly be doubled. In addition to the
land awaiting the pillow, 75,00O000 acres
of swamp land can be reclaimed, 40,
100000 acres of desert land irrigated
and millions of acres of brush anC
wooded land cleared. The average yielt
of wheat in the United States is les
than IA bushels per acre, in Germany
% bushels and in England 80 bushels
We get 80 bushels of oats per acre
England nearly As and Germany more
than At. Our soils are fertile, but ou1
mode of farming neither conserves the
soil nor secures full crop returns. Sol
fertility need not be diminished, bu
may be increased The large yield
now obtained from farms in Europ
which have been cultivated for thou
sand years prove this conclusively
Proper management will double on
average yield per acre.
We grow one-ffth of the world
wheat crop, three-ffths of its cOttol
crop and fourth-ffths of it's corn croI
We plant. nearly 5O,OOO,ooO acres o
wheat annually, with an average yiel
of about IA bushels per acre; 100000
900 acres of corn, yielding an averag
of rs bushels per acre; and 100000
acres of cotton, yielding about $4,000
Ill