The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-01-28
Presidents Message PrOClalms
Need Of Conserving COun-
tY's Resources.
REPORT OF NATIONAL
CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Enent Constitute an Imperative Call
to Acknowledgement Welfare Of
Our People Cannot Exist Save on a
Firm Foundation Of Material Well
Being"-He Defends General Course
of His Administration.
y Washington, Jan. %. - President
Roosevelt sent to congress today
message transmitting the report of the
national conservation commission. He
prefaces the report with his own com
ment. stating in vigorous terms his
conviction that immediate action Is
needed II 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:
transmit herewith 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 I'm this
city between the national conserva-
ton commission and governors Of
states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees of great
organizations of citizens. II is there.
fore In a peculiar sense representative
of the whole nation and all its parts.
With the statements and conclusions
of this report I heartily concur. and
commend II to the thoughtful considera
ton both of the congress and Of our
people generally. 1t is one OF the most
fundamentally important documents
ever lnid before the American people
1t contains the first inventory of its
natural resources ever made by any
nation. In condensed form It presents
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 now rest and must always
continue to rest. 1t deserves and should
have the widest possible distribution
among the people.
The facts set forth I'm this report
constitute an imperative call to action.
The situation they d 'closc demands
that we, neglcctjn, for a time, t. uocA
be, smaller and less vital questions,
shan concentrate an effective part Of
our attention upon the great material
foundations of national existence, prog
ress and prosperity.
Immediate Action Needed.
This Rrst inventory Of natural re-
sources prepared by the national con.
servation commission is undoubtedly
but the beginning of series which
will he indispensable for dealing intel
ligently with what we have. 1t sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts us It 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 estl
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-
AT In every minute detail. II is essen
tial that 1t should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. AS 1t stands
II IA an irrefutable proof that the con-
servation OF our resources is the fun
damentai question before this nation
and that our first and greatest task is
to set our house In order and begin TO
live within our means.
The first of all considerations 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 well being. In this re-
spect our situation is far from salts
factory. After every possible allow
ance has been made and when every
hopeful Indication has been given its
full weight the facts still give reason
for grave concern. 1t would be un-
worthy of our history and our intelli-
gence and disastrous to our future to
shut our eyes to these facts or attempt
TO laugh them out Of court. The peo-
pie should and viii rightly demand
that the great fundamental questions
shall be given attention by their repre-
sentatives. ] do not advise hasty or
Ill considered action ON disputed
points, but ! do urge where the facts
are known, where the public interest
Is clear, that neither indifference and
inertia nor adverse private interests
shall be allowed to stand In the way
OF the public good
Our Responsibility For the Future.
The great basic facts are already
well known. We know that our popu
lation is now adding about one-fifth 10
ats numbers I'm ten years and that by
4he middle OF the present century per
haps 150,000.OO0 .. ...nerIeans and by Its
end very many millions more must be
fed and clothed from the products OF
n..w coll NUfth tho ofaaAy 0roUfh N