Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-29
Waste Is Too Great,
Says Commission.
INVENTORY IN REPORT.
Shows Available Land, Water,
Trees and Minerals.

The national conservation commits
sion, appointed in May, 1908, to make
an inventory of the natural resources
of the United States and recommend
measures for their conservation, has
made its report to President Roose-
welt.
In transmitting the report to con-
gress the president sent a special mes
sage commencing the work of the
commission and declaring that its sub
feet was of the utmost Importance to
this generation and to posterity.
The report reads as follows:
The President, the White House:
Sir-Herewith l have the honor to
place in your hands the report of the
national conservation commission, Gre
ated by you June 8, 1908. to inquire
into and advise you as to the condi-
fion of our natural resources and to
cooperate with other bodies created
for similar purposes by the states.
The mass of material which consti-
flutes the inventory has been summarize
ed under the direction of the secre-
faries of the respective sections Of the
commission so as to assemble the most
salient points of the inventory.
In view Of the peculiarly valuable
contributions and services rendered by
experts of the several executive de
partments, the commission at its clos
ing session unanimously adopted the
following resolutions:
"Whereas. The commission, In the
discharge of the duties committed to
It, has-heenl greatly edded by the pa.
tent labors and the ability and zeal
OF It's secretary and the secretary of
each of it's four sections and of the
experts In the government service,
who lent their assistance In the col
lection of statistical and other data
necessary to the calculation and prop
er understanding of the subjects dealt
with and to the preparation of Its re-
port; therefore,
"Resolved, That the commission here
by makes cordial acknowledgment of
its obligation to the gentlemen refer
red to and tenders them its thanks"
In addition, | desire to call your spe-
cial attention to the spirit and devo-
tion of the gentlemen without whose
services the making of the national in
ventory would have been impossible.
In it's cooperation with other bodies
created for similar purposes by the
states the national conservation COM
mission has had most valuable assist
ance.
The report herewith submitted was
unanimously approved by the joint
conservation conference. Further ac-
ton was taken by the conference In
authorizing a joint committee on CO.
operation, to be composed of six mem
beers of state conservation commissions
and three members Of the national
conservation commission, with Its
chairman and secretary. This commit
tee is to devise ways and means for
effective cooperation between all
forces working for the conservation of
natural resources. BY this action the
conservation movement enters the field
of definite constructive work, for
which its labors in ascertaining the
country's present status and future
outlook were simply preparatory.
Very respectfully,
CLIFFORD PINCHOT,
Chairman.
Report Of the National Conservation
Commission
The duty Of man to man, on which
the integrity of nations must rest, is
no higher than the duty Of each gem
GRAFTON to the next, and the obligation
of the nation to each actual citizen is
no more sacred than the obligation to
the citizen to be, who In turn must
bilities.
In this country, blessed with natural
u in unsurpassed profusion,
the sense of responsibility to the future
has been slow to awaken. In the
growth of the country and gradual de-
velopment of the natural resources
there have been three noteworthy
stages. The first stage was that of in
dividual enterprise for personal and
family benefit. 1t led to the conquest
of the wilderness.
The next stage was that of collective
enterprise. either for the benefit of
communities or for the profit of indi-
viduals forming the communities. 1t
led to the development of cities and
states and too often to the growth Of
great m~onopolies.
The third stage is the one we are
now entering. Within 1t the enterprise