The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-22
ASKS NATION
TO SAVE SELF
President Presents a Ringing
Message To-day
----
ON CONSERVING RES0UCES
Permanent Welfare of Our People Can
not Exist Save on Firm Foundation
of Material Well Being
He Declared.
ON CONSERVING RESOUCES

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 n the rightful heritage Of pos
terity in natural resources is to be pre-
served.
The message says:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatiyes:
/ transmit herewith report Of the
national conservation commission, to-
gether via 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 conserya-
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 | heartily concur. and
rommand 1t TO the thoughtful considera-
ton both OF the congress and Of our
people generally. II Is one Of the most
fundamentally important documents
ever laid before the American people.
1t contains the first inventory OF its
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 conditions upon which
the perpetuity. safety and welfare OF
this nation now rest and must always
continue to rest. II 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 a time, II need
be, smaller and less vital questions.
shah concentrate an effective part of
our attention upon the great material
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
win be indispensable for dealing intel.
ligently with what we have II sup
plies as close an approximation to the
actual facts as it was possible to pre-
pare with the knowledge and time
available. The progress Of our knowi-
edge Of this country viii 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
hat time many Of our resources viii
be practically gone. 1t is not neces-
sarg that this inventory should be ex-
net la every minute detail. It Is essen
tial that II should correctly describe
the general situation and that the
present inventory does. AS it stands
/ is an irrefutable proof that the conl
;ervation Of our resources Is the fun
iamental question before this nation
ind that our 6rst and greatest task IL
ID set eur house In order and begin to
I've within our means.
The first Of all considerations Is the |
welfare Of our people, and |
rue moral welfare, the highest form |
II welfare, cannot permanently exist |
ave on Arm and lasting foundation /
II material well being. In this re- |
Ipect our situation Is far from salts
'actory. After every possible allow
Ince has been made and when every /
lopeful indication has been given its
ull weight the facts still give reason /
or grave concern. 1t would be I'M
worthy OF our history and our intelli /
renee and disastrous to our future to
hut our eyes to these facts or attempt |
o laugh them out Of court. The peo-
lie sheuid and win rightly demand /
hat the great fundamental questions
han be given attention by their repre-
entatives. l do not advise hasty or
Il considered action on disputed /
,oints, but l do urge. where the facts
re known, where the public interest
! clear. that neither indiffererce and
nertia nor adverse private interests
hal be allowed to stand in the way
L the public good.
Our Responsibility For the Future.
The great basic facts are already
vell known. We know that our popu-
atom Il now adding about one-ffth to
IS numbers in ten years and that by
be middle Of the present century per
APPS $50. 900. 600 Americans and by its
nd very many millions more must be
ed and clothed from the products Of
ur soil. with the steady growth 10
opulation and the still more rapid In
rease IN consumption our people viii
ereafter make greater and not less
emands per capita upon all the natu-
al resources for their livelihood. com.
OFT and convenience. It Is high time
D realize that cur responsibility to the
oming millions IS Ike that Of parents
) their children and that in wasting
ur resources we are wroHging our de-
cendants.
We know now that our rivers can
nd should be made % serve our PEG