The Ordway new era., 1910-09-09
CONSERVATION IS
PATRIOTIC DUTY
Roosevelt at st. Paul Advocates
New Methods.
WASTE AND MONOPOLY WRONG
waterways and Forests Discussed
etate and Federal controi-Coun-
Try Life Institute 10
Favored.

st. Paul. Mimi. Sept. 6.-Theodore
the conservation congress today. and
delivered an address that called forth
the warmest praise Of those who
were fortunate enough to hear It. The
fact that the former president was to
speak attracted to the convention hall
. tremendous crowd. and the man
who has made conservation ono Of
the chief Issues in the United States
was given the heartiest kind OF .
greeting.
Taking National Efficiency" for his
general subject. Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedy high throughout the
world. We are eMc!ent probably to the
full-lirnit tha, any nation can attain BY
the methods hitherto used There 10 great
reason to be proud OF our achievements.
a1d yet no reason TO believe that we can
not excel our past Through . practically
unrestrained ind!r!duaitsm. we have
reached a pitch Of literary unexanpled
material property; although the distT!-
button Of this prosperity leaves much to
~ desired from the standpoint Of Justice
and fair dealing. But we have not only
allowed the individual . free hand. which
W. IN Inv Ih1ln ElB1t. w nave 4t8o ~
tewsd great corporations to act a. though
they were individuals. and to exercise the
TiShts Of individuals. in addition to using
The vast combined power OF high oreani-
sAtion and enormous wealth for their own
ADVANTAGE. This development Of eorpo-
rate action. II 10 true. 10 doubtless in
large part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopment Of our natural resources. but II
b not less responsible for waste. destruc-
t3on. and monopoly on an equally gigantic
scale.
The method Of reckless and uneon-
trol1ed private use and waste has done
fer Us all the good II ever can. and II 10
uns to put an end to It before Il does all
the evil II easily may. We have passed
the time when heedless waste and de-
struction. and arrogant monopoly. are
any longer permissible Henceforth w
and . better way. by the way OF the Or
derby development and use. coupled with
the preservation. Of our natural resources
By making tho most Of what We have for
the benefit Of all Of Us. instead Of leaving
the sources Of material prosperity open
some Of the reasons why II 10 wise that
We should abandon the old point Of view.
and why conservation has become . pa
triotic duty.
waterways Development.
One Of the greatest Of our conservation
nent and use Of the waterways of this
Nation. Tho Twin Cities. lying a. they
DO At the headwaters OF the Mississippi.
are not upon the direct limo Of the pro-
posed lakes to the gulf deep waterway.
Yet they are deeply Interested in its
prompt completion. ns well a. in the
deepening and regulation Of the Nlssis-
sippi to the mouth OF the Missouri and to
the gulf. The project for a great trunk
waterway. an arm Of the sea. extending
from the Gulf Of Mexico to the Great
Lakss. should not be abandoned. The
The development Of the rivers which flow
into II. should be pushed to completion
and without DELAY.
In nearly every river city from 81. Paul
20 the gulf the waterfront Is controlled
by the RAILWAYS. Nearly every artinciel
waterway in 'he United States. either d.
rectlv or Indirectly. IL under the same
control. II goes without saying that fun-
less the p~on'e prevent II in advance) the
railwn~s will attempt to take control Of
our waterways ms fast thev are i'm
proved and completed: nor would blame
them. n We. tho people. are supin~ In the
matter. We must SOC to II that adequate
terminals nrc provided in every citv and
town pn every improved waterway. termi-
nals open under reasonable conditions to
the rse of every citizen. and rigidly pro-
tect~d avainst monopolv: and we must
tn" waterways continuous,v erec.'v~lv
and under reasonable conditions. Unless
We do sn tho railway lines Will refuse to
deliver fr"'rht to the boat lines. either
onenly or b. imposing prohihitorv rond,-
tinns. and ". waterway. once improved
will do rnrnparativ"lv rttle for the bcne-
NJ ~ tho Droplr who paw tho bill
Adenret" terminals properly controlled
and op~n fhrourh lines nv rail- :nd boat
are two absolutely essential conditions To
n" u."fu'-e-s of inI,nd waterway devel-
opment. believe Furthermore that the
railways should be prohibited from own
ing. controll'n~. or carving anv interest
In the boat lines on our rivers. unless
under tho str'ctest regulation and control
Of ~" Inter State Cornm-rr" Commission.
- that N" shippers interests may he
fully protected.
The National Forests.
II nnv proof werc needed that forest
protection Is n National duty. the recent
destruction Of forests In the west bv fre
would supply II. Even with the aid OF
the nrmv added to that Of the forest
service the los, has been severe with
out either II would have been vastly
greater.
But tho forest service does more than
protect the National forests against FIRE.
1t makes them practically and increasing
ly useful as we'll. During the last year
for which have the figures the National
with their herds. 5000 sheepmen with
their focks. 5.ooo timbermen with their
crews. and 5000 miners. More than
E.ooo persons used them for other special
Industries. Nearly "a. .oon settlers had
the free Of wood. The total resident
population Of the National forests IL
about quarter of million which Is
larger than the population Of certain
states. More than 100000 acres of az
ricultural land have been patented or
listed for patent within the forests, and
the reports OF the forest officers show
that more than 100000 people a year use
the forests for recreation. camping. hunt
Ing. fishing. and similar purposes. All
.his Is done. of course. without injury to
the timber. which has value Of at least
= thousand million dollars Moreover,
the National forests protect tho water
supply of thousand cities and towns
about 40 irrigation projects. and more
Than 800 power projects. not counting
she use Of water for these and other pur-