Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-08


his hearers the fact that conservation
has become national duty and must
he looked at from a new point of
view and accomplished by new meth
ods of developing and using the nat
ural resources OF the country. His
address was the feature of the days
program and was listened to by
throng that tested the capacity of the
hall and that frequently applauded
the coloneps vigorous language. The
address in full was as follows:
Americas reputation for efficiency
STANDS deservedy high throughout the
world. We are efficient probably to the
Tull-iimit that any nation can attain by
1he methods hitherto used. There is great
reason to be proud of our achievements.
ana yet no reason to believe that we can
not excel our past. Through practically
unresrained individualism. we have
reached pitch of literary unexampled
material prosperity; although the distri-
button OF this prosperity leaves much to
De desired from the standpoint of Justice
ana 1a1r dealing. But we have not only
allowed the individual free hand. which
was in the main right; we have also al
lowed great corporations to act as though
tney We're individuals, and to exercise the
rights of individuals, in addition to using
the vast combined power Of high orsanI-
cation and enormous wealth for their own
advantage This development Of corpo-
rate action, 1t Is true, Is doubtless In
large part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopment of our natural resources, but it
is not less responsible for waste destruc-
tlon, and monopoly on an equally gigantic
scale
The method of reckless and uncon-
trolled private use and waste has done
for us all the good It ever can, and 1t is
time to put end to 1t before 1t does all
the evil it easily may. We have passed
the time when Needless waste and de-
struc0on, and arrogant monopoly, are
any longer permissible Henceforth we
must seek National efficiency by new
and better way, by the way Of the or
derly development and use, coupled with
the preservation, of our natural resources
by making the most OF what we hava for
the benefit of all of US, instead of leaving
the SOURCES Of material prosperity open
TO indiscriminate exploitation. These are
some Of the reasons why 1T Is wise that
we should abandon the old point Of view,
and why conservation has become g pa
triodc duty.
Waterways Development.
One Of the greatest Of our conservation
problems is the wise and prompt Develop
ment and use of the waterways of this
Nation. The Twin Cities, lying as they
do at the heedwaters Of the Mississippi,
are not upon the direct line Of tho pro-
posed lakes ia the gulf deem u.tervyev
Yet they are deeply Interested in its
prompt completion, as well as In the
deepening and regulation of the M5ssjs-
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 Creat
Lakes should not be abandoned. The
lakes to the gulf deep waterway end
the DEVELOPMENT Of the rivers which flow
into It, should be rushed to connletion
vigorously and without DELAY.
In nearly every river city from ST pauI
to the gulf the waterfront Is controlled
by the railways. Nearly every artificial
waterway in the Tinted states eitber Al.
rectly or Indirectly. is under the same
control. 1t goes without saying that Gun
less the people prevent 1t In advance) the
railways will attempt to take control Of
our waterways as fast as they are i'm
proved and completed: nor would blame
them, II we, the people. are suptne In the
matter. We must see to it that adequate
terminals are provided in every CITY and
town on every improved waterway. termi-
mails open under reasonable conditions to
the use of every citizen. and rizdly pro-
tected against monopoly; and we must
compel the railways to cooperate with
the waterways continuously. effectively
and under reasonable conditions Unless
we do so the railway lines will refuse to
deliver freight to the boat lines. either
openly or by imposing prohibitory condi-
tons. and the waterways once improved
will do comparatively little for the bene-
ut Of the people who pay tho bill
Adequate terminals properly controlled
and open through lines by rail and boat
are two absolutely essential conditions to
the usefulness of inland waterway devel-
opment I believe Furthermore that the
railways should be prohibited from own
ing, controlling, or carrying any interest
IN the boat lines on our rivers, unless
under the strictest regulation and control
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission
60 that the shippers interests may be
1u1ly protected.
he National Forests.
If any proof were needed that forest
protection is a National duty, the recent
destruction Of forests in the west by IRE
would supply II. Even with the aid Of
the army added to that Of the forest
service the loss has been severe. With
out eieher IL wouio nave been vastly
- f.,
ouI llc IOIe6t service Goes more than