The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-05
EBERHART's ADDRESS.


The following is the opening ad-
dress this forenoon. delivered by Gov
ernor A. o. Eberhart, of Minnesota:
The conservation of national re-
sources does not consist merely in the
preservation of these resources for the
er such present use thereof as will
result in the general good and yet
maintain that productive power which
insures continued future enjoyment.
While it is true that exhaustible re-
sources like mineral wealth cannot be
conserved for both future and pres
ent use, except by economic regula-
tons and the prevention of wasteful
methods, conservation deals with their
distribution in such a way as to pre-
vent their control by grlsping corpor-
atoms and individuals, who would
monopolize them for their own ex-
elusive benefit at the expense of the
general public.
It follows necessarily that any the
DRY of conservation which does not
provide for the present as well as the
future, does not cover the entire field
and cannot possibly bring the best
results. From every economic stand
point it is desirable, that the present
generation should be preferred, since
future discoveries and inventions may
render present resources of less val.
ue and importance to the coming gen
erations.
| It Is Not Limited.
In its broadest sense the conserva.
ton movement is not limited merely
to the consideration of natural re-.
sources. Every great convention
called to consider the problems in
volved has widened the scope of the
movement so that today it includes
the elimination OF wasteful methods
in almost every field of human activ.
ity and the conservation of all human
endeavor so as to confer on all man
kind the greatest blessings that q
bounteous nature and twenty centur
les of enlightenment can bestow.
Every consideration Of natural re
sources for the purpose of eliminating
wasteful methods, preserving and in
creasing productive power, as well as
regulating operation and control, has
for its ultimate object the conserva
ton of human energy, health and life
the securing of equal opportunities for
all, and such dissemination of know
ledge as will guarantee the continual
possession and enjoyment Of these
blessings. The subjects for consider
alton by this congress should, there
fore, include not only the restoration
and increase of soil fertility, the pro
lection and development of forests
mines and water powers, the reclama
ton OF arid and swamp lands by irri
cation and drainage, the forestation Of
areas unsuited to farming, the control
Of rivers by reservoirs so as to pre-
vent flooding, as we'll as the elimina
ton of waste in the use of these re
sources, but also the problems Of pub
lie schools, public highways. state ad
vertising and settlement, pure food
public health and sanitation.
Soil Most Important.
BY far the most important OF al
natural resources is the soil, and the
maintenance and increase of its fer
4
greatest consideration. As long Al
food is necessary to human life, agri
culture must continue to be the most
vital industry of man, and the farm
win be the most general and indispen
sable theater of his activity. We must
have manufactures. art, schools
churches and government to round out
our sphere OF civilized existence. blu,
the foundation of them all is the farm
From the earth come all the mater
ials for manufactures. the commodi
ties of commerce. and ultimately the
support Of all human institutions. Dur
ing the half century just past oul
country has devoted its energies to +,
he development Of manufacturing and
commercial industries to such an ex