The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-09-10
THEODORE ROOSEVELT ON
OUR NATIONAL EFFICIENCY
In Address Before the Conservation Congress
at St. Paul He Says New Methods of De-
veloping and Using Natural Resource.
of Country Are Needed.

~~>>~Os '~S>OU ~oAoA ~oS So0oys AOA k4Ct
President Roosevelt impressed on
his hearers the fact that conservation
has become a national duty and must
be looked at from a new point of
view and accomplished by new meth
DDS OF developing and using the nat
ural resources of the country His
address was the feature of the days
fogram and was listened to BY a
throng that tested the capacitr OF the
hall and that frequently ar ,lauded
the colonels vigorous language. The
address in full was as follows:
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedy high throughout tho
world We are efficient probably to the
fuN-limt that any nation can attain by
The methods hitherto used There IL great
reason to be proud of our achievements,
and yet no reason to believe that we can
not excel our past. Through a practically
0nrestrained individualism, we have
reached q pitch of literary unexampled
material prosperity although the distri-
couon OF this prosperity leaves much to
% desired from the standpoint of Justice
ana fair 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
they were individuals and to exercise tho
rights of individuals, in addition to using
the vast combined power of high organi-
satfon and enormous wealth for their own
advantage. This development of corpo-
rate action. II 10 true. is doubtless in
large part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopment Of our natural resources but It
70 not less responsible for waste, destruc-
ton. and monopoly on an equally gigantic
scale.
The method Of reckless and uncon-
trolled private and waste has done
for ALL the RoNd M Il
time to put an end to It before It does all
the evil 1t easily may. We have passed
the time when needless waste and de-
struction. and arrogant monopoly. are
any longer permissible. Henceforth we
must seek National efficiency by a new
and better way. by the way Of the or
derry development and use. coupled with
the preservation. OF our natural resources
BY making the most of what We have for
the beneft Of all OF US, instead Of leaving
The sources of material prosperity open
70 indiscriminate exploitation. These are
some Of the reasons why II IL wise that
We should abandon tho old point of view
and why conservation has become . ps-
triotic duty.
! waterways Development.
Ono Of the greatest Of our conservation
Droblems II the wise and prompt Develop
ment and use Of the waterways Of this
Nation. Tho Twin Cities. lying as they
do At the headwaters Of the Mississippi
posed lakes to the gulf deep waterway.
Yet they are deeply interested in its
prompt completion. as we'll as in the
deepening and regulation Of the Mssis-
sfppi 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
Lakes. should not be abandoned. Tho
lakes to the gulf deep waterway. and
the development Of the rivers which flow
into ahn,1H he ahAd to lafyon
vigorously and without delay.
In nearly every river city from St Paul
70 the gulf the waterfront Is controlled
by the railways. Nearly every artificial
waterway in the United States, either d.
rectly or indirectly IL under the same
control n goes without saying that hIn-
less the peoole prevent It in advanced the
railways will attempt to take control Of
our waterways as fast thew i'm
proved and completed: nor would blame
matter. We must see to It that adequate
terminals are provided in every city and
town on everv improved waterway. termi-
mails open under reasonable conditions to
the use of every citizen. and rigidly 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 nres will refuse to
deliver freight to the boat lines either
openly or bv imposing prohfbitorv condi-
tions. and the WATERWAYS once improved
will do comparatively little for the bene-
Mt ~ the people who pay the bill
ADEQUATE terminals properly controlled
and open through lines bv rail md boat
are two absolutely essential conditions to
the usefulness Of inland waterway devel-
Hopment. I believe furtherrnore that the
railways should be prohibited from own
ing. confroll're. or carving anv interest
IN the boat lines on our rivers, unless
under the str'ctest regulation and control
of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
20 that the shippers' interests may be
fully protected.
The National Forests.
II anv proof were needed that forest
protection IL National duty. the recent
destruction Of forests in the west bv fire
would supply II. Even with the aid Of
the armv added to that of the forest
service the loss has been severe With
out either It would have been vastly
greater.
But tho forest service does more than
protect the National forests against nre.
It makes them practically and Increasing
" useful as we'll. During the last year
for which have the figures the National
forests were used nv 1000 cattlemen
with their herds. 5000 sheepmen with
their hocks. 5000 timbermen with their
crews. and 5000 miners. More than
$500 persons used them for other special
industries. Nearly 1870 settlers had
the free use of wood. The total resident
population of the National forests is
about quarter Of million. which II
larger than the population of certain
states More than 100000 acres Of ag-
ricultural land have been patented or
listed for patent within the forests and
the reports OF the forest ofIlcers show
that more than 10000 people a year use
the forests for recreation, camping, hunt
ing. fishing. and similar purposes All
this IL done, OF course. without injury to
the timber. which has a value Of at least
. thousand million dollars. Moreover,
the National forests protect the water
supply OF q Thousand cities and towns.
about 100 irrigation projects, and more
than 800 power projects. not counting
the use Of water for these and other pur-
poses by Individual settlers
Country Life InsfIfuta