Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-22
Popular Discussion OF Conservation
And Development.

for bringing the residents of the ru-
raj districts into closer relations with
town and city dwellers. Minnesota has
hit upon the NEST unique, as we'll as
what appears now to be most effec-
tive. The farmers of Minnesota last
week met in what was termed a con-
servaton congress for the purpose of
discussing, net alone the conserva-
tior of the resources of the State, but
also to discuss the greater problems
of agricultural development. The
50 far as politics were concerned The
delegates represented the best farm
crs in every township, and all branches
Of industrial and commercial and pro-
fessional activity.
TIL state needs good roads, it
reeds the improvement of vacant
lands, the development of water pow
| CT. the conservation OF the timber sup
ply, the exploitation Of its very eX-
standing and more extensive use of in
tensivc cultivation, 4 better control Of
tie cutting Of forests and regulation
Of the use Of streams. All these sub
| jects were discussed by men who were
capable OF telling their hearers some
thing worth listening to concerning
| the Suhject closest to them
The idea was conceived by the gov
| error Of the state and he found men
| everywhere enthusiastically in favor
! of il. The response to, his call for
| delegates was spontaneous in every
city, town and county of that great
| state. Naturally the greater number
| of delegates We're farmers so that
| probably the assemblage represented
more nearly the vital business aC-
! tIvities of that state than any other
| body of men ever gathered together
| within it's borders.
The delegates discussed the various
subjects from the standpoint of men
who have had practical experience.
whose opinions have been Influenced
by long hours of toll who are willing
to surrender their own views when
their good judgment tells them that
the other fellow is right. and who,
having met and discussed these ques-
| tions, could go home and make in
telligent use of the new ideas adj
| vanced. Such gathering for such a
purpose would be a wonderful force
for better conditions in any state. 1t
! removes the feeling OF antagonism
when often times retards the develop
ment of closer relations between rural
and urban populations.
1t is the hope of those who promoted
the Minnesota congress that the
movement will spread to other states
TO this end the congress has been
made permanent and will be enlarged
through county and town conservation
| and development clubs until the state
10 VIII OuSHIy t5oHlICu INSTRUCTION
in pertinent subjects will be pro-
vided in the schools and the state
legislature will be asked to provide
for similar work in the state schools.
Coupled with it, will be d campaign
of publicity calculated to increase
Mlnnesotas population, from 26 per-
sons per square mile to a figure near
cr the 100 persons per square mile
which obtains in New England or the
l76, which obtains in New York.
An esteemed contemporary, the
Portland Express Advertiser. in com
menting upon the Minnesota conven-
ton says;
why should not Maine have a
conservation congress? There is
great interest in the idea of
conservation of the natural re-
sources of the State of Maine, the
idea has so spread as to include
nearly all our citizenship. The
events of the past five years have
served to call this matter very
iO''S'NiS ~ liz dlltIlltH OI the
people OF the State. Governor Fer
maid. both on the stump. in his
campaign, and in his inaugural ad-
dress to the last Legislature.
spoke with special reference TO the
I Importance of this subject to our
people.
Would it not be Well and is it
not entirely feasible that the peo-
pie themselves should come to-
sether either directly or by repre-
senfatives, to consider how the in
terasts of the public may be best
served in these directions Min
nesota has set the pace and Il state
conservation congress is now as
Sembled in the capital of that
state. The purpose is first to call
attention to the wonderful posi-
bilities which the state affords
with its $1,000, 900 acres of arabic
land Of which only 100000 are
| now under cultivation. Maine has
its problems of a not unlike ma
ture, and though these have been
! studied and exploited by its
statesmen, by the state Board of