The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-31
this purpose upoD which the doctrine OF
conservation of resources is based.

this purpose upoD which the doctrine OF
conservation of resources is based.
"This does not mean that the state
should check development by endeavor-
ing to save for the future what the
citizen of today needs for his own use.
1t means that the citizen of today, In
the use of this material, while he has
a right to what he needs, he has no
right to waste to misuse that which
he does not need today, but which his
children and his children's children will
need hereafter For he neither created,
nor can he add to these resources, no.
replace them by others when the present
supply has been once exhausted. lie
can and should, however, mine, prepare,
and use these resources with the least
possible waste, and with the greatest
possible efficiency; and it is the duty o.
the state to see that this is done.
Generations come and go. The lie
of the individual is short; his pur-
poses and ambitions relate to temper
airy purposes and present proflts. me
state goes on forever and must safe
guard It's own future. In recent nota-
BE, decision the United States supreme
court says: The state as the guardian
of the public welfare possesses the
constitutional right to insist that It's
natural advantages shall remain un-
impaired by its citizens
I'm developing and carrying out this
purpose 1t Is natural and proper that
the state should employ its own. geol-
oglsts and engineers and chemists; that
it should make use of the facilities
of its university, and that it should
teach the new purpose to its univer-
sity students as well as to its maturer
citizens.
THE geologist and the engineer In
the employ of private capital must look
primarily for present profits. The geol
ogist and engineer in the employ OF
the state must give primary consider
alton to the public welfare; and tn e
public welfare requires that which in
the development and use of material re-
sources present profit cannot be neg
lected and must not be made impos-
sible. The way must be found of
using the resources of the state with
| minimum waste in order that while
not preventing the profit of today re-
sources not needed for today may be
safeguarded for the needs of tomor-
row.
Must Have a Rational Basis
1.-THE enthusiast in preaching conser-
walton of resources has often done
harm to the doctrine by claiming that
in order to perpetuate the state re-
| sources for future use, there should
be curtailment in the use of these re-
sources today. But among intelligent
people, like the average citizen al
| the United States, any doctrine to sue
| coed must have rational basis. And
the man who asks the question: Why
concern ourselves about the future sup
ply of mineral resources which seen
to be inexhaustible?" must be given q
rational answer.
I'VE may as well understand that
the man of this generation will not
mine. extract or use the states min
eral resources in such manner as tt
entail financial loss to himself in or
der that supply may be left for the
Use of the future. There will be nj
mineral Industries with out profit t.
those who make Investments for de-