Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-06


the individual a free hand. which w9s
In the main right. we have also allowed
great corporations to act as though
they were individuals, AID to exer, lie
the rights OF individuals, IN addition
to using the vast combined power OF
high organization and enormous wealth
for their own advantage. This devel-
opment OF corporate action, IL Is trre.
is doubtless IN large part responsible
for tho gigantic development OF cur
natural resources. but II Is not less ic-
sponsibe for waste. destruction, and
monopoly ON an equally gigantic scale.
WATERWAYS PROBLEM
one OF the greatest OF our conserva-
tion problems is the wise and prompt
development and use OF the waterways
OF this nation. The Twin cities, lying
as they do at the headwaters OF the
Mississippi, are not uron the direct line
OF the proposed lakes 10 the gulf deep
waterway. Yet they are deeply inter
ested In ts prompt completion, as VOL
as In the deepening and regulation of
the Mississippi 10 the mouth OF the
Missouri and to the gul' The projec.
for a great trunk waterway. an arm
OF the sea. extending from the Gulf Of
Mexico to the great lakes. should rot
be abandoned The lake - The gulf
deep waterway. and the development
OF the rivers which flow into It, should
be pushed to completion vigorcusly AMI
without delay But we must recognize
at the outset that there are certain on
ditions without which the people can
not hope to derive from II the benefits
they have right 20 expect
WATER FRONT CONTROL
In nearly every river city from St
Paul 10 the gulf the water front Is con
trolled by the railways. Nearly every
artificial waterway In the United states.
either directly or indirectly, II under
the same control. II goes without say
ing that (unless the people prevent II
In advanced the railways will attempt 20
take control Of our waterways as fast
as they are improved and completed,
nor would ! blame them. II we the poo
pie are supinc In the matter We
must see to II that adequate terminals
are provided in every city and town on
cvery improved waterway terminals
open under reasonable conditions to the
use OF every citizen, and rlgidly protect
ed against monopoly; and we must com
pei the railways to cooperate with the
waterways continuously. effectively
and under reasonable conditions Tn
less we do so the railway lines VIII
refuse to deliver freight to the boat
lines. either openly or by imposing no
hibitory conditions. and the waterways
once improved will do comparatively
little for the benefit Of the people who
pay the bill
NATIONAL FORESTS.
The people Of the United States be
lievc In the complete and rounded de-
velopment Of inland waterways for all
the useful purposes they can be MADE
TO serve They believe also In forest
protection and forest extension. Tho
fight for our national forests In the
l.. A . ta.0.
IN which the women of Minnesota did
work which should secure to them the
perpetual gratitude OF their state, MIN
nesutaa won her national forest, and
win keep ~ but the fight to create the
Southern Appalachian and white Noun
tain forests In the east Is not yet over.
The bill has passed the house and will
como before the senate for vote next
February The people of the United
States. regardless OF party or section.
should stand soidly behind II. and
see that their representatives do like
wise.
II any proof we're needed that forest
protection Is a national duty, the re-
cent destruction OF forests IN the west
by fire would supply II. Even with the
aid Of tho army added to that OF the
forest service the loss has been severe.
Without either II would have been vast
~ greater.
But the forest service does moro than
protect the national forests against
fire. II makes them practically and In
crcasingly useful as well. During the
last year for which / have figures the
national forests were used by 22.0O0
cattlemen with their herds, and $1,000
miners. More than 5000 persons used
them for other special Industries.
Nearly $4,000 settlers had the free use
OF wood The total resident population
Of the national forest Is about q quarter
OF n million, which is larger than the
population OF certain states
COUNTRY LIFE.
The Investigations Of the country
life commission have led the farmers OF
this country to realize that they have
not been getting their fair share OF
progress and all that II brings. Some
Of our farming communities in the
Mississippi valley and IN the middle
west have made marvellous progress.
yet even the best of them, like COM
munties Of every other kind, arc not
beyond Improvement. while much needs
to be done In some other sections to
improve country life. As Yet we know
comparatively little OF the basic facts
of rural civilization.
MUST LEARN ECONOMY.
As people We nave not vet learned
to economize. On of the virtues we
Americans most need is thrift It Is
a mere truism To say that luxury and
extravaganza are not good for a nation.
So far as they affect character the loss
they cause may be beyond computation.
Eut In the material sense there Is n
loss greater than is caused by both
extravaganza and luxury put together.
j mean the needless useless and eN-
cessive loss to our people from prema-
ture death and avoidablo diseases.
Wholly apart from the grief. the suf-
fcing and the Nvrctchcdness which they
cause the material loss each year has
been calculated at nearly twice what II
cost to run the federal government
In addition to the state and city health
officers and organizations, there Is urg-
ontly needed q federal bureau OF health,
To act, so far as the national govern
mont properly may TO relieve our peo-
pie from this dreadful burden
NATIONAL CONSERVATION COM.
MISSION.
One OF the most important meetings
In our recent history was that OF the
governors in the White House In May
1908 To consider the conservation ques-
ton. BY the advice OF the governors
the meeting was followed by the ap-
pointment of a national conservation
commission. The meeting OF the
governors directed the attention Of the