Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-08

81 raul MINI, sept. 0--SpSdhDg
on National Efficiency" before the
conservation congress today, former
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
program and was listened to by a
throng that tested the capacity of the
hall and that frequently appIauded
the coloneIs vigorous language. The
address in full was as follows:
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedy high throughout the
world We are efficient probably to the
!raIl-Imit that any nation can attain by
the methods hitherto used There is great
reason to be proud OF our achievements
and yet no reason to believe that we can
not excel our past Through a practically
unrestrained individuaHsm, we have
reached a pitch Of literary unexampIed
material prosperity: although the distrf-
button Of this prosperity leaves much to
De desired from the standpoint of justice
and 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 the
rights Of individuals. In addition to using
the vast combined power Of high organi-
zsdon and enormous wealth for their own
advantage. This development Of cOrpo-
rate action It is true, is doubtless in
large part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopnent Of our natural resources, but 1t
IS not less responsible for waste, destruc-
ton, and monopoly on an equally gigantic
scale.
The method OF reckless and uncon-
trolled private use and waste has done
for US all the good it ever can, and 1t is
time TO put an end to 1t before It does all
the evil II easily may. We have passed
the time when needless waste and de-
struction, and arrogant monopoly, are
any longer permissible. HenceforCh we
must seek National efficiency by a new
and better way, by the way of the or
derby development and use, coupled with
the preservation, of our natural resources
by making the most OF what we have for
the benefit Of all OF Us. instead OF leaving
the sources OF material prosperity open
20 indlscriminate exploitation. These are
some of the reasons why 1t is wise that
we should abandon the old point of view,
and why conservation has become a pa
triotc duty.
waterways Development.
(, One Of the greatest of our conservation
problems is the wise and prompt develop
rnent and use OF the waterways OF this
Nation The Twin Cities. lying as they
do at the headwaters of the Mississippi
not upon the direct line of the pro-
posed lakes to the gulf deep waterway
Yet they are deeply interested IN its
prompt completion. as well as in the
deepening and regulation OF the Missis-
~ Vr{ "a Of Missouri md 70
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. The
lakes to the gulf deep waterway, and
the development OF the rivers which flow
into 1t. should be pushed to completion
vigorously and without delay.
In nearly every river city from st. Paul
20 the gulf the waterfront is controlled
by the railways. Nearly every artificial
waterway In the United States, either d.
rectly or Indirectly, Is under the same
control It goes without saying that Gun
less the people prevent # in advaace) the
railways will attempt to take control Of
our waterways as fast as they are i'm
proved and completed; nor would blame
them, II we. the people, are supine in the
matter. We must see to IL that adequate
terminals are provided in every city and
tswn on every improved waterway. termi-
nails open under reasonable conditions to
the use Of every citizen, and rigidly pro-
Sected against monopoly; and we must
compel the railways to cooperate with
the waterways continuouslv effectively,
and under reasonable conditions Unless
we do so the railway lines will refuse to
deliver freight to the boat lines either
openly or by imposing prohibtory condi-
tons. and the WATERWAYS once improved
will do comparatively little for the bene-
fit of the people who pay the bill.
Adequate terminals properly controlled
and open through lines by rail and boat
are two absolutely essential conditions to
the usefulness Of inland waterway devel-
opment I believe furthermore that the
railways should be prohibited from own
ing, controlling. or carrying any interest
in the boat lines on our rivers. unless
under the strictest regulation and control
90 that the shippers interests may be
fully protected,
The National Forests.
II any proof were needed that forest
protection is a National duty, the recent
destruction OF forests In the west by fire
would supply It, Even with the aid of
the army added to that OF the forest
service the loss has been severe With
out either 1t would have been vastly
greater.
But the forest service does more than
protect the National forests against fire
Tt makes them practically and increasing
" useful as we'll During the last year
for which I have the figures the National
forests were used by 22o 600 cattlemen
with their herds, 5000 sheepmen with
their focks, 5000 timbermen with their
crews. and As 900 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 forests is
about quarter OF a million which is
larger than the popula ton 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 officers show
that more than 10000 people a year use
the forests for recreation, camping. hunt
ing. fishing and similar purposes All
this is done, Of course. without injury to
the timber, which has value of at least
a thousand million dollars. Moreover
the National forests protect the water
supply Of a thousand cities and towns
about 500 irrigation projects. and more
than 500 power projects, not counting
the use oS water for these and other pur-
poses by individual settlers.
Country Life institute
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
an that It 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
--~~~~-->>-~--~---~-~>- >--~----o--~l-,---~-o
The Yawn Cure
There is nothing that will rest you
so quickly as to sit on a straight-back
chair and lifting the feet RON, tho