The Prescott daily news., 1910-09-06
CONSERVATION Is
 PATRIOTIC DUTY
Roosevelt at St. Paul Advocates
 New Methods.
WASTE AND MONOPOLY WRONG
Waterways and Forests Discussed- State and Federal Control-Cour- try Life Institute Is
 Favored.

St. Paul, Minn, Sept 6.-Theodore Roosevelt was the central figure in the conservation congress today, and delivered an address that called forth the warmest praise of those who were fortunate enough to hear it. The fact that the former president was to speak attracted to the convention hall a trem endous crowd and the man who has made conservation one of the chief issues in the United States was given the heartiest kind of a greeting.
 Taking National Efficiency" for his general subject. MT. Roosevelt said:
 Americas reputation for efficiency stands deservedy high throughout the world. We are efficient probably to the full-limit that any nation can attain by the methods hitherto used There Is great reason to be proud of our achievements, and vet no reason to believe that we can not excel our past. Through a practically unrestrained individualism, we have reached pitch of literary unexampled material prosperity; although the dstr- button of this prosperity leaves much to be desired from the standpoint of justice and fair dealing. But we have not only allowed the individual a 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 organ- zation 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- velopment of our natural resources but 1t is not less responsible for waste. destruc- tion. and monopoly on an equally gigantic scale.
 The method of reckless and uncon- troled private use and waste has done for us all the good fl ever can, and 1t Is time to put an end to it before 1t 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. Hsnoeforth we must seek National efficiency by new and a better way. by the way of the or derly development and use, coupled with the preservation. of our naturAi resources by making the most of what we have for the benefit of all of us, instead of leaving ths souroes o< material prosperity open to indtsorfminate exploitation. Those are some of the reasons why N is wise that we should abaNdon the old point of view, and why conservation has become a pa triotic duty.
 Watec~ays Development.
 One of the greatest of our conservation problems Is the wise and prompt develop ment and use of the waterways of this Nation. The Twin Cities. lying as they do at the headwaters of the Mississippi, are not upon the direct line of the pro posed lakes to the gulf deep waterway Yet they are deeply interested in its prompt comnlet'on well ss in the deepenng a~1 regulation of tho Missis- ppi to the mouth of the Missouri and to the gulf 7'e project for a great trunk waterway n" arm Cf the sea. extending from tho C'''f of Mexico to tho Great Lakes. S' -''1' not N" abandoned. The lakes to n'c eulf F7on waterway. and the development of t',~ r'vors witch flow jrto 't should be rrs"ed to completion vigorously and withort 1e1oy.
 Tn nearly every riv~r r-tv from St Paul to the gulf the water -front is con+r~uad hv the railways. Neqr'v ovorv or4licfal waterway in the United Sto+es either d. rectlV or inGirectlv. is undNr the same control IL goes without sav'r~ that Grn- less the peone prevent 1t in aavqnoo) tho railways will attempt to take control of our waterways as fast as thev are i'm proved and completed, nor would blame them if we. the people are suplne in the matter We must see to 1t that adequate terminals are provided in every city and loWH tH every improved waterway, terml- nals open under reasonable conditions to the use of every citizen. and rtgidly pro tected ae0inst monopoly: and we must compel the railways to cooperate with the waterways continuously effectively and under reasonable conditions Unless we do the railway lines will refuse to deliver freight to the boat lnes either openly or by imposing prohibitory condi- tons, and the waterways once improved will do comparatively little for the bene- it 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 Tn the boat lines on our rivers, unless under the strictest regulation and control of the Interstate Commerce Comsnission. SO that the shippers interests may be fully protected.
 The National Forests.
 If any proof wore needed that forest protection is a National duty. the recent destruction of forests in the west by Arc 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 tho forest service does more than protect the National forests against fire. It mak es them -rra ctic.lly ard increasing