New-York tribune., 1911-12-03
Thinks if Congress Grants
100000 Asked for Inves-
tigation, Economy in Min
erals Can Be Effected.

stand out clearly--namely. that these min
cral resources have required untold ages
for their accumulation: that no human be-
ing has contributed toward this accumula-
tion or has increased the intrinsic value of
these resources, and hence their present
owners whether acquiring them by discoy-
cry or purchase. have no right 10 waste or
destroy that which IS necessary 10 the wei.
fare Of the nation which they did not cre-
ate and which they cannot replace.
The National Conservation Commission
In Its report in 1905 made the statement
that the chief ", ste in our oil supplies lay
perhaps in their misuse-that If, their ex-
tensve use for fuel purposes--more than
eighteen million barrels having been used
during the year 1907 for locomotive fuel.
for which purpose coal, as a more abundant
fuel. might be appropriately used. leaving
the major uses OF petroleum FOR lubricating.
illumination IN isolated districts and other
purposes for whica il has no known salts
factory substitutes.
AS 10 the available supplies for futurs
use OF copper. lead. zinc and the precious
metals IL Is impossible 10 estimate accu-
rately their life. owing 10 the limited and
irregular areas occupied by these materials
and the uncertainty as TO their extent
However, from the mines Of these ma.
tcrials in sight Il is estimated that without
the discovery Of other deposits at the pres-
ent increasing rate Of consumption the
known supplies Of these materials will not
last beyond the present century. and tho
probability Of the discovery Of new supplies
is diminishing each year.
THE commission further made the state-
ment that one-half OF the natural gas now
coming out of tho earth-s billion cubic feet
q day, or more than enough 10 light all thu
cities Of the United states having more than
! a hundred thousand population--wasw wasted
| by being allowed 10 escape into the atrnoss
phere.
1T is because Of these great. and in many,
cases unnecessary, squanderings Of re-
sources that I am asking Congress for an
appropriation Of $1O0. 900 to be placed IN ths
| hands OF the Bureau OF Mines 70 investisats
| mineral wastes. The nation ought TO know
wherein II is unduly profigate. II should
know OF the possibilities OF economy. 70
should be p part of the conservation policy
OF the nation to point the way"
| Such is the outline OF the adminietrati tom q
| conservation policy. SO is marked down thu
course that is to be pursued in the worIe
that has been the thorn IN the flesh Of ma
| tional affairs. SO is the conservation fae
nailed more definitely and positively 90 tbs
mast than II has ever been spiked before.
| 30 does the Secretary sidetrack the possi<
. bility of a break with his erstwhile fellows
in the conservation cause. So does he servs
notice upon the special interests who would
take unto themselves more than that IN
which they are entitled. SO he brings con-
servation out Of form that is nebulous ana
void and reduces It TO a concrete and defs
mite programme. So he shows how the agi-
taton OF the last five years may have sd
opportunity to bear the fruit OF accom-
plishment.