Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-08
AND WATER
CONSERVATION ISSUES
Speaker at Club Meeting Dis
cusses Importance of
Their Preservation.

"The National Conservation Congress is
the conservation clearing house of the
country" declared Thomas r. Shipp ex-
lecutive secretary of the National Con-
servation Congress in an address before
a meeting of the District of Columbia
Federation of Womens Clubs this morn
ing at the Public Library. 1T is the open
forum to which all who are interested in
helping work out the conservation ques-
ton for the public can come and be
heard.
He said the delegates to the Congress
are brought together to discuss and work
out to the best solution the conservation
problems before the country. I'VE have
passed the period of agitation and educa-
ton and have come to the point of prac-
teal application. The women of this
country have helped us educate and agi-
tate. Now they can help put conserya-
ton principles into practical effect.
Tribute of Feminine Sex.
Il believe women are more practical
than they set credit for being the
speaker declared. Some people seem to
think that women are not interested in
anything except the esthetic and the
beautiful. don't believe that The
women who have worked for conservation
have disproved that many times. and
right here l want TO express Il conviction
that has grown in my mind through the
experience / have had with public ques-
tons, and that is that when a public
question once gets into the home and is
discussed within the family circle its
successful solution Is assured. When
the women of the country take up
cause il is a righteous one. and the cause
is bound to succeed. For the women viii
keep after the men until they see that
the men 60 the things that they want
Them 10 do. Maybe, when women get to
voting they will see that things are done
themselves. but | am not discussing suf-
frage today.
Forestry and Water Power.
Two great conservation issues today
are forestry and water power. How are
women interested in these? Some one
may say. for instance, what have women
got to do with water power? Well, she
has a good deal to do with it. and it
has a good deal to do with her and for
her. You know We are getting into
great age of electricity.
Electricity is getting into the home
and into our daily duties. Some day
it is. going to cook our food and wash
our clothes and turn our sewing ma
chine Then 1t will be domestic ques-
ton This. electricity will have to be
produced largely by water power. The
question which will confront us is how
much We will have to pay 70 relectric
current, just as TODAY the question con-
fronts many cities now much they should
pay for gas.
Gas Prices Contrasted.
Il washington YOU pay 81 cents
thousand feet. In indianapolis they pay
60 cents In some cities they pay only 80
cents. The cost depends largely upon the
franchise which the people have given
the gas companies In the same way
how much we will have to pay for cleo
trio current produced from water power
will depend how widely we provide to-
day for the development and utilization
of the wonderful water powers we have
and are about to let GO"
Mr. Siiipp said the conservation move
ment is only five years old. having be-
gun at conference Of governors at the
White House. in May, 1908. The Ma
tional Conservation Congress is an out
growth Of that meeting. The sessions.
November Is, 10 and 20, are the first to
be held in Washington since the organi-
ZatiOn.