Evening star., 1916-11-30
FORCOMB|NAT|ONS
TOSAVE RESOURCES
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
Committee Recommendation
Subject of Referendum.
MANY ADVANTAGES CITED

A
combinations to conserve natural re-
sources be permitted?' is being taken
by the Chamber of Commerce Of the
United States. A special committee OF
the chamber has already reported in IA
,,or of permitting such combinations. and
the report of the committee has been
transmitted to the various members OF
the organization for their consideration
The report recommends that there be
legislation 20 permit cooperative agree
ments under federal supervision In those
industries which involve primary natural
resources, on condition that the agree
,n.nts in fact tend to conserve the re-
sources, to lessen accidents. and to pro-
mote public interests.
Public Interest Paramount.
The plan is to make it possible for the
federal trade commission to go beyond It's
present powers of investigation ana 10
formulate constructive plans under whlch
an industry may operate to the common
benefit of consumers, workmen and pro-
ducers. The public interest is the para
mount thing. The committee means 10
potnt a way by which the public interest
NAV be safeguarded and promoted. in
stead of being left to take care OF tseiI'
as at present.
In support of the above recommen-
dation the argument is put 1orth ehd'
the natural resources of the country re-
ceiyed little attention twenty-five years
ago. except as sources Tor exploltaIoh.
Legislation made no distinction pe-
tween the resources which become ex-
hausted or greatly depleted through
utilization and resources which in large
part renew themselves every year Ihe
necessity of efficient utillzaton anu Oh
appropriate legislation has been recos-
nized in steadily increasing degree by
the public, and the principal question
now remaining appears to relate 10
methods and to the form new legisla-
tion should assume.
Competition Increases.
1t is contended by the committee that
in the course of the last twenty-five
years the competition which increases
waste of natural resources, and
heightens danger to life and limb
among operatives, has grown In
breadth and intensity. Where lumber
mills of district formerly competed
among themselves they now compete
also with mills in distant parts of the
country. each with each. Although rail-
roads are permitted to make rates OIL
transportation by districts, the mills of
:. district must act individually where
coal mines in part of the country
once competed with one another they
now must strive for their markets with
mines in other parts of the country.
The railways hauling the coal may
make common rates, but producers OF
the coal cannot act in common to pre-
serve the supply or to obtain its eff
,ient distribution.
Production Increases.
The quantities of products our natural
resources are called upon to furnish
have greatly increased during the years
which have elapsed since our general leg
islation dealing with interstate trade was
enacted. The production of coal from
American mines has increased almost
hvefold, while the population has increas-
ed less than 20 per cent. During the
past quarter of a century the yearly
drain upon our sources of petroleum has
Increased skiold and more.
The commercial utilization OF natural
gas which fell off in earlier years has
since increa sed, reaching S1O1 .000, 900 last
year when s2s. 900. 900. 900 cubic feet were
used. Sixteen million long tons Of iron
ore were produced from the mines OF
this country in 1890 In 1915 they had
5000. 900 to show for the years operation
and this year they may turn out 10000 900
tons. The increase has been very largely
in hematite, the most desirable form OF
ore In other words, we have been con-
suming our supplies of superior ore and
in increasing degree neglecting inferior
grades.
According to the committee. the United
states contributed eight or ten times as
much as any other country to the world s
supply of copper. Last year our sInelters
showed fivefold increase over 1880 In
1916 their output will apparently be lin
tied only by the capacity of the copper
r.fneries-
Timber Now Standing.