The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-06
Combinations to Conserve
National Resources Of
the Country.
.FAIRMONT IS Interested
If 1t Becomes Law 1t viii
Affect the Local Coal
Holdings.

Three important questions are Ii
be voted on next Tuesday evening al 8
special session of the Fairmont
Chamber of Commerce, the questions
being those submitted by the National
Chamber for referendum vote.
Probably the most important Of the
three is the natural resources combin.
atoms question. The Fairmont Cham.
Der has been asked to express itself
as TO whether or not combinations to
conserve natural resources shall be
permitted. The question Is OF particu-
lar Importance to consumers, produc.
ers and operators. In the canvass now
being made upwards of eight hundred
local and national commercial bodies
will be heard from The vote will rep.
resent every state in the Union, tho
insular possessions, and the Arneri,
can chambers of commerce in the prin.
cipal cities abroad.
AS explained by c. w. Evans its SEE.
rotary, the Chamber Is asked to vote
for or against the report of a sneciai
committee of the National Chamber
which recommends that there shall
be remedied legislation to permit co,
operative agreements under federal 81.
perVtsioh In those industries which In.
volve natural resources-on condition
that the,agreements in fact tend TO con
serve the resources, to lessen acci.
dents, and to promote the public III:
forest. The recommendation Is limit.
ed to timber, the ores, the deposits Of
useful metals, and of minerals which
are source OF heat, light and power.
1t is argued that there has long been
need for definite national policy for
the utilization and conservation OF the
natural resources to which rfianilfac.
turers must look for raw materials or
fuel. Accordingly, plan Is advanced
by the committee which would make
1t possible for the Federal ifaue Com.
mission to go beyond its present
powers of investigation and to forfnU
late constructive plans under which
an industry may operate to the com
mon benefit Of consumers, worlSnen
and producers.
The committee endeayors to show
how the public interest may be safe
guarded and promoted. AS things stand
today, 1t is said, 1t Is being left to tax
care OF itself. There Is a strong argis
ment ~ ,Ie prevention oil waste. sta
tistics are presented which snow a.
appalling loss. Only about IS per cent.
OF the total volume of lumber as ii
stands in the forest now reaches the
consumer. Millions of barrels OF oil
are lost. Something like 40 per cent.
Of the coal in the seam is not utilized
There Is plea for increased safety
for wprkmen. over 1000 deaths occur
In the metal mining, coal mining. and
lumber industries each year. In the
three industries in question between
three and four men at an average in
every thousand were killed In 1913. Ia
other words II a man remained IN such
an industry for twenty years his
chances for being killed during the pc.
riod would be almost one int ten.
This is the seventeenth referen-
dunn sent by the National Chamber
with the purpose of ascertaining for
the benefit OF congress and the Pres
fdent, business opinion prevailing
throughout the country on topics Of
national and immediate Importance.
Following the inyariable rule the re-
ferendum contains arguments for and
against the Recommendation so that
organizations may be fully informed
before finally casting their votes.
The question effects Fairmont. Mar
ion county and West Virginia, more
directly than probably any OF the OF
her referendum sent from the Nation
al Chamber. The state would benefit
immeasurably should the National
Chamber be successful in bringing
about settlement OF the National
resources combinations question.