Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-22

the barter we are to swap
with other nations for commodities
we need for international exchange.
In these days of readjustments along
all lines the question of how this
nation shall make the most Of these
resources is of international impor-
lance and concern, must be the sub
ject of legislation which will affect
all other countries.
Practically every one Of the gov
eminent departments is concerned in
this, and Congress is already con-
Sidering what it must do In the way
Of legislation, whether at this short
session or in the next-an extra
session. when the republicans come
into control
Much Depends on Peace Table.
Much depends on what will be done
at the international peace table. on
what world policy will be adopted.
There is some talk of an economic
scheme of international control, in
volving the ALLEGATION of exportable
pliShment of definite purposes. There
is also suggestion that enemy coun-
tries be assisted in retaining their
predominant industries that amount
to practical monopolies in order that
they may be enabled to pay off the
indemnities which will be imposed.
Expert testimony that in ALLEGATION
of minerals the sacrifice of the United
States would be greater THAN THAT or
any other country has been given by
DR.. C. K. Leith of the war industries
and shipping boards in an address to
the American Institute of Mining
Engineers. In an agreement on con-
troll of exportable surplus the United
States would have to abandon the
slogan that this country should make
itself entirely independent in regard
to all raw materials, even at hlsh cost
and with the aid of protective tarlHs.
The difficulties involved in control
ling international movement of min
erals are many and would we1Sn
heavily against the United States.
Must Reclaim Lands.
1t is hard to vision how much is
meant when we use the words "natu-
raj resources" Chairman Foster OF
the House committee on mines and
works ahead is to reclaim swamp and
overlooked lands, which are inter
uittently productive, for our return
ing soldiers and the surplus people
in congested cities, and to make the
arid lands OF the west bloom WIN
noints out the necessity Of increasing
! fertilizer supplies and making tnen
cheaper SO that they may come lnte
more general use for building up tne
worn-0ut farms. He believes that the
war Department piants az MUSES.
nitrogen, on which more than $loo.
000. 900 have been spent, will be a ire
meridous7 aid.
REPRESENTATIVE Esch Of Wisconsin
ranking republican on the special
water power committee and ranking
member on the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce. believes tna'
the passage of water power Legislation
will be helpful, but points out that In
the general scheme of development
the fundamental question is whetnei
the natural resources should remain
ing sentiment that in view of the de-
pletion OF natural resources the gov
ernment-that is. the people-should re.
tain them and that the development OF
the leasing system is an expression OIL
this wish, showing the disinclinat1or
of the people to pass title into private
ownership.
Cover Wide Field.
These two views suggest how wide
! a field one must travel when discussing
the broad subject Of natural re-
sources Representative Foster think.
that some comprehensive plan o.
| developing and conserving raw ma.
| terials should be considered. possibly
bv an omnibus committee made up OF
ranking members from the various
committees to which bills on particu.
| lar phases of this subject would
| naturally be submitted. Representa-,
| tive Esch points out that the specia
water power committee, which die:
automatically on March next. is ar
| example of the INCONSISTENCIES OF
such an omnibus committee. since II
would be made up OF ranking IneHi.
; bers of three or more other importan'
committees who would have extreme
| difficulty in finding time on Wh1cf
| they could be disengageo from eiieAi
other essential work.
Congress generally feels, as the
heads of the various department.
| have urged in their annual reports
that action must be taken to properly
| conserve and exploit the raw mate
rails and so place the industrlai me o.
the country on the firmest possipl'
footing for the unbounded world-trade
for which the business leaders arr
planning. They believe that Prov
IDENTIFY the United States should take
advantage in this regard of lesson:
learned during the war.
Valuable Lessons Learned.
The way in which America met the
war demand for raw materials is no"
a matter of past experience. Inc re.
suits sought have been attaineo- an.
lessons learned in this time of stress
remain as very valuable by-product
Americas wealth of natural resource:
never had a higher valuation on the
worlds ledger. and any forecast OF
what may follow the signing Of the
peace treaty must be based upon these
facts.
mower and efficient labor united car
he expected to spell industrial pros
nerity-so American planning will FOL
| low these lines. A survey of thu
worlds mineral industry as it stool
at the beginning Of the war has beer
made by a group of specialists IN thu
Interior Department-and America:
leadership stands out.
| Out Of some thirty essential min:
erals the former Central Europe EN-
nires led in only three. the British
empire in six. but the United States
| in not less than thirteen. With thu
larger responsibilities laid upon oul
country during the war period its
productive pre-eminence has in
creased and in at least two such i'm
portant products as copper and pc
troleum the United States can be sait
| to have somewhat of a world control
Possession Only the Beginning.
| Possession Of raw materials. o.
course, is only the beginning. Use j:
the next step and best use the steI
| in the right direction. The genius o,
United States democracy Is to dis
cover in these natural resources th<
opportunity for effective industry tina
| expresses itself in prosperous com.
munities and happy homes.
! II 0uidan co nf internal 6eyelON.