Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-06-21
WILL GIVE Warning
. OF U. S. RESOURCES
Executive Committee Formed
Here to Educate Country
and Disseminate Facts.

Organization has been effected of an
executive committee on natural re-
sources. following a meeting of COM
mittees from the National Academy
of Sciences. tile American Association
for the Advancement Of Science and
the National Research Council
1t was announced today that the
newly formed executive committee
plans the appointment of paid execu-
tive and necessary clerical force, with
an Office in this city.
The purpose of the committee is the
promotion of scientifically directed
effort and education for the most eff
hcient and advantageous use of the
natural resources of the United
States.
An immense nation has been built
up. but at the expense of a much
larger consumption and loss OF its re-
sources than was necessary, 1t is
stated.
Seeks to Maintain Supplies.
1t seems, therefore, to be the most
important duty of the scientific as
sociations and organizations. as well
as of the educational institutions of
the country, to disseminate Informal
ton and instruction as to the real
condition of our natural resources:
to warn the nation where danger OF
exhaustion lies, and in the light of
the best scientific and practical
knowledge that we now possess. and
through new researches directed 10
this end. to teach the ways in which
our resources may best be maintain
ed. These great economic problems
are SO involved with industrial, imam
cial and political questions that little
direct influence can be eXerted by any
scientific body without a long edu-
cational campaign. This Will IN time
bear fruit but the longer the time
that will be required. the more inn
portant is an immediate beginning
Exact scientific knowledge alone can
guide in this large field. but even
science cannot take care OF indus
trial waste. Such correction can be
made only by an enlightened moral
sense.
Immediate steps will be taken to
secure the cooperation of as many as
possible of the educational ana
scientific institutions of the country
The committee will not duplicate the
work of any existing organization
engaged in special work for the pro-
lection and best economic use OF nat
ural resources of any kind: its pur-
pose is to act in an advisory ca
pacity to such organizations. to help
them in securing better support. 10
provide for filling the gaps in the
broad field that ought to be covered
and to extend to those societies that
are now too weak in membership or
resources to carry out adequately
their purposes the influence of the
great scientific bodies from which
they derive their authority.
Hope. to Provide Facts.
BY spreading information through
the channels of the press. by means of
lectures and by publications of its
own the committee will endeavor TO
attain more effective and co-ordi-
mated instructions on the important
subject of the relation of our natural
resources to public welfare, in the
colleges and universities.
In the matter of correcting and fur
therine legislation that may bear on
the subject of our natural resources.
the executive committee expects TO
provide the facts and information
and furnish a broad scientific basis
for state and federal action. Keeping
free of the handling of specific legis-
iative problems. which would prop
erly pertain to existing organizations.
The following took part in the or
sanization: John c. Merriam, presi-
dent, the Carnegie Institution OF
Washington; John NJ. Clarke. direc-
tor, New York State Museum: j. Nc
Keen Cattell. editor of Science: Yer
non Kellogg. secretary. National Re
search Council; c. r. McClung. di-
rector, geological laboratory. Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania: Henry $.
Graves. former chief United States
forest service; Isaiah Bowman, direc-
tor, American Geographical Society;
harrington Moore. president. Ameri-
can Biological Society; V. e. Shell
ford professor of zoology, University
Of Illinois.
Mr.. Merriam is chairman. Mr..
Clarke. vice chairman; Albert L. Bar
rows, secretary. and Willard G. Van
Name, assistant secretary.