Evening star., 1940-02-18
Ickes Charges Illinois
Official Blocks Oil
Conservation Law
Coils Upon Medical
Profession to Help
Conserve Resources

Profession to Help
Conserve Resources
Condemning the "nauseous mix
ture OF oil and politics" which mill
tates against conservation of Amer
ica's petroleum resources, Secretary
of Interior 1ckes last night cited the
situation in Illinois, where he said
an ofhcial theoretically elected to
serve the interests of the whole
people of his State, is blocking a
inuch-needed and sound oil conser-
vation law. while at the same time
being financially interested in oil
properties"
Secretary Ickes spoke at the an
nual banquet of the George Wash
ington University Medical Society at
the Mayflower Hotel, calling on the
medical profession to assist the Gov
ernment in saving the Nations nat
ural resources.
He declared conservation measures
undertaken by the Government were
comparable to preserving the physi-
cal health Of the people
AS in medicine, MI Ickes said,
once a malady of the land, such as
erosion, gets a start. it is hard to
stop. Thus, he added reckless cut
ting of timber with slashings left on
the ground brings forest fires which
destroy ground cover and lead to
erosion, much as cold may lead
to fatal pneumonia.
More Acres Face Destruction.
About 100000 acres have been
destroyed by erosion to date and
another 100000,000 acres are facing
a similar fate, Mr.. Ickes said, and it
will require between 1000 and 5000
years to repair the damage already
done. Surface soil covered with
grass, he said, will last about $500
years against the force of erosion.
This is about the time required to
build up new soil to replace it.
Ploughed and unskilltully planted,
the same soil will all be washed away
In seven years or less
, THE sins of our thoughtless, ex-
plotting, destroying grandfathers are
being visited on U.s." Mr.. Ickes said.
an their eagerness for wealth and
economic power they paid no heed
to the laws and balances of nature.
Now we are paying, and will con-
tinue to pay for generations. for
their heedlessness. It would have
been much cheaper in the long run
+. If out of the national treasury we
had paid in advance the fortunes
f. that were collected by these pioneer
ing free-booters, and thereby pre-
served our resources. This is true
not only of fertile topsoil but of
! forests, coal and oil and other nat
ural resources"
Water Becoming Scarcer.
Secretary Ickes described as one
Of the most alarming symptoms the
decrease of underground water.
This is shown, he said, by reports
from many sections of the country
that wells must be dug deeper and
deeper and by the fact that irriga-
ton projects which once had suf-
f1cient water now must depend on
. other sources of supply.
Without intelligent conservation,
Mr.. Ickes said, "the country will be-
come increasingly impoverished un-
til large sections of our population
will be reduced to a coolie stand
ard of living. None of us should
forget that desert Mesopotamia was
once one of the greatest wheat
growing areas of the whole world
and that China formerly abounded
In natural resources, the store of
which has been diminished to a
dangerous degree. Our very lives
not to speak of our democratio and
social institutions, depend upon our
resources being used with the ut
most care"
The Interior Secretary also voiced
. hope that eventually plan of at
, least preventive medicine can be
! worked out between your profession
. and the Government in a spirit of
. cooperation and of understanding
, Of the vast and intricate problem
. involved"
If we had more preventive medi-
. cine for the people, we would have
a healthier citizenry, resulting in
! less strain upon our economy" he
; emphasized.
!. Marks Goth Reunion.
The banquet marked the goth re-
union of the class of 1920. Guests
at the banquet were:
Adams W. r. Anderson. n T.,
, Albritton e. C. Anderson Mrs 7.
Alexander. 8. Andrina / "
Aexander. MRS. 8. Aston. Miss H. J.
Allen. Miss D. Austin. Miss
Alpert c. Avery, F.Ss
Baber. j. NJ Borden. d T,
, Baber, Mrs. J. M. Borden. Mrs. D.L.
6achracn L. Borden. Mrs. w. c.
Saney. ". o. )r. Bosworth. r. J.
Baker Mrs. c. Boyd: Mrs. j. l.
Ban. q. L. Bradley. E.
saiienser, Mrs. w. Brsen, .S &. d
Barbrow Mrs. l.. Brigulio A. e.
Barker. J: Broaddus r. G.
Barlow, Mrs n. Brooks. E.
ssstIss., Mrs. J.r. srosmsn. rosmsn. Mrs. E.
6iggs, J. r. Brice. p. p
Block. H. z. Buckley, M. L..
sIoedorn. " A.. Buckley. Mrs. NJ L.
Bloedorn, Mrs W. A. Burdick W.