Evening star., 1961-02-23

" NUIt9TccS tOUUS Of1 "1S~'s
From the beginning Of civil
ization, every nations basic
wealth and progress has
stemmed In large measure from
its natural resources. This
Nation has been especially
fortunate =. our entire society
). Is dependent upon our
water, land, : :. forests,
and minerals. How We
use these resources influences
our health. security, economy
and we'll being
If we fail to chart q
proper course Of conservation
and development we will
be in trouble within a short
time. In the resource field -.
we face q future of critical
shortages. BY the year
1000, 9 United States popula-
ton of 800 million win
need far greater supplies OF
farm products, timber, water,
minerals, fuels, energy and op-
portunitieS for outdoor recrea-
ton. Present projects tell US
that our water use will double
in the next 20 years; that we
are harvesting our :. high
grade timber more rapidly than
the development Of new
growths; that too much Of our
fertile topsoil Is being washed
away; that our minerals are
being exhausted, !. and that
remaining undeveloped
areas of great natural beauty
are being rapidly pre-empted
for other uses.
Wise investment in q re-
source program today will re-
turn vast dividends tomorrow.
and failures to act now may
be opportunities lost forever.
This is not q matter OF con-
Germ for only one section of the
country every citizen in
every State Of the Union .
has o stake in 9 sound re-
sources program under the
progressive principles first
forged by Pinchot and Theo-
dore Roosevelt. =.
This statement is designed to
bring together the widely
scattered resource policies Of
the Federal Government. In the
past, these policies have over
Tapped and often conflicted.
Funds were wasted on compet-
ing efforts. Widely differing
standards were applied. g..
Funds and attention devoted to
annual appropriations or i'm
mediate pressures diverted en-
ergieS away from long-range
planning for national economic
growth.
To coordinate all Of these
matters :, I will shortly issue
one or more executive orders
or directives:
ID Redefining these respon-
sibilities within the executive
office and authorizing q
strengthened Council Of Eco
nomic Advisers 70 report to the
President, the Congress and
the public on the status Of re-
source programs.
ca Establishing. under the
Council of Economic Ad-
viSers, a Presidential Advis-
ory Committee on Natural Re-
sources. ..z
CD Instructing the budget
director to formulate With
in the next 90 days general
principles for the application oi
fees. permits and other user
charges at all types Of Federal
natural resource projects:
ana to re-evaluate current
standards for appraising the
feasibility Of water resource
projects.
In addition, I shall asl
the National Academy Of Sci.
enees to undertake q thorough
and broadly based study :.
Of the present state Of research
underlying the conservation
development and use Of nat
ural resources, giving
particular attention to need
for basic research and to prof
ects that will provide q bettel
basis for natural resource
planning pending the rec
commentators, ! havI
directed my science adviser ant
the Federal Council for Sci
ence and Technology to :.
determine ways to strengthen
the total Government research
effort relating to natural re
=