F. DUTY OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



1. THE DUTY OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 

 IN CONSERVATION 



ByH. S. Gbaves 



The conservation movement of a 

 few years ago crystallized and brought 

 to public attention a great principle, 

 one so far reaching that its real sig- 

 nificance and scope are even today not 

 generally grasped. Regardless of how 

 the term may be defined, the problem 

 of conservation involves the whole 

 question of the relation of our natural 

 resources to the economic life and up- 

 building of the country. We have to 

 do not merely with the prevention of 

 waste and economical use of our re- 

 sources, but also with the problem of 

 how these resources may render their 

 highest service in building up local com- 

 munities, maintaining our industries, 

 and contributing to a strong civiliza- 

 tion. 



We can point to considerable progress 

 in certain features of conservation 

 during the past decade. Scientific men 

 have conducted research of great value 

 that already is resulting in new uses of 

 various raw materials, in more eco- 

 nomical methods of handling them, and 

 in improved methods of perpetuating 

 those resources which are renewable; 

 engineers are giving more attention 

 than formerly to the problem of pre- 

 venting unnecessary losses in the ex- 

 ploitation of raw resources; the more 

 far-sighted leaders of industry have an 

 increasing appreciation of the relation 

 of natural resources to the permanence 

 of their own enterprises. And yet, the 

 conservation principle is making very 

 slow headway, when viewed from the 

 larger aspects of the economic needs of 

 the country. The loss through un- 

 necessary waste is still appalling, un- 

 economic methods in the use and de- 



velopment of various of the resources 

 continue, and the interests of industries 

 and communities are already in many 

 cases jeopardized by the depletion of 

 local sources of raw material. 



Among the obstacles to the more 

 rapid application of the principles of 

 conservation are ignorance and indif- 

 ference on the part of those engaged 

 in developing natural resources, un- 

 willingness to change old methods, and 

 selfishness of individuals who are will- 

 ing to sacrifice even the interests of 

 their own industry to immediate gains. 

 But there are also obstacles of an 

 economic and public character, that 

 are retarding progress. These relate 

 to the character of ownership and con- 

 trol of natural resources, to the existing 

 organization of certain of the industries 

 to problems of transportation, and in 

 some cases to questions of taxation 

 and the relation of the public to 

 industry. 



Scientific research furnishes the foun- 

 dation of conservation. Education will 

 solve the problem of ignorance and indif- 

 ference. The economic and political 

 obstacles, however, can usually be 

 overcome only through action by the 

 public. Thus it is that those who are 

 engaged in promoting the principles of 

 conservation in their respective fields 

 are urging legislation in the federal 

 Congress and in state legislatures, 

 seeking public aid for private owners of 

 resources and for the industries, pubUc 

 cooperation in marketing and distri- 

 bution, public action in road building 

 and other transportation problems, 

 and in some instances public control 

 over the basic resources themselves, 

 over their exploitation, or over the 

 distribution of their products. 



The efi'orts in conservation today are 

 scattered among a large number of 



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