426 



CONSERVATION 



rary efficiency and cheapness are to be 

 discountenanced, while permanent 

 economy for the benefit, not only of 

 the Nation, but of the whole human 

 race, is to be encouraged. This prin- 

 ciple is sound, but its practical applica- 

 tions will involve many difficulties, and 

 develop many conflicts with special in- 



terests. Like all ideals it cannot be 

 realized absolutely, but it represents a 

 standard of action toward which we 

 must move, even though the ultimate 

 goal of perfection may never be at- 

 tained. Evils can be mitigated, al- 

 though they may not be entirely re- 

 moved. 



THE PRESIDENT FOR CONSERVATION 



President Taft, on April 30, addressed a letter to ]\'Ir. A. W. Shaw, editor of 

 System, which has been made public. It reads : 



n 



WHITE HOUSE, 



WASHINGTON. 



April 30, 1909. 



My dear Mr. Shaw: 



The conservation of National resources is a subject which will 

 properly claim from the present administration earnest attention and 

 appropriate legislation. The necessity for a comprehensive and sys- 

 tematic improvement of our waterways, the preservation of our soil 

 and of our forests, the securing from pHvat* appropriation the power 



A 



in navigable streams, the" retention of the xmdisposed of coal lands 



of the Government from alienation, - all these matters are vitally 



K ' 



important to the people of the United States, and to your constit- 

 uency, the business men of the country. 



without the resources which make labor productive, American 

 enterprise, energy, and skill would not in ^^^ past have been able 

 to make headway against hard conditions. Our children and their 

 children will not be able to make headway if we leave to them an im- 

 poverished country. Our land, our waters, our forests, and our 

 minerals are the sources front which come directly or indirectly 

 the livelihood of all of ua. The conservation of our natural re- 

 Eouroea is a question of fundamental importance to the United States 

 now - to the business man to-day. 



Very sincerely yours, 



Mr. A. W. Shaw, 



Editor, "System," " 



Chicago; Illinois. 



