AMERICAN FORESTRY 



675 



Court of the United States to protect the 

 common interests of the whole people 

 against individual encroachment, we urge 

 upon our states a fuller realization of their 

 responsibility for guarding the interests and 

 rights of their citizens in the natural source.- 

 of prosperity. 



Recognizing the running waters of the 

 country as a great natural resource, we hold 

 that they should be administered by the 

 Federal Government and the State Govern- 

 ments within their respective jurisdictions 

 in the interest of all the people ; and we urge 

 that the waters be utilized and conserved in 

 accordance with the principle of the great- 

 est good to the greatest number for the 

 longest time. 



Viewing purity of water supply as es- 

 sential to the public and general welfare, 

 we urge upon all municipal, state and fed- 

 eral authorities and upon individuals and 

 corporations requisite action toward puri- 

 fying and preventing contamination of the 

 waters. 



We urge the enactment of the Weeks 

 Bill now pending before the Senate of the 

 United States providing for protective for- 

 ests, and we affirm that the Federal Gov- 

 ernment has the constitutional right amount- 

 ing to a National duty to acquire lands for 

 forest purposes in the interests of a future 

 timber supply, water-shed protection, navi- 

 gation, power and the general welfare of the 

 people. 



Approving the Federal forest policy and 

 the endorsing of service whereby this pol- 

 icy is carried out, we urge upon our states 

 the establishment of state forests and the en- 

 actment of laws insuring the conservation 

 of forests in private possession; such laws 

 to provide for more equitable taxation, pre- 

 vention of forest fires and re-forestation of 

 lands less valuable for other purposes. 



We favor co-operative action on the part 

 of states and the Federal Government look- 

 ing to the nreservation and better utilization 

 of the soils by approved scientific methods. 



We urge appropriate legislation by the 

 states and Federal Government for the 



protection of migratory birds, wild game, 

 food fishes and fur-bearing animals. 



Appreciating the scenic beauty of our land 

 as a source of patriotism and as a means 

 of promoting the happiness of our people, 

 we urge on communities, municipalities, 

 states and the Federal Government a higher 

 appreciation of this element of public wel- 

 fare and appropriate action looking towards 

 its maintenance. 



We recommend that the public and priv- 

 ate schools instruct the youth of the land 

 in the fundamenjtal doctrines of conser- 

 vation. 



We realize that the fullest enjoyment of 

 our natural resources depends on the life 

 and development of the people physically, 

 intellectually and morally, and in order to 

 promote this purpose we recommend that 

 the training and protection of the people 

 and whatever pertains to their iiealth and 

 general efficiency be encouraged by all meth- 

 ods and legislation suitable to this end. 

 Child Labor should be discouraged and child 

 life protected and developed. 



Realizing the appalling waste of human life 

 in mining, transportation and other indus- 

 trial operations, we recommend legislation 

 increasing the use of proper safeguards for 

 the conservation of lives especially of in- 

 dustrial employees. 



Holding that the people of the country have 

 a common interest in the mineral resources, 

 we approve the establishment of a Federal 

 Bureau of Mines to further the conservation 

 of these resources and urge upon our states 

 proper ligislation to the same end, in order 

 that current wastes amounting to an econo- 

 mic crime may be prevented. 



Profoundly appreciating the splendid work 

 of state conservation commissions and asso- 

 ciations in awakening our people to the Conser- 

 vation Issue, we urge upon our state legis- 

 latures the enactment of laws providing for 

 the maintenance of such commissions with 

 adequate funds for their work ; and we call 

 on all Governors of States which have not 

 yet acted to promptly create State Con- 

 servation Commissions and clothe them with 

 necessary powers. 



