THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION 519 



powers. Whether developed powers are ration of these resources can be ex- 

 put to their full use. How far can coal tended. 



be saved by substitution of water- In addition to the above, the Corn- 

 power. The Bureau of Corporations mission seeks information on the con- 

 cooperates with the Hydographic servation of life and property in min- 

 Branch in obtaining information on the ing; the losses by fire and their pre- 

 following subjects: Are water-powers vention, both of which subjects have 

 being consolidated, and to what extent been undertaken by the Geological Sur- 

 are water-powers owned by corpora- vey. 

 tions subject to governmental control? The Bureau of Statistics of the De- 



Nearly the entire matter of forests partment of Agriculture has furnished 

 has been placed in the hands of the data concerning the losses among live 

 Forest Service. The Bureau of Cor- stock by disease, exposure, etc. 

 porations is cooperating in obtaining The Fish Committee has furnished 

 the amount of standing timber and the information concerning the annual 

 Census is obtaining the cut of lumber catch of fish, the condition of supply, 

 and the amount used as firewood. The and the work or restocking, 

 matters confided to the Forest Service The Biological Survey has furnished 

 are as follows : The extent of our orig- information concerning the condition 

 inal forests. The amount of standing and distribution of game, the annual 

 timber remaining. The annual cut. destruction and natural increase, the 

 Past and present prices of products, useful and deleterious birds and mam- 

 Present rate of growth. How the pro- mals. 



ductiveness of our forests can be in- The Bureau of Entomology is pre- 

 creased. How long the present supply paring data concerning the damage 

 will last. What foreign sources of sup- done by insects to the forests, to crops, 

 ply are in sight. How our forest re- and to manufactured goods, 

 sources, consumption and prices and The Bureau of Statistics, Depart- 

 uses of forest products compare with ment of Commerce and Labor, sounds 

 those of other countries. How the cost a note of warning to the effect that our 

 of our forest administration compares exports of bread stuffs and meat have 

 with that of other countries. How far passed high-water mark, and will prob- 

 foreign methods of forest administra- ably decline henceforward, as we con- 

 tion are suited to conditions in this sume more and more of them, 

 country. Sources of waste and how In much of this work the Census 

 they can be reduced. The relations be- and the Bureau of Statistics of the Be- 

 tween forests and stream flow. The re- partment of Agriculture have aided ma- 

 lation of forests to industry and civi- terially in mailing circulars and in re- 

 lization. What measures must be ceiving and tabulating the results, 

 adopted to perpetuate our timber sup- Everywhere, throughout the govern- 

 ply. Of the above, the annual cut is ment service, the Commission has found 

 obtained each year by the joint work the heartiest and fullest cooperation. 

 of the Census and Forest Service. In most cases, the heartiness of the in- 



The entire subject of Minerals has terest shown extended to a study of the 

 been undertaken by the Geological Sur- inquiries and their emendation and ex- 

 vey. The Commission desires to know, tension by the chief of the bureau con- 

 as nearly as possible, the amounts of suited, through his full knowledge of 

 ores and minerals in the ground. The the subject. Moreover, in very many 

 amount mined each year, which is ob- cases, the information sought by the 

 tained annually by the Geological Sur- Commission is precisely that which 

 vey. Probable duration of the supply, should have been obtained long ago by 

 Nature and extent of waste in mining, the bureaus concerned, but its collation 

 extraction and use, and methods of pre- has been delayed by the pressure of 

 venting or lessening it. How the du- more immediate duties, and the bu- 



