367 



OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. 



In a circular letter addressed by President Roosevelt to the 

 Governors of the States, the importance of conserving for future 

 generations the natural resources of the nation are urged at some 

 length. The subject is one which no thoughtful man can view 

 with unconcern, and is so important that we print the letter al- 

 luded to, verbatim : 



The White House, 

 Washington, November ii, 1907. 



My Dear Governor: The natural resources of the territory of the 

 United States were, at the time of settlement, richer, more varied, and 

 more available than those of any other equal area on the surface of the 

 earth. The development of these resources has given us, for more than a 

 century, a rate of increase in population and wealth undreamed of by the 

 men who founded our government and without parallel in history. It is 

 obvious that the prosperity which we now enjoy rests directly upon these 

 resources. It is equally obvious that the vigor and success which we 

 desire and foresee for this nation in the future must have this as its ulti- 

 mate material basis. 



In view of these evident facts it seems to me time for the country to 

 take account of its natural resources, and to inquire how long they are 

 likely to last. We are prosperous now ; we should not forget that it will 

 be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their time as it 

 is to us to be prosperous in our time. 



Recently I expressed opinion that there is no other question now before 

 the nation of equal gravity with the question of the conservation of our 

 natural resources ; and I added that it is the plain duty of those of us who, 

 for the moment, are responsible, to make inventory of the natural re- 

 sources which have been handed down to us, to forecast, as well as we 

 may, the needs of the future, and so to handle the great resources of our 

 prosperity as not to destroy in advance all hope of the prosperity of our 

 descendants. 



It is evident that the abundant natural resources on which the welfare 

 of this nation rests are becoming depleted and in not a few cases are aJ- 

 ready exhausted. This is true of all portions of the Uni.ted States ; it is 

 especially true of the longer settled communities of the East. The grav- 

 ity of the situation must, I believe, appeal with special force to the Gov- 

 ernors of the States because of their close relations to the people and their 

 responsibility for the welfare of their communities. I have therefore de- 

 cided, in accordance with the suggestion of the Inland Waterways Com- 

 mission, to ask the Governors of the States and Territories to meet at the 

 White House on May 13, 14, and 15, to confer with the President and 

 with each other upon the conservation of natural resurces. 



It gives me great pleasure to invite you to take part in this conference. I 

 should be glad to have you select three citizens to accompany you and to 

 attend the conference as your assistants or advisors. I shall also invite 

 the Senators and Representatives of the Sixtieth Congress to be present 

 at the sessions so far as their duties will permit. 



The matters to be considered at this conference are not confined to any 

 region or group of States, but are of vital concern to the Nation as a 

 whole and to all the people. These subjects include the use and conser- 

 vation of the Mineral Resources, Resources of the Land, and the Resources 

 of the Waters, in every part of our territory. 



In order to open discussion I shall invite a few recognized authorities to 

 present brief descriptions of actual facts and conditions, without argu- 

 ment, leaving the conference to deal with each topic as it may elect. The 



