127 
Coal Deposits and Oihcer Mineral Wealth.—In the matter of coal 
mining there must be a steady insistence that wasteful methods of coal 
mining must stop. In the mining of the best veins of coal, the layers of 
lesser value are left in such a condition that their removal in the future 
will be almost impossible. The securing of large dividends In the mining 
industry must not be at too serious a sacrifice of the future supply of 
coal. There also can be an enormous saving effected in the consumption of 
coal for heat and power by the general adoption of appliances for complete 
combustion. 
Water Power.—In this State, water power is practically an undevel- 
oped resource which is yet the property of the whole commonwealth and 
from the very nature of flowing water is not subject to private ownership. 
It is an outrage that our State laws enable individuals or corporations to 
get the control and profit of the available power of a stream simply by 
purchasing a power site and building a dam, without giving to the State 
one cent of revenue. There can be no more important thing in the con- 
servation progr apt} than to insist on the passage of laws that will clearly 
establish the neice that water power belongs to the State, and that will 
provide for the leasing of water pewer rights for a definite term of 
years at a reutal that will be fair to the power compalry and to the people 
of the State. 
Conservation of Public Health.—The campaign for public health has 
been carried on so efficiently by our State Board of Health under the 
leadership of Dr. J. N. Hurty that it is not necessary to do more than sug- 
gest that this phase of conservation must always be of the very greatest 
importance. 
Scenic Beauty.—Another phase of conservation should be the presery- 
ing of the natural beauty of the State. More and more will our State be- 
come crowded with artificial features; and the desire for beautiful natural 
features will be correspondingly greater. We must insist that the beauty 
of streams and hillside, trees and ficwers, and songs of birds are worth 
while, and that the future development of our resources shall not destroy 
these things. I hope that the Stiute Federation of Clubs will make this 
subject its chief conservation activity. 
Conservation Organizations.—Within the last few months we have 
seen the formation of organizations to do special work slong lines of con- 
servation. The value of these bodies will depend very largely upon the 
