98 Conservation of Natural Resources in California. 



machinery of publicity, of exhortation, and of public action that a 

 democracy can have was put in action at one stroke. 



The scientific papers presented to the Conference, giving exact data 

 about agriculture, streams, forests; coal, and all similar subjects, were 

 the most practical and helpful literature of waste and of methods of 

 conservation ever put together. They will become a classic description 

 of our great resources as they now are. . 



The brief speeches by many of the Governors were in the nature of 

 an ''experience meeting." They told of the work that the state govern- 

 ments are doing to save and to reclaim. And the resolutions adopted 

 called on the government, local and national, and on the people to 

 preserve our national wealth. 



Every man came away from the most noteworthy gathering that he 

 ever attended, with a new love of his country, a new attitude toward it, 

 a new conscience about the land, the trees, and the streams; and we 

 entered then on a new era in our national thought and in our attitude 

 toward our land. 



ANDREW CARNEGIE. 



The ironmaster of Pittsburg, who has scattered libraries over this con- 

 tinent like the sands of the sea, delivered a striking address from which 

 only a few extracts can be given. 



In view of the sobering facts presented, the thoughtful man is forced 

 to realize, first, that our production and consumption of minerals are 

 increasing much more rapidly than our population; and, second, that 

 our methods are so faulty and extravagant that the average waste is 

 very great, and in coal almost as great as the amount consumed. The 

 serious loss of life in- the mines is a feature that can no longer be 

 overlooked. Nor can we fail to realize that the most useful minerals 

 will shortly become scarce, and may soon reach prohibitive cost unless 

 steps to lessen waste are taken in the interest of the future. 



I have for many years been impressed with the steady depletion of 

 our iron ore supply. It is staggering to learn that our once supposed 

 ample supply of rich ores can hardly outlast the generation now appear- 

 ing, leaving only the leaner ores for the later years of the century. It 

 is my judgment, as a practical man accustomed to dealing with those 

 material factors on which our national prosperity is based, that it is 

 time to take thought for the morrow. 



We are nationally in the position of a large family receiving a rich 

 patrimony from thrifty parents deceased intestate; the President may 

 be likened to the eldest son, and the Governors to younger brothers, 

 jointly responsible for the minors ; the experts assembled may be likened 

 to the family solicitors. Now, the first duty of such a family is to take 



