THE JOINT CONSERVATION CONGRESS 



97 



view to the protection of growing timber and 

 the watersheds and headwaters of streams 

 used for navigation and other interstate pur- 

 poses. 



We also especially approve and indorse the 

 proposition that all the uses of the waters 

 and all portions of each waterway should be 

 treated as interrelated ; and we emphatically 

 urge prompt and effective legislation provid- 

 ing for the immediate and proper develop- 

 ment of the waterways of the country for 

 navigation, water supply, and other inter- 

 state uses, preferably by direct Federal appro- 

 priations; otherwise by the issue of bonds. 



Fully approving the policy of improving the 

 waterways of the country for navigation and 

 other interstate uses of the waters, we urge 

 the prompt adoption of the broad plan recom- 

 mended by the Inland Waterways Commis- 

 sion for waterway development under an ex- 

 ecutive board or commission appointed by and 

 acting under the direction of the President of 

 the United States. 



The destruction of the timber on the water- 

 sheds of the rivers of the United States causes 

 the flow of water to fluctuate between floods, 

 which cause incalculable damage and extreme 

 low water, which destroys the utility of the 

 rivers for navigation, water power, and water 

 for domestic use and irrigation. 



That we recommend that the several States 

 enact laws regulating the cutting and removal 

 of timber and slash on private lands, to the 

 end that the continuity of the forests of our 

 country may be assured, that damage from 

 floods may be prevented. 



That a more uniform flow in rivers may be 

 maintained for the benefit of navigation, 



After considerable discussion the re- 

 port of the committee was adopted, and 

 the request was made that delegates 

 present who had prepared papers for 

 reading before the Conference, and who 

 had not been able to present these pa- 

 pers, send them in for incorporation 

 in the final report of the Conference. 



water power, and water for domestic use and 

 irrigation. 



Approving those portions of the report 

 pointing out the need for continued investiga- 

 tion and more extended scientific research, we 

 also urge that this policy of gaining more 

 definite and specific knowledge relating to our 

 resources be adopted by the several States, no 

 less than by the Federal Government. 



Especially commending the portions of the 

 report dealing with diminished national effici- 

 ency due to disease and premature death 

 among pur citizens, we urge the adoption of 

 the policy of protecting life and health by 

 States, municipalities, and communities no 

 less than by the Federal Government ; and we 

 urge further investigation of all other means 

 whereby the efficiency of individual citizens, 

 and hence of the States and Nation, may be 

 increased. 



We favor the maintenance of Conservation 

 Commissions in every State, to the end that 

 each commonwealth may be aided and guided 

 in making the best use of those abundant 

 resources with which it has been blessed. 



We also especially urge on the Congress of 

 the United States the high desirability of 

 maintaining a National Commission on the 

 Conservation of the Resources of the Coun- 

 try, empowered to cooperate with State com- 

 missions, to the end that every sovereign 

 commonwealth and every section of the coun- 

 try may attain the high degree of prosperity 

 and the sureness of perpetuity naturally 

 arising in the abundant resources, and the 

 vigor, intelligence, and patriotism of our 

 people. 



A paper was read by Edward G. Ache- 

 son, president of the American Electro- 

 chemical Society ; E. E. Wickey, repre- 

 senting the Farmers' National Con- 

 gress, addressed the Conference briefly, 

 and, on motion of Governor Ansell. 

 the Conference, at 5 :3O o'clock, ad- 

 journed sine die. 



