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ultimate acquisition of an ample spoil lending itself with 
constant ease and unfailing abundance to the require- 
ments of man. So may it be said that expansive seas, 
forming carefully cultivated and guarded preserves, 
teeming with alimentary treasures varying with the 
season, and in form and variety, in habit and structure 
best adapted to their needs, will be the assured possess- 
ion of a near or a remote posterity unless civilization 
wanes and population declines. 
Through the glass of eternal time slip slowly the 
century’s closing sands, and the mighty stream of its 
effort seems to slacken and to dwindle with the ebbing 
of its years. During its course there has been a 
revelation of the earth’s resources so startling to eyes 
long clouded by ignorance and doubt as to occasion 
an era of feverish development, of strained and intense 
exertion of the powers of our race, such as the world 
will probably never see again. Never before were the 
energies of mankind so expanded in magnificent 
achievement, and never before may it in sorrow be added 
were they exerted so wastefully and so destructively. 
The century to come will be more of conservation than 
of development, of maintenance rather than of progress, 
but still of continuous advance. To the reparation of 
our errors will be devoted much of the endeavor of our 
posterity, who will nevertheless honor us for much that 
we have accomplished for ourselves without thought of 
them as the ultimate beneficiaries. They will, however, 
hold those more worthy and deserving of a larger 
measure of gratitude who, with wise and provident 
foresight, sought provision for their eventual advantage 
and well being. 
