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Conservation Peoblems in Indiana. 



By Fredertck J. Bree2r. 



When the organized movement to\\'ai'ci the conservation of natufa! 

 resources began with the White House Conference of Govei'hot's in 1908^ 

 very little attention was given it. But wide publicity waS givfeh to the 

 new undertaking, and because of the people's faith in the integrity of pui'- 

 pose of its leaders, Roosevelt and Pinchot, the movement met with very 

 general favor and enthusiasm. We had already seen the essential princi- 

 ples of conservation successfully applied in the management of the Fed- 

 eral forests and irrigation enterprises. Not only did the conservation 

 movement stand out against tlie useless destruction and waste of natural 

 resources, but also agaiust the century-old policy of the government almost 

 giving away its great resources of forests, water power, and minerals to 

 corporations which were becoming gigantic monopolies. At once, conserva- 

 tion became a scientific and economic problem. The rapid reforms that 

 followed the agitation for conservation struck terror to the monopolies and 

 individuals who were getting control of our great national possessions ; 

 and conservation has been compelled to fight against the crafty, powerful 

 and insolent onslaught of certain vested interests. The history of the past 

 year is primarily a story of this struggle. The fight is by no means over ; 

 but the National Conservation movement has gained some very decisive 

 victories, and today conservation enjoys a very marked degree of popular- 

 ity. Already the close observer can see the tendency of certain classes of 

 men to eagerly support the conservation policies in order to secure public 

 favor for themselves. Other well meaning people are insisting on becom- 

 ing leaders of the movement, whose enthusiasm surpasses everything except 

 tlieir deplorable ignorance of conservation itself. 



In view of the recent beginnings of conservation activity in our own 

 State, it may be well to briefly recall to your minds some of the conserva- 

 tion problems of Indiana. 



Two natural resources are almost entirely depleted, our great virgin 

 forests and natural gas. Wiiile tlie removal of our forests was necessary 

 for agriculture and the demand for lumber, yet it must be admitted that 

 deforestation has taken place to a greater extent than the actual needs 



