127 



Coal Deposits and Olli(r Mineral WeaJUi. — In tl,ie matter of coal 

 mining there must be a steady iusisteiiee 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 Poiccr. — 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 progi'iim than to insist on the passage of laws that will clearly 

 establish the principle that water power belongs to the State, and that will 

 provide for the leasing of water pcnver rights for a definite term of 

 years at a rental that will be fair to the power company and to the people 

 of the State. 



Cons&i'vation of Pithlie' Health. — The campaign for public health has 

 been carried on so eflicieiitly 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 Beaiittj. — Another phase of conservation should be tlie i)reserv- 

 ing of the natural lieauty 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 flowers, and songs of birds are wortli 

 while, and that the future develo])ment of our resources shall not destroy 

 these things. I hope that the State Federation of Clubs will make this 

 subject its chief conservation a'-tivity. 



C'onscrr«//o» Onjanizalions. — Witliiu the last few montlis we Iiavo 

 seen the formation of org.inizalidns tn do special work along lines of con- 

 peryation. The value of Ihese l^idics will deiieiid very largely ijpon the 



