i9 io.] Conservation of Natural Resources. 



219 



tive measures should be adopted to guard against monopoly. 

 With this view they made a number of suggestions in general 

 terms, and finally passed a resolution to the effect that the 

 Conference "is convinced of the importance of the movement 

 for the conservation of natural resources on the continent of 

 North America, and believe that it is of such a nature and of 

 such general importance that it should become world-wide in 

 its scope, and therefore suggests to the President of the 

 United States that all nations should be invited to join 

 together in conference on the subject of world resources and 

 their inventory, conservation, and wise utilisation." 



The suggested Conference has not yet been summoned, 

 but legislation is now being advocated in the United States 

 with a view to secure for the benefit of the community the 

 rights of the State in the minerals and water of public lands, 

 and also to provide for the development of forests, unpro- 

 ductive land, and inland navigation. A Special Message 

 from President Taft to Congress on January 14th outlines 

 the action necessary in the following directions : — (1) The 

 retention under Government control of minerals and water- 

 power on public land (which includes an area of over 

 700,000,000 acres, chiefly mountain ranges and arid and semi- 

 arid plains) ; in the case of water-power, the object of the 

 proposed control is to prevent any monopoly under private 

 ownership ; (2) conservation and improvement of the soil by 

 draining, rotation of crops, &c. ; (3) irrigation of arid lands; 



(4) a scientific method of working the public forests; and 



(5) the improvement of inland waterways. 



Of these, the conservation of the soil of the country is 

 regarded as in many ways the most important, although it 

 cannot be made the subject of legislation. It is pointed out 

 that it is incumbent upon the Government to foster by all 

 available means the resources of the country that produce the 

 food of the people. The means suggested appear to a great 

 extent to consist of the distribution of information and advice 

 through the Department of Agriculture on subjects such as 

 drainage, rotations, suitable crops, and other matters relating 

 to the improvement of agricultural methods. In regard to 

 the drainage of marsh lands and the irrigation of arid lands, 

 further direct action is advocated. 



