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vague designation of little understood and but slightly appre- 
ciated principles, it has now come to characterize a very definite, 
practical movement that has for its object the rational develop- 
ment and wise use of the sources of nature wealth on which rest 
the material well-being of the Nation. 
Conservation deals primarily with the four great classes of 
natural resources, lands, water, forests and minerals, but it has 
rightly been extended to include as well the consideration of 
means looking to the safe-guarding of public health and to the 
increasing of our vitality as a nation. 
In his message to Congress transmitting the report of the Na- 
tional Conservation Commission, President Roosevelt said: ^‘To 
be fearless, to be just and to be efficient are the three great re- 
quirements of national life. National efficiency is the result of 
natural resources well handled, of freedom, of opportunity for 
every man, and of the inherent capacity, trained ability, knowl- 
edge and will collectively and individually to use that opportunity. 
Conservation has been defined as the application of common sense 
to common problems for the common good. If this description 
is correct, then Conservation is the great fundamental basis for 
National efficiency.” 
In that its essential aim and purpose is the permanent better- 
ment of all the people. Conservation has been termed the “new 
patriotism,” while another definition of the purpose of the move- 
ment has added to a time-honred phrase a few additional words 
of pregnant significance — the greatest good of the greatest num- 
ber for the longest time. 
The purpose of the present paper is to outline briefly the 
growth of Conservation as a definite movement, to summarize 
the principles for which it stands and to indicate the trend that 
events seem now to be taking. 
Conservation is a broad and comprehensive subject and touches 
various fields of endeavor at many points. It has many ramifica- 
tions, but the broad outlines are clear and the fundamental prin- 
ciples are simple. The chief danger that Conservation has now 
to fear is that attention may be distracted from these few simple, 
fundamental principles by some interesting or temporarily excit- 
ing side issue. In this paper the effort will be made — as it 
should always be made in any serious consideration of Conserva- 
tion problems — to stick to the big, simple, central truths, for it is 
on these that rest the foundations of our prosperity. 
THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATION. 
Conservation as it has come to be understood deals essentially 
with the right use of such of the four great sources of natural 
wealth, lands, water, forests and minerals, as still remain in pub- 
lic ownership. Until very recently we as a nation have been in 
the pioneer stage and necessarily have looked at things from the 
pioneer standpoint. But of late we have come to realize that the 
