157 
THE DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNORS. 
One of the notable features of the Conference on Natural Re- 
sources held at Washington in May was the unanimous adoption 
of a report drawn up to express the views and recommendations 
of the Conference. 
This statement has been called by President Roosevelt "The 
Declaration of the Governors." Its contents should be carefully 
read and taken to heart by every American who cares for the 
future welfare of his country. The Declaration in full is as 
follows : 
"We, the Governors of the states and territories of the United 
States of America, in conference assembled, do hereby declare 
the conviction that the great prosperity of our country rests upon 
the abundant resources of the land chosen by our forefathers for 
their homes and where they laid the foundation for this great 
Nation. 
"We look upon these resources as a heritage to make use of in 
establishing and promoting the comfort, prosperity and happiness 
of the American people, but not to be wasted, deteriorated, or 
needlessly destroyed. 
"We agree that our country's future is involved in this ; that 
the great natural resources supply the material basis upon which 
our civilization must continue to depend, and upon which the per- 
petuity of the Nation itself rests. 
"We agree, in the light of facts brought to our knowledge and 
from information received from sources which we cannot doubt, 
that this material basis is threatened with exhaustion. Even as 
each succeeding generation, from the birth of the Nation, has 
performed its part in promoting the progress and development of 
the Republic, so do we in this generation recognize it as a high 
duty to perform our part, and this duty, in large degree, lies in 
the adoption of measures for the conservation of the natural 
wealth of the country. 
"We declare our firm conviction that this conservation of our 
natural resources is a subject of transcendent importance, which 
should engage unremittingly the attention of the Nation, the states, 
and the people in earnest cooperation. These natural resources 
include the land on which we live, and which yields our food ; 
the living waters which fertilize the soil, supply powefT and forrri 
great avenues of commerce; the forests which vield the materials 
for our homes, prevent erosion of the soil, and conserve the navi- 
gation and other uses of our streams ; and the minerals which 
form the basis of our industrial life, and supply us with heat, 
light and power. 
"We agree that the land should be so used that erosion and 
