THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT.
The movement to regulate the use of natural resources in order that all classes may receive their just share of benefit through the exploitation of these resources, has now reached a practical working stage. This is shown by the creation of numerous state conservation commissions, nearly all of whom are working out the problems confronting them by securing adequate state legislation, with funds for administering the laws enacted as well as co-operating closely with the Federal Government in matter which can best and most economically be so handled. The propaganda stage so necessary at the start is now rapidly being replaced by an era of practical constructive work which will have lasting and increasingly valuable results.
The word "conservation" has in the past been used by many misinformed or purposely misled people to typify all that is theoretical, visionary and impractical in dealing with those matters which conservationists have sought to remedy. The questions taken up by this commission and carried to successful issue such as the securing of an adequate water code, modern forest legislation, topographic mapping in co-operation with the Geological Survey and matters of this kind will appeal to citizens of the state as being not visionary but practical; not theory but actual necessities.
Such work as securing settlement of our logged off lands, water for our arid sections, cheaper power for the industries which we have and for those which would come, were this cheap power available, the study of our mineral resources, the protection of our forests and like matters, are being realized as necessities. What other countries have found necessary we also will find to our benefit. To disregard the experience of other states and countries is foolish in the extreme. To fail of action until our resources are largely dissipated would be short-sightedness, for which, in the light of experience right at home, there would appear to be no justification.
As in the case of many other great movements the Federal Government, through the work of the Forest Service, the Reclamation Service, the Geological Survey, and other branches, has shown the way to a practical working out of our problems. And these Federal bureaus now stand ready to assist the states in work which they are beginning to take up.
Through cooperative agreements it is possible to secure the services of experts in almost any line at an expense far below that of hiring such men engaged in private endeavor.
