Most important in his own estimation and from the standpoint of
personal credit, was Roosevelt’s work for the conservation of the
natural resources of the country. In May, 1908, he called a conference
of the Governors of all the states for this purpose.
The natural wealth of the nation was disappearing at an alarming rate.
The forests were being destroyed by wasteful methods of lumbering and
by devastating fires. The coal supply was being wastefully handled.
Ignorance and greed were exhausting the fisheries. These things needed
wise and honest treatment and the conference led to the formation of a
National Conservation Commission to take these matters in hand.