Natural Resources

Abstract

American well-being on secure foundations.-In natural wealth this country is unrivaled. With one-twentieth of the world's area and population, we produce one-fourth to three-fourths of the world's annual supply of grain, cotton, coal, zinc, lead, copper, iron ore, and oil. Dependence of civilization on mineral resources increasing. -Since 1918 our mineral output has increased 40 per cent. Agriculture grows only as fast as population, but the demand for minerals changes with every discovery and invention. The "American secret" lies in mechanised energy. The American wageearner has more power at his elbow than any other worker in the world. Twenty years ago one family in ten bought electric current; now it is two out of three. River problems.-The Muscle Shoals and Colorado power projects have attracted more public attention than their economic importance warrants, but the problem of the Mississippi River floods is one calling for the best of American engineering. Mineral estate of the American people.-Nearly 200 million acres of public land is still unappropiated, and the mineral deposits in public ownership constitute a large share of our national wealth. The mineral-leasing law recognizes community of interest between private operator and public landlord.