Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-08-20

Transmississippi Commercial congress
and 1t was nearly ten o'clock when
Donald @. Fletcher, chairman Of the
local committee on arrangements
called the assembly to order. Mr.
Fletcher stated that the president Of
the congress, Hon. John H. Kirby, Of
Houston, Tex, had been called sud
denly to New York on important bust
ness and would be unable to be present
at the sessions this year and that Judge
G. J. Gavin, chairman Of the executive
committee, had been delayed in Port
land on his way here. He therefore
introduced Hon. Walter Gresham,
former president Of the congress, az
temporary chairman. He made a brief
speech. The annual address Of Presi-
dent Kirby was then read. It was in
part as follows:
When I consider the geographical
position OF the United States with re-
speet to Mexico. with respect to the
Pacific coast states Of Latin America,
with reference to the Pacific coast
provinces Of China, with their teeming
millions Of population now dependent
on Europe to provide them with the
necessities, and that Europe to gain
the trade Of the orient must cross
two oceans, while the United States
will cross but one, am convinced
that the Great Master of the Universe
has designed the American republic
to eventually become the one trans
cendent civilization of the world.
But the great Master will not solve
for us the problems In transportation
and statesmanship that these condi-
tons make obligatory upon a chosen
people. Not the least Of these is
consulate service In the hands Of men
Of business training and acumen
rather than in those of men who hold
their positions by the grace Of par
tisan favor"
At the afternoon session two impor-
tant addresses were made. w. R.
Richardson. secretary Of the National
Good Roads association, spoke on,
Good Roads" His speech in part
was as follows:
THE question of building permanent
highways Is Of the very highest COM
mercial importance and demands the
active attention Of all business men.
The practice 80 long in use Of placing
the burden Of road-making upon the
country people Ia unjust and inequit-
able and will never secure improved
roads. For more than century this
system has been In vogue and to-day
less than one per cent. of the common
road mileage is macadamized or sur
faced, providing durable road for
all seasons Of the year. The present
methods are without svstam- intalli-
gent supervision or business manage
ment, and In truth would not be en-
dured in any other department Of our
governmental affairs. Long custom
and habit seem to have Injured our
people to these ancient methods, SO
primitive and burdensome. that they
bear them with a patience that would
make Job seem restless. We boast Of
our enterprise and progress in every
other channel Of trade, and insist
upon the most up-to-date improve
ments In every other line Of our de-
velopment, and yet we go on year fol-
lowing year enduring the embarrass-
ments and discomforts Of bad, unim-
proved public roads, with a content
ment that passeth all understanding.
When we think about It, every dollar
nf the hundreds Of millions appropri-
ated for rivers and harbors, and every
acre and subsidy granted to encourage
the building Of railroads, would be fu-
tile were It not for the common roads
and highways Of the country. Render
them impossible Of passage for q fort
night and the wheels Of commerce
would stop. looms and spindles would
cease to revolve. railroad cars would
stand idle In the yards and merchant
vessels would lag In the harbor for
want of cargoes to carry to their
ports"
Thomas Richardson took for his sub
ject, Immigration and Its Distribu-
tion," speaking in part as follows:
To-day the native born Of the
United States are looking in absolute
dismay at the enormous immigration
which is coming into the United
States from southern Europe l be-
lieve the time is ripe when the
United States government should be
forced by Its representatives into es-
tablishlng a rigid investigation into
the character and possessions Of every
immigrant who comes into this coun-
try, and unless this be done we can
expect to witness an accumulation Of
trouble and our great centers Of popu-
lation the scene Of turmoil and strife
10 which America and Americans viii,
Of necessity, be made to suffer
The influence Of the immigrant
upon the political conditions in this
country are such a. to seriously en-
ds,~ar the rfeht of nurely American