The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-30
TALKS ON GOOD ROADS.
President Began speechmaking Soon
After Reaching St. Louis

st. Louis. April 30.-Presldent RooSe-
welt arrived here Wednesday afternoon
to participate in the dedication cere-
monies OF the Louisiana Purchase expo
sition.
His train arrived at Forsythe juno
ton at Is O'Clock where he was met
and escorted to the Good Roads COLI
vention in Odeon hall for brief ad-
dress. Members of the national COM
mittee of the Worlds fair, a reception
committee headed by President Francis
and crowd of spectators were present
to welcome the president For an hour
before his train arrived troops of militia
and sQuadrons Of police were stationed
at the point of Decentralization to pre-
vent a crush. When the presidents
train arrived President Roosevelt ac-
companied by Governor Dockery of
Missouri, who had Joined the train at
Keokuk, Iowa, stepped off the rear end.
President Francis of the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition seized the hand of the
president and gave him an informal
welcome to st. Louis. Mayor Wells,
President Carter of the national com
mission and other members of that
body, the reception committee of the
Worlds fair and military officers shook
hands with the president, and after this
brief and informal reception he was es-
corted to the carriage in waiting Mayor
Wells, President Carter and Secretary
Loeb accompanied the president in the
carriage which was at once driven off
to the Good Roads convention.
The military companies and a platoon
of police had been waiting two blocks
away, and as soon as the line of car
riages appeared a slower march was
taken UP to cover the three miles 20
Odeon hall. People congregated along
the streets. cfeered wildly as the presi-
dent passed He continually DOTTED his
hat in acknowledgment
The hall was packed with a crowd
which had been waiting patiently for
hours when. at o'clock. the president
arrived to address the National Good
Roads association.
Roads" the president declared, tell
the greatness of a nation. The infiu-
ence of nations which have not been
road builders have been evanescent.
Rome, the most powerful of the older
civilizations left her impress on htera-
ture and speech; she changed the boun-
diaries of nations but palmer than any
thing else left to remind us of the Ro-
man civilization are the Roman roads. -
At this point in the presidents speech
the crowd rose as one man and cheered,
waving handkerchiefs and hats Mere
ly from history analogy" the president
continued. this country which we be-
lfeve will reach a position of leadership
never equalled-this country, l say,
should so act that posterity will justly
say when speaking of us, that nation
built good roads,
The president declared that good
roads probably were the greatest
agency forregulation of the flow from the
country to the city of young men and
young women
"A long line of liquid morass is not
pleasant the president continued. 1T
means in many instances practical iso-
lation to the farmer. When the girl or
the boy can't take a turn on a bicycle
even to a neighbors because Of the
roads-wen, it is a situation not likely
to make farm life attractive"
In conclusion the president spoke of
the benefit to the country district of the
free delivery.
From Odeon hall the president was
driven at a sharp trot to ST. Louis unit
versity A few minutes were spent here,
guests repaired to the home of Mr.
Francis for dinner.