The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-18
A WELCOME
TO SEATTLE
Every State in the Trans-M Mississippi
Region Represented at
f@ the Congress. "
Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands
Have Delegates The Opening
Proceedings.

Seattle, Wash, Aug. 1S.--The four
tenth annual session of the Trans Mis-
sssippi Commercial Congress, which con-
vened in this city this morning, started
out under the most favorable auspices.
The attendance Is unusually large, there
being delegates from every state and ter
rtory in the trans-Mississtppi region,
from Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands.
Large delegations are present from, Ore
gon, Colorado, Texas and louisiana: S
The morning session of the congress
to day was spentsin perfeeting the organ.
ization and in the delivery of addresses
OF welcome and responses. These included
welcoming addresses by Governor Henry
Mcbride for the state. Mayor. Thomas j.
Humes for the city and Judge Thomas
Burke for the commercial organizations
of the northwest. The speech of Presi-
dent Kirby, responding in behalf of the
congress, was read by Thomas Richard
son Of New Orleans.
Mr.. Kirby said In part:
The Trans Mississippi Commercial congress
ties to the producers OF the larger part of
the nations domestic and export wealth, VINO
toll In the cotton and grain fields. In the lum-
Ter, the iron, the coal and the oil regions ana
in the silver and lead and copper and gold
mines of the west; to command the aid OF the
government in fostering The agricultural pos
sibiities of vast areas that with irrigation
will give richer reward to the husbandman's
patient labor than any other upon the earth2s
surface; to effect the development OF nar-.
bors on the Gulf and Pacific coasts and to
conserve the tremeId ous energies Of the
Mississippi river. These problems are. all In
wrocess Of solution. and the duty of the
government Is become so obvious that no one
need doubt the perfection of these vast en-
terprises As tardy as the government some-
times is in the execution of its obligations
to the citizen. it has not been known to fail
CT crate public duty. Indeed, that which
is now the mission Of the Trans Mississippi
Commercial congress is as broad, as deep and
as eternal as the republic itself.
Already the rapid commercial growth Of the
United States has aroused jealousy and
apprehension on the part Of European powers
which not all their infinite diplomacy can
conceal. Thisis gratifying to American pride,
tut it likewise is challenge to American
genius. Whatever diplomatists may tell you
we stand alone without an ally in this Titanic
struggle for supremacy among the giant ma
lions Of the world If we win we will win
upon American initiative and sustained in
cadence Of American craftsmanship That is
not possible. Z 4&:e% - Fts;*
Time was when 10 the Mississippi Il river
republic. nor did it go beyond into the Wild
erness of the west until president Of the
United States, confessedly without the war
Louisiana purchase. That spirit of adven-
ture and demand for elbow room that has
charactcrized every progressive people since
the Phoenicians looked out upon the sea
and dominated the commerce of the world,
swept Americans on to the possession Of
the Trans Mississippi regions 1t was that
same energy and foresight that bore Ameri-
cans on to the embrac ement of Florida, Texas
and California into the territory and union OF
the states.
obeying still the same spirit ard yielding to
the same great law the American mas begun
TIE commercial invasion of the Orient in an
tlclpatioa of that Fastening day when the
surplus l food stufts and manufactures of our
developing country must find q purchaser
not alone In the Asatic, but In the spheres
of colonial and commercial influence now
SGs occupied by Great Britain and Continental
europe And IN this thought am reminded
that from this -audacious city of Seattle was
shipped, under the directing genius of the
greatest ralroader in the west. the first
out or an American port for the Orient. =,
The addresses scheduled for this after
noon We're: Immigration and It's Dis
tribution,' by Thomas Richardson of New
Orleans, and Good Roads," by R. W.
Richardson. secretary of the National
Good Roads association. ~ -. -
TALK ON GOOD ROADS. II"
Mr.. R. w. Richardson, secretary of the
National Good Roads association said among
ether things -, .,
1t is a matter of congratulation that this
Ject of the improvement Of the public ROADS.
The question first recognized by this body
at its session in Salt Lake City in 1897,
a St paq last resolutions
modern road Hesitation for the several, states
1t remained for this session to- giba 1nerited
recognition to this important question and
assign a place upon its program FOR presenta-
ton and discussion. .
The question of building permanent nigh
ways Is OF the very highest commercial i'm
Portance and demands the active attention.
OF all business men,. The practice so long
IN use of placing the burden Of road makins
upon the country people is unjust and in
EQUITABLE and will never secure improved
roads. For more than a century this sys-
TEN has been in vogue, and to-day less than
one per cent of the common road mileage is
'macadamised or surfaced. providing a dur>
able road for ell seasons of the year. The
Present methods are without system, intelli-
gent supervision, or, business management
and, In truth, would not be endured in any
otner department of our governmental al
falrs. Long custom and habit seem to have
eunrad our people to these ancient methods.
80 primitive and burdensome that they bear
tnem with patience that would make Job
seem restless: We boast of our enterprises
ana progress In every other channel of trade,
and insist upon the most up-to- date improve.