The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
PRESIDENT
iROOSEVELT'S
ADDRESS
Speech at the National Good
Roads Convention at
ST. Louis

!
In the proceedings indicates the i'm
portance which the good roads move
ment has attained. TIE fact that ths
convention unanimously endorsed the
rational aid plan also indicates the
trend of sentiment in that direction.
The presidents entrance was sig
i naled by cheers from the assembled
ldalepates. He was introduced by
President Moore OF the National Good
Roads Association, and spoke as fol
lows:
Mr.. Chairman Ladies and Gentle
lmen-When we wish to use descrip-
tive adjectives At to, characterize
great empires aud the men who made
those empires great. invariably one
OF the adjectives used Is to signify
that the empire built good roads.
Applause When we speak OF the
Romans. we speak of them as rulers,
as conquerers. as administrators, as
road builders.
There were empires that rose over
night and fell over night; empires
whose influence was absolutely ey-
anescent. which passed away without
leaving a trace OF their former exist.
ence: but whenever the Roman estab-
lished his rule. the traces OF that tribe
remains deep today, stamped on the
| language and customs OF the people,
and stamped in tangible form upon
fthe soil itself.
Passing through Britain fifteen cen.
turtles after the dominion OF Rome has
passed away. the Roman roads as
features still remain. Going through
Italy. where power after power has
risen and lowered and vanished since
the days when the temporal dominion
OF the Roman emperOrs transferred
its seat from Rome TO Constantine
pie: going through Italy after the
Lombard. the Goth. the Byzantine
and all the peoples OF the middle ages
have ruled that country--it Is the Inn
perishable Roman road that reap
pears The habit OF road-building
MARKS in a nation those solid stable
qualities which tell for permanent
greatness
Right 10 Demand Good Roads.
Merely from the standpoint OF his
torlcal anology. we should have
right 20 ask that this people which
has tanned a continent. which has
built up a country with a continent
Tor It's base which boasts itself with
truth as the mightost republic that
the world has ever seen. which We
firmly believe will In the century now
opening, rise 10 a position OF headshlp |
and leadership such as no other ma.
tion has ever yet attained (applausel |
merely from historical analogy, | say. |
we should have a right 10 demand
that such a nation built good roads
tApplause.)
Much more have we right 10 de-
point The difference between the
simibarbarlanism OF toe middle ages ,
and the civilization which succeeded
IT, was the difference between poor
and good means OF communication.
And we. 20 whom space is less OF an
obstacle tian ever before In the his
tory OF any nation, we who have
spanned a continent. who have thrust
our border westward in the course of
a century and quarter. until Il has
gone from the Atlantic over the Allie
ghanies. down into the valley OF the
Mississippi, across the great plains.
over the Rockies. 10 where the Golden
Gate let's through tho long,heaving
waters of the Pacific, and finally TO
Alaska and the Arctic regions. TO the
islands of the Orient, the tropic isles
OF the sea-we who take so little ac-
count OF more space. must see TO Il
that the best means OF nullifylng the
existence OF space are at our com
mand.
Railroads No Substitute.
or course. during the last century
there has been altogether phenome-
nal growth In one kind OF road,
wholly unknown TO the people OF the
old-the iron road The railway is.
OF course, something purely modern
Now. a great many excellent people
have proceeded upon the assumption
that. somehow or other, having good
railways are a substitute for having
good hlgways-good ordinary roads.
A more untenable position can not be
imagined. (Applause.l What the
railroad does is to develop the coun-
try, and OF course, its development
implies that the country will need
more and better roads (Applause)
A few years ago, Il was a matter,
| am tempted 20 say. of national hu-
initiation that there should be so little
attention paid TO our roads-that
there should be willingness not
merely to refrain from making good
roads, hut 20 let the roads that were
In existence become worse; and
can not too heartily congratulate our
people upon the existence OF a body
such as this. ramifying into every
section of the country. having its
communications In every state OF the
country. and bent upon this eminent.
~ practical work OF making the con.
ditions OF life easier and better for
the people who OF all others we can
least AFFORD to see grow discontented
with their lot in lfe-the people who
live in the country districts. CAD.
plause)
Industrial Development.
The excessive, the wholly unheard-
OF rate OF our industrial development
during the past twenty-five years. 10.
gether with the good sides has had
some evil sides II Is a fine thing 10
see our cities built up. but not al the
expense OF the country districts.
(Applause) The healthy thing Is TO
see the building up OF both the city
and the country. But we can not ex.
pect the best. the most eager the
most ambitious yOunQ man ~ stax