The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1904-12-02
ADDRESS
Delivered at The Formal Opening
Of Big Sandy Slackwater
Navigation.

made at the exercises attending COM
pletlon and reception OF Government
Lock and Dam No. /. Big Sandy River
at catlettsburg, Thursday. November
l7th. 1901.
Mr. President. Ladies' and Gentlemen:
shall testify by good intent. II
net In apt words, the interests OF n
Big sandlan and Kentuckian In the
great improvement OF our dear Bis
Sandy; but first as Big sandlan and
secondly as Kentuekian.
We are met TO receive this Initial
Improvement. and TO receive from the
honored representative Of our glorious
Republic the tender Of this munifleent
Gift and TO pledge anew our cooper
/, alton that the work so auspiciously
begun shall be carried on by us, by
Our children and the children of onr
children II need be. to / mll and glo.
rlous contamination.
Kentucky Is and ought TO be proud
that this work has been undertaken
by the strong and capable hands and
is. backed by the plethoric purse Of
vital interest In the improvements OF
these waterways, having more thar
ak hundred miles Of river frontage
ON the Ohio. her western border being
the Mississippi and the eastern bod
der being completely bounded by the
the National Government. She has
stream on which we are met
We congratulate ourselves that W,
who meet here are descendants Of that
sturdy band Of pioneers. who. beior,
they had scarcely won Kentucky from
the bloody hands of the savage In
dians. set up demand for the free
navigation OF the Mississippi. a de
mand which had It's accomplishment
In forcing the purchase Of the terri
tory Of Louisiana. and making IL,
navlga,l0n Of that great stream opel
huo Tree tct all ume.
II was her great Clay who advocat
ed and gave Impulse 10 the policy that
the National Government should un
dertake and conduct internal improve
menta looking TO the development Of
the highway Of interstate traffic AND
commerce Il was a fault Of Gu,
statesmen Of later period that they
enforced construction Of the power
of the Federal Government prohibit
Ing the undertaking Of works OF gen
eral public utility by the General Go,
ernment
We are now happily able to see ID,
practical benefits Of reversal OF this
policy.
Within the sweep Of our vision ar,
three great commnnwealths Let "
remember that old Virginia. the com
mon parent Of all the states concern
ed In this work. In oedlng the terri
tory which lies north OF the Ohio riy
er. gave n double pledge 10 freedom
one in the fee nagigaiion of the riy
er Ohio. and the other In dedicatlns
the territory of the northwest 10 free,
dom. so that man rs man. and with.
out regard to color. should ever be
free therein.
II has been said that the ordiuanc,
Of 81 Is one Of three title deeds OF
American constitutional liberty,
Let Us recall the ambitious plans ol
our forefathers. who dreamed OF wa
terway up the James, through IN,
senawha. down the Ohio and up N,
seA Asouri and Mississippi that should
Slsh transportation for the gener
IS % come after them.
has Az OF steam. Of the iron hors'
10 ca rAil answered all demands
lth aspor alton facilities for som,
nos following. but these way
IKE ~ pd ,te. even monopolist
+ { Cuteh tn hile we may not de
were gy- shey are purchase,
accession o. often at too grea
,larses tof the use Of the-'
y w Transportation nrSc confessed
~ ihId upon the theory OF frS.p lni
AN the traffic will bear. and raiwa5
,vafnc without water competition. n
ten becomes burdensome. even oppre'
sIve in its cost.
II Is manifest duty OF the Gener'
al Government to help the people 'f
the best possible use Of the natural
highways with which they have beer
favored.
We today dwell with pride upon Tho
history and achievements OF the iath
ers who conquered and preserved th'
goodly heritage OF this wonderful
valley OF the Ohio. Without dispar
agement Of all they achieved. we ciaiT
the right to turn our face to the ris
ing glories Of, the East in this daw
OF a new century OF national exi'
tence. In the light Of these grand'
days we are thrilled with the prid
and consciousness OF growing powe
greater prosperity and all that max
for the grandeur and greatness
our common country.
Within three years private capt.
amounting TO ten million collars n
been invested in the valley oil =
Big Sandy in the purchase OF n
mineral treasures and In construct
means OF transportation thereof
market within a few months
shall have two railroads opened
traffic-one ON the east bank and
the eastern fork Of this river
The old question. "can there
good thing come out of NaEaret'
"a about to be answered. and that
,lon OF the two commonwealths
Kentucky and West virsinia hl'n'
neglected. yea even despised by
opulent dcnisens Of the Blue ~
and Of certain parts Of West vir'
Ia. Is, by the Investment OF pri'
and public means soon to DO a.
,hraned. regenerated, made rau