The Washington herald., 1907-05-19
President Decides OH Trip
Down Mississippi.
IN INTEREST OF WATERWAYS
start tn he Made from Canton, Ohio,
Latter Part of September or Early
I'm October - Receives Invitations
from Governors of Many states.
Commission 10 Hold Meeting.


far as Memphis late in September or
early in October next.
September 30, the President will be in
Canton, Ohio, at the dedication Of the
monument to William Mckinley. and his
journey to Memphis will be a contInua-
ton Of the Ohio trip. The primary object
Of the river trip is the inspection of the
proposed Improvements TO navigation. and
the attendance at a meeting OF the In
land Waterways Commission. The gov
ernOrs of several states invited Mr. RoOse-
welt 20 visit Memphis at the time Of the
meeting OF the waterways commission
early in October, and after considering
these invitations for several days he de-
cided 20 make the trip
Whether the President will travel on a
commercial steamer or on a vessel Of the
United States navy has not been an
nounced. Early in the present spring It
was announced that the torpedo boat
Wasp would visit Evansville Ind, on the
Ohio River. although modern war ships
have seldom or never navigated that
stream; but the food waters subsided.
Evansville again became an inland town.
and the trip Of the Wasp was abandoned
The President will start from some point
on the Mississippi River in middle Illi-
nois, or Iowa. and it is possible that a
small vessel Of the navy will carry him
70 Memphis.
President Tells of Plans.
in a letter to Gov. Deneen. Of Illinois.
the President tells Of his plans.
Il have received the invitations kindly
sent 10 me through the governors Of Ar
kansas. Florida. Illinois. Iowa. Kansas.
Louisiana. Maine. Missouri, Nebraska.
North Dakota. Oklahoma. oregon. South
Dakota. Tennessee, Texas. and Wiscon-
sin. asking me 20 accompany the Inland
Waterways Commission for a trip on the
Mississippi 50 that 1 may personally IA
miliarize myself with certain features Of
the situation which the Commission has
been appointed 90 consider. I deeply ap-
preciate these invitations. Let me say a
special word Of appropriation Of the inyi-
tati0us which come from the governors Of
Florida and Oregon both OF whom,
although the States Of which they are
governors are not on the Mississippi
River show their realization OF the enor-
nous Importance Of improving this great
national highway because Of the benefit
that easy and cheap transportation there
on will mean 70 all the Union. and be
cause they believe that the Improvement
Of tire Mississippi River and its tributaries
VIII tend 20 bring about the Improvement
of other navigable waters Of the country
as factors in commercial and industrial
development. and as affording one Of the
best possible methods Of regulating rail-
way rates.
Aid Transportation Problem.
Others cf the governors. who have
written me. dwell upon the fact that tine
people Of the West feel a peculiar inter
est in the project for the Improvement
not only Of tho Mississippi. but Of other
nayigabIe rivers fitted % be public high
ways Of commerce, because they think
that such improvements will help toward
the solution of many Of the problems at
taching 20 railway transportation
The basin Of the Misslssipp3 taken as
a whole, from the Gulf to the Grsa.
Lakes. from the Alleghenies 90 the
Rockies, constitutes the greatest agricul-
tural empire that men have ever cult
waited, and an equally great system OF
water highways is needed to supply any
inadequacy Of land carriage for the
products Of this region.
Vrbre. - Envr nox.' Trfn
Unless something unforeseen occurs
to make me alter my plans. I intend %
accompany the members Of the Inland
Waterways Commission on a three or
four days trip al the beginning Of next
October. down the Mississippi, from some
point in Middle Illinois or Iowa, to Mem
phls. I feel that the problems before the
commission concern vitslly not only 10 the
people of the Mississippi Valley. but the
people Of our entire country. and any
thing I can do 10 help forward the rapid
solution Of these problems and the proper
utilization Of our great waterways. I am
glad indeed 20 do. Very truly yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
4 number of letters from governors OF
States, all urging the President to go 60
Memphis with the members Of the In
land Waterways Commission were made
public at the White House yesterday.
There were also several letters from COM
merCial bodies. having the same purport