Omaha daily bee., 1907-10-05
PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT MEMPHIS
chief Executive Calls Attention to
Needs Of Entire Nation.

MEMPHIS, Oct. 4.-President Roosevelt,
his addressito the convention, said:
Under any circumstances should well
:onie the chance Of speaking at Memphis
N the old historic state of Tennessee, rich
y its glorious past and in the certainty
of an even greater futufe but especially
consratulate myself that ! am able to
meet not only the citizens of Tennessee,
but many of the citizens of Mississippi
and Arkensas and of other states as well;
and when the chief executives OF SO many
states are gathered to consider a subject
Of momentous interest to all. The Missis-
sippi valley is a magnificent empire In size
and fertility. II is better adapted to the
development of inland navigation than any
other valley In other hemisphere; for
there IS 1900 piles Of waterway now more
or less fully navigable. and the conditions
are so favorable that It will be easy to
Increase the extent OF navlgable water
canaiiEation. Early in our Industrial
history this valley was the seat of the
largest development of inland navigation
viii % pardon my % Mentioning na tRst sRs rs Ds
built by Roosevelt, my sreat-srand-
Orleans trade, and in that year made tho the.
trip from PittsburE TO New Orleans. But
from various causes river and canal
States as the railroad systems came to
tkeir fn,l development y is our business
hs' is 81 ne uIsrsnt pschS to no1 5a;
heariy a century ago PRESIDENT Madison
1, advocated the equalization OF the Missis-
.'~, wealth of Resource.. ,,,
In wealth OF natural resources no king
dom OF Europe can compare with the
Mississippi valley and the region around
population this huge fertile plain already
surpasses all save one or two of the largest
European kingdoms In this empire a
peculiarly stalWart and masterful people
finds itself In the surroundings best htted
for the full development of its powers and
faculties There has been great growth
in the valley of manufacturing centers
the movement is good II II does not 60
too far but / most earnestly hope that
this region as whole will remain predomi-
in the country districts, and who TIL the
small or medium sized farms on which
they y up ss Is the hOi
life. fhere can be just as real progress
and culture in. the country as in the city;
livery, troiIeys. bicycles, telephones good
roads, and school improvements. The
valley OF the Mississippi is politically and
commercially more important than any
other valley on the face OF the globe. Here
more than anywhere else will be determined
the future Of the United States and indeed
OF civilization reached in this mighty
valley, in this vast stretch OF country
lying between the Alleghenies and the
will largely fix the type of civilization for
the whole western hemisphere. Already.
as our history shows, the west has de-
ment. and the fundamental principle OF
present American politics. political equality,
was vas originally "a, a western idea :.
different portions of the valley make the
demand for transportation altogether ex.
ceptional Coal lumber, corn, wheat. cot
ton cattle-on the surface OF the soil and
beneath the soil the riches are great, There
are already evident strong tendencies &c
northern part Of the valley TO the gulf
Throughout the valley the land Is so fer
tile, as 10 make the field for the farmer
peculiarly attractive; and where In tht
west the climate becomes dryer we entei
upon the ranching country while in ad
slso noh the mSnufSctures S 81 supplied dir in % innumer M
able manufacturing centers, great and
small Cities of astonishing growth are
Great Lakes, from the Aiieghenies to ths
Rockies: most OF them being situated or
the great rivers which flows by your doors
or upon some OF its numerous navlgabls
tributaries New mineral fields are dis
covered every year. and the constantly
increasing use of ap the devices Of inten.
ductiVe power OF the farms Above all
the average man Is honest, Intelligent self.
citizen; and farmer and waseworker alike
IN the last analysis the two most import.
ant men IN the community-enJoya stand
ard OF living. and have developed a stand
ard OF self respecting, seif-reliant man
hood, which are OF good augury for the
future OF the entire republic. No man car
foresee the limit OF the possibility of de
veiopment In the Mississippi valley.
River should he Utilised.
Such being the case. aud this valley be-
ing literally the heart OF the United States
all that cOnoerns its welfare must con
Iacsru likewise the whole country. There
1orG, the Mississippi river and its tribu-
taries ought by all means 10 be utilized tC
their utmost possibility. Facility OF cheaI
transportation Is an essential in our mod
ern civilization, and we cannot anord any
longer TO neglect tho great highways whicf
nature has provided for us. These natura
highways the waterways, can never be
mon0poliEed by any corporation. They be
long to all the people, and Il Is In th'
noWer OF no one 20 take them away
Wherever = naVigable river rams beside
r@i.lVaus the problem Of regulating rates
ON the railroads becomes far easier, be
.s1Se river . egulauons IS rate regulation
When the water rate sinks, the land rate
saunot 0e kept az an excessive height
Therefore II Is OF national importance q
develop these streams highways TO tbs
fnn tent which is genuinely proh stable
Near hs year transportation problems be