The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-05
MEMPHIS THROWS GATES
 WIDE TO THE PRESIDENT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE l.,


 nihcent empire in size and fertility. It is better adapted to the development of inland navigation than any other valley in either hemisphere; for there are 12,- GOO miles of waterway now more or less fully navigable, and the conditions are so favorable that 1t will be easy to in- crease the extent of navigable waterways to almost any required degree by canali- Zation. Early in our industrial history this valley was the seat of the largest development of inland navigation in the United States, and perhaps you will par don my mentioning that the first steam boat west of the Alleghenies was built by Roosevelt, my great-grandfather brother in 1S11, for the New Orleans trade, and in that year made the trip from Pittsburg to New Orleans. But from various causes river and canal transportation declined all over the United States as the railroad systems came to their full development. It Is our busi- ness to see that the decline is not per- manent: and 1t is of interest to remem- Der that nearly century ago President Madison advocated the equalization of the Mississippi.
 Natural Resources.
 In wealth of natural resources no king dom of Europe can compare with the Mississippi valley and the region around the Great Lakes, taken together. and in population this huge fertile plain all ready surpasses all save one or two of the largest European kingdoms. In this empire a peculiarly stalwart and master full people finds itself in the surround ings best fitted for the full development of its powers and faculties. There has been great growth In the valley of manufacturing centers; the movement is good If It does not go too far; but I most earnestly hope that this region as whole will remain predominantly agri- cultural The people who live in the country districts, and who till the small or medium-sized farms on which they live, make up what is on the whole the most valuable asset in our /na tonal life. There can be just as real progress and culture in the country as in the city: especially in these days of rural free delivery, trolleys bicycles, telephones good roads, and school Improvements The valley of the Mississippi Is political ly 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 the whole western world; and the type of civilization reached In this mighty valley. in this vast stretch of country lying between the Alleghenies and the Rockies. the Great Lakes and thn gulf, will largely fix the type of civiiza ton for the whole western hemisphere Already. as our history shows, the west has determined our national politicaI do- Velopment. and the Fundamental pr,n ciple of present American politics. polit- ica equality, was originally a western idea
 me wonderful variety of resources in ullereht portions of the valley make the demand for transportation altogether ex- ceptional. Coal lumber, corn. wheat cottoh' cattle-on the surface of the soil and beneath the soil the riches are preat There are already evident strong tender. cies to increase the carrying of freight rom the northern part of the valley to the gulf Throughout the valley the land Is so fertile as to make the field for the farmer peculiarly attractive. and where in the west the climate becomes uryer we enter upon the ranching coun- try; While in addition to the products of the soil there are also the manufactures supplied in innumerable manufacturing centers, great and small Cities of as- tonishing growth are found everywhere rom the gulf to the great lakes from the Aileghenies to the Rockies: most of them ! being situated on the great river which flows by your doors or upon some of its numerous navigable tributaries. New mineral fields are discovered every year. 1 and the constantly increasing use of all the devices of intensive cultivation steadily adds to the produce power of the farms. Above all. the average man is honest. intelligent. self-relant ana | orderly, and therefore good citizen. and farmer and wageworker alike-in the last analysis the two most important men in the community-enjoy stand ard of living. and have developed a stand ard of self-respecting, self-reliaint man. | hood, which are of good augury for the future of the entire republic. No man can foresee the limit of the possibility of development in the Mississippi valley. Heart of the Country
 | Such being the case. and this valley be- l ing literally the heart of the United l States. all that concerns its welfare must