The Washington times., 1907-10-05

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. 5.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt, in his speech here
yesterday before the Deep Water
ways Convention, advocated the inn
provement of rivers, the strength
ening of the navy, and persistence
in the fight on corporations which
violate the laws of the land.
The President said, in part:
In wealth OF natural resources no
kingdom of Europe can compare with
the Mississippi valley and the region
around the Great Lakes, taken together.
and In 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 fitted for the full
development Of its powers and faculties.
There has been a great growth In the
valley Of manufacturing centers; the
movement Is good II It does not go too
far. but most earnestly hope that this
region as a whole will remain predOmi-
nantly agricultural.
People Valuable Asset,
The people who live in the country dis
tricts and who TIL the small or medium
sized farms on which they live, make
up what Is on the whole the most valu-
able asset in our national life. There
can be just as real progress and culture
in the country as in the city; especially
in the days of rural free delivery troll
leys, bicycles telephones. good roads.
and school improvements.
Fertile Valley.
Throughout the valley the land is so
fertile as to make the field for the farm
er peculiarly attractive; and where in
the West the climate becomes dryer we
enter upon the ranching country; while
in addition 10 the products Of the soil
there are also the manufactures sup
piled in innumerable manufacturing CEN
tiers, great and small. Cities Of aston
fishing growth are found from the Gulf
to the Great Lakes. from the Allie
ghenies 70 the Rockies: most OF them
being situated on the great river which
flows by your doors or Upon some Of its
numerous navigable tributaries.
Waterways Belong to People.
The natural highways. the water
ways. can never be monopolized by any
corporation. They belong to all the
people, and II is in the power OF no
one to take them away.
Wherever a nayigable river runs be-
eide railroads the problem Of regulating
the rates on the railroad becomes far
easier, because river regulation is rate
regulation. When the water rate sinks.
the land rate can not be kept at an
excessive height
Therefore h is of national Importance
to develop these streams as highways to
the fullest extent which IS genuinely
profitable.
Ia improving our rivers that We should
follow in improving our harbOrs. The
great harbors are OF consequence not
merely 90 the Immediate localities, but
to immense stretches Of country; and
the same Is true OF the great rivers. II
is these great rivers and great harbors
the Improvement CT which is OF primary
national interest
Planned and orderly development is
essential TO the best use OF every
natural resource. and to none more than
10 the best use of our inland waterways.
In the case Of the waterways II has
been conspicuously absent Because
such foresight was lacking. the interests
of our rivers have been in fact, over
looked, In spite Of the immense sums
spent upon them
Permanent Industries.
The industries developed under the
stimulus Of the railroads are for the
most part permanent Industries. ana
therefore they form the basis for future
DEVELOPMENT But the railroads have
shown that they alone cannot meet the
demands OF the country for transpOr-
tation and where this Is true the rivers
should begin to supplement the rail-
roads, TO the benefit OF both by relieving
them Of certain Of the less profitable
classes OF freight
1t is computed that the annual value
of the available but unused water
power IN the United States exceeds the
annual value of the products Of all our
mines. Furthermore, Il Is calculated
that, under tudiciOus handling, the
power of our streams may be made to
pay for all the works required for the
complete development and control OF
our inland waterways.
Necessity Realized.
Citizens Of all portions of the coun-
try are coming to realize that. however
Important the Improvement Of naviga-
ton may be, it is only one OF many