Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-05
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THRoNo
AT MEMPHIS
REFERS TO OWENS RIVER PRO-
JEcr AS GOOD ONE
Roosevelt WarnI,. Greeted In 'fennes-
eee-Touches Briefly on Subject
of Railroad Rate Legis-
lation

the mississippi river as the guest Oh tne
inland waterways commission, was the
principal speaker today at the rousing
meeting held in the interest Of the lakes
to-the-gulf waterway.
President Roosevelt spoke earnestly in
behalf of river Improvement and also
touched briefly ,on his favorite subject,
railroad rate regulation.
In the course of his address the presi-
dent referred to the Owens river water
project in Los Angeles as one that is
likely to prove wholly successful, and
said the Importance and advantages OF
such undertakings are only beginning TO
be understood and appreciated.
Memphis Thronged with Visitors
Thousands of citizens and visitors
thronged the streets of Memphis today
to do honor to President Roosevelt and
the many distinguished men who are here
attending the second annual convention
of the Lakes-to- the Gulf Waterways con-
vention, which met at the Auditorium
rink this morning. Never before in the
history of Memphis has such lavish
display of flags and bunting been in evil
dence.
.Tisfilo buildings en the principal streets
are a mass Of color and pictures of the
president are numerously displayed
throughout the city. The day opened
with a downpour of rain, which, now
ever, had ceased by noon.
Among the delegates to the convention
are governors of sixteen states, United
States senators, representatives,, noted
engineers and prominent men from all
sections of the territory traversed by
the Mississippi river and its tributaries.
The convention was addressed by Ly-
man E. Cooley of Chicago, who spoke
on 'sThe Lakes to the Gulf Deep Water
way Mr.. Cooley was followed by Joseph
E. RegdaI, president of the National Riv-
ers and Harbors congress, who took as
his subject '"rhe Necessity of United Ac-
tion by the Friends of River Improve
ment."
President Roosevelt and party arrived
at 1880 n. m. and landed amid the
screeching of whistles and cheers of the
people.
Parade Is Imposing
The parade Immediately formed, and.
headed by a squad of police and three
companies of militia, the march to the
auditorium began. President Roosevelt,
Governor Patterson of Tennessee and
Mayor Malone of Memphis occupied seats
in the first carriage. The president re-
ceiyed cardial reception from all sides.
People cheered, waved flags and greeted
him with friendly cries and hurrahs. In
his address at the auditorium the presi-
dent said:
sJJnder any circumstances I should well
come the chance of speaking at Memphis
in the old historic state of Tennessee,
rich in its glorious past and in the GER
tainty of an even greater future; but
especially congratulate myself that am
able to speak here on an occasion ike
this. when l meet not only the citizens
of Tennessee, but many of the citizens of
Mississippi and Arkansas and of other
states as well; and when the chief execu-
tives of so many states are gathered to
consider a subject of momentous interest
to all.
.sThe Mississippi valley is magnificent
empire in size and fertility. 1t is better
adapted to the development of inland
navigation than any other valley in either
hemisphere: for there are 1900 miles OF
waterway now more or less fully naVl-
gable. and the conditions are so favorable
that 1t will be easy to increase the extent
of navigable waterways to almost any
required degree by canalization.
Built by Roosevelt
early in our industrial history this
valley was the seat of the largest de-
yelopment of inland navigation in the
United States, and perhaps you will par
don nv mentioning that the first steam
boat west of the Alleghenies was built
by Roosevelt my great-grandfathers s
brother, in 1911, 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. 1t is our
business to see that the decline is not
permanent; and it Is of interest to re-
member that nearly century ago Presi-
dent Madison advocated the canalization
Of the Mississippi.
s.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 al
ready surpasses all save one or two of
the largest European kingdoms
SIN this empire a peculiarly stalwart
and masterful people finds itself in the
surroundings best fitted for the full de-
velopment 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 predom-
fnantly agricultural.
y
districts, and who till the small or
.nedium-sized farms on which they live.
make up what is on the whole the me st
valuable asset in our natural life. There
can be Just as real progress ard culture
in the country as in the city; especially
III fhtse days of rural fr 50 delivery,
trolleys, bicycles, telephones, good roads
and school improvements.
sThe valley of the Mississippi is po-
liticslly and commercially more impor-
tant, than any other 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 civiliza-
tion Of the whole Western hemisphere
Already, as our history shows the
west has determined our national political
development and the fundamental
principle of present American politics
political equality. was originally a west.
ern idea. The wonderful variety OF diff
ferent resources in different portions 81
the valley mako the demand for trans.
portation altogether exceptional.
Should Utilize Rivers
ssrnt,nraFo.a the Mfsqfsefr,vi river. q v,f