New-York tribune., 1907-10-05
DIR. ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS
plea for Inland Water1cays-Pdn-
ana Canal and Monroe Doctrine.

Memphis. Oct. 4.-The address made by Presi-
dent Roosevelt here to-day follows:
Under any circumstances l should welcome
the chance of speaking at Memphis in the old
historic State of Tennessee, rich in its glorious
past and in the certainty of an even greater
future; but I especially congratulate myself that
u am able TO speak here on an occasion like
this when meet not only the citizens of Ten
1aessee but many citizens of Mississippi and Ar
Kansas and of other states as well; and When
the chief executives of so many states are gath
cred TO consider a subject OF momentous interest
10 all. The Mississippi Valley is magnificent
empire In size and fertility 1t is better adapted
70 the development of inland navigation than any
other valley in either hemisphere for there are
d2OOO miles of waterway more or less fully
raavigable and the conditions favorable
that il will be easy to increase the extent OF
navigable waterways TO almost any required de-
gree by canazation. Early in our industria!
history this valley the seat of the largest
development of inland navigation in the United
States and perhaps You will pardon my men
sioning that the first steamboat west OF the Al
ieghenies built by a Roosevelt, my great
sgrandfather's brother, in 1911. for the New OF
leans trade, and in that year made the trip from
sPittsburg to New Orleans But from various
causes river and canal transportation declined
all over the United States as the railroad SES-
TENS came to their full development. 1t is our
business 10 see that the decline is not perma-
inent and il is of interest 10 remember that
nearly century ago President Madison adVocat-
ed the canalization of the Mississippi
In wealth of natural resources no Kingdom OF
Europe can compare with the Mississippi valley
and the region around the Great Lakes taken takTn
together, and in population this huge fertlle
plain already SurpaSSeS ali save one OF tNo VI
the largest European kingdoms In this empire
q peculiarly stalwart and masterful people finds
Itself in the surroundings best fitted for the
full development of its powers and facultles
There has been great growth in the valley or
manufacturing centres; the movement Is good
81 Il does not go too far; but most earnestly
hope that this region a whole will remain
predominantly agricultural 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 national 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 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 the whole Western world;
and the type of civilization reached in this
mighty valley. in this vast stretch of country
iying between the Alleghanies and the Rockies
the Great Lakes and the Gulf, will largely fix
the type of civilization for the whole Western
West has determined our national political de-
velopment and the fundamental principle Of
present American politics. political equality
originally Western idea
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY RESOURCES.
The wonderful variety of resources in differ
ent portions OF the valley make the demand for
transportation altogether exceptional Coal.
lumber, corn, wheat, cotton. cattle-On the sur
face OF the soil and beneath the soil the riches
are great. There already evident strong
tendencies TO increase the carrying of freight
from the northern part of the valley to the Gulf
Throughout the valley the land is fertile as
TO make the field for the farmer peculiarly at
tractive; and where in the West the climate
becomes drier enter upon the ranching
country while in addition 10 the products of the
sol there are also the manufactures supplied
in innumerabe manufacturing centres great
and small Cities of astonishing growth are
found everywhere from the Gulf to the Great
Lakes from the AHeghenies to the Rockies;
most OF them being situated on the great river
which flows by your doors upon some Of it's
numerous navigable tributaries. New mineral
helds are discovered every year, and the con-
stantly increasing use of all the devices of in
tensive cultivation steadily adds to the produc-
tive power of the farms. Above all, the average
man is honest. intelligent, self-reliant and r
oerly, and therefore good citizen; and farmer
and wageworker alike-n the last ANALYSIS the
TWO most important men in the community
enjoy standard Of living and have DEVELOPED
a standard Of seif-respecting self-reliant 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.
Such being the case, and this valley being If
orally the heart of the United States all that
concerns its welfare must concern likewise the
whole country. Therefore, the Mississippi River
and its tributaries ought by all means To ba
utilized to their utmost possibility. Facility OF
cheap transportation is an essential in our mod
ern civilization. and cannot afford any
longer 20 neglect the great highways which ma
ture has provided for These natural high
ways. the waterways. can never be monopolized
by any corporation. They belong to all the neo
pie and IL is in the power of no one to fal,a