Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-20
LETTER MADE PUBLIC
Writes to Governors of 16
States Who Originally Ex-
tended Invitation.

Washington, May 20. - President
Roosevelt intends if possible to make
three or four days trip next fall down
the Mississippi river from some point
in middle Illinois or Iowa 10 Memphis.
1t will, if made. be with members oi
the inland waterways commission.
President Roosevelt will leave his sum
mer home at Oyster Bay in time to DC
at Canton, Ohio. TO attend the dedca-
tion of the Mckinley monument Sept.
80, and the voyage down the Missis-
sippi will, if nothing prevents, immed,.
ately follow that event
Been Strongly Urged.
The president has been strongly urgcI
10 make the trip because OF the OppOr-
tunity it will afford to acquaint him
self personally with the Importance Of
the work the inland waterways com
mission has in hand.
Recently ne received an urgent invi
tatiou TO do so from a number of gov
ernors in various parts of the country.
who referred to the great interest the
president has taken in the improve
ment of the Mississippi and its tribu-
taries which would solve many of the
perpleXing problems now attaching ID
railway transportation.
Writes to Governors.
Responsive to the invitations from the
governors, the president has sent each
one an identical letter as follows:
Il have received the invitations kin;;-
ly sent to me through the governors of
Arkansas. Florida. Illinois, Iowa. Kan
sas, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri. Ne
braska, North Dakota. Oklahoma. Ore
son. South Dakota, Tennessee. Texas
and Wisconsin. asking me to accom-
pany the inland waterways commission
for trip on the Mississippi, so that |
may personally familiarize myself with
certain features OF the situation which
the commission has been appointed -
consider. l deeply appreciate these in
vitationS.
From Those Not on River.
Let me say special word of apprc-
citation of the invitations which came
from the governors of Maine, Florida
and Oregon, all of whom, although the
states of which they are governors are
not on the Mississippi show their re-
alization of the enormous importance
of improving this great national hign
way because of the benefit that easy
and cheap transportation thereon will
mean to all the union, and because
they believe that the Improvement of
the Mississippi and its tributaries Will
tend to bring about the Improvement
of other navigable waters of the cOun-
try, as a factor in commercial and in
dustrial development. and as affOrding
one of the best possible methods Of
regulating railway rates.
People of West Interested.
Others of the governors who have
written me dwell upon the fact that
the people of the west feel a peculiar
interest in the project of the improve
ment not only Of the Mississippi. but
of the other navigable rivers fitted to
be public highways of commerce. be-
cause they think that such improve
ments will help toward the solution Hi
many of the problems attaching to rail
way transportation.
l he DdSln OF the MISSISSIPPI, taken
as whole from the gulf to the great
lakes. from the Alleghenies to the
Rockies, constitutes the greatest agr.
cultural empire that men have ever Gu!
tivated and an equally great system OF
water highways is needed to supply
any inadequacy of land carriage fOl
the. products of this region.
Three or Four Days Trip.
"Unless something unforeseen occur.
to make me alter my plans. | intend 4
accompany the members of the inlan,
waterways commission on three ol
four days trip at the beginning of mex
October down the Mississippi, frOu
some point in middle Illinois or low;
to Memphis. | feel that the prOblem
before the commission concern vital,
not only the people of the Mississippi
valley, but the people of our entir
country, and anything | can do to TO!
ward the rapid solution of these prob
lens and the proper utilization of on
great waterways, am glad indee
10 do"
Expects to Start Here.
President Roosevelt will be the iiri