Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-05
SAYS HE FAvORS
NAVIGATION PLAN
In Speech Also Declares For
Larger Navy, Saying Canal
Will Compel Moving
Fleet to Both the
Oceans

Memphis, Tenn, Oct, 4.-One hum
dred thousand citizens of Memphis
and vicinity today welcomed President
Roosevelt to the Deep Waterways con,
vention. The enthusiasm Of the greet
Ing was worthy of the great south and
the president Of the republic. President
Roosevelt was profoundly impressed
with the magnitude of the demonstra-
tion, He said as much In words and
more in actions, for he made no effort
to conceal mis- pleasure. From the
time the steamboat Mississippi bear
ing the distinguished guest came into
sight of the city until the president
had concluded his address before the
waterways convention he received
continual ovation. His route to and
from the auditorium was through an
ocean of human faces and the vast
tnrong stretched out into the side
streets as far as the eye could see. The
landing was at the foot of Union ave-
nue., from which point the procession
made it's way through Jefferson ave-
nue., Main street, Beale avenue and
other leading thoroughfares to the
auditorium.
All idea Of combining the delighted
people to the curbstones was abandon
ed before the presidential party land
ed, and as 1t proceeded through the
streets In vehicles the acclaiming
multitude touched the very wheels Of
the carriages and good.naturedly ell
bowed for room in which to raise and
wave flags and other emblems of
national nature. The picturesquenes
Of the scene was enhanced by the
thousands of flags banners and other
decorative designs which lined the
route Of travel.
Vast Crowd at Auditorium.
| Arriving at the auditorium the presi,
dent found awaiting him there an as.
| semblage the like OF which has seldom
been seen before in this part of the
country. In every sense of the word
| the gathering was truly representative
| of all of those states that are directly
or indirectly interested in the project
| of a deep waterway from the great
| lakes to the gulf of Mexico. Included
among those present were the cover.
nors Of a score Of commonwealth, al.
most sufficient number of members
of congress to constitute quorum,
and hundreds Of bankers manufacture.
ers, transportation officials and other
4 representatives of the business inter-
ests Of the middle west and south.
The great auditorium, spacious though
it is, was taxed to accommodate the
crowd that sought admittance.
Though the address Of President
Roosevelt was naturally the big fea.
ture of the day, much important busi-
ness was accomplished by the conven-
| ton before the presidents arrival. The
| gathering was called to order shortly
after 10 o'clock this morning for its
first session. President w. K Kaya.
naugh of the Lakes-o of-the-Gulf Deep
Waterway association read the official
call and made a few remarks. Perman.
nent organization was then effected
| and the necessary committees on cred.
entails and resolutions appointed.
Three Addresses This Morning.
Three set addresses were delivered
during the forenoon, as follows:
The Necessity OF United Action by
the Friends Of River Improvement
Hon. e. Ransdell, president of the
| national rivers and harbors congress-.
The Lake-to-the-Gulf Deep Water.
way Lyman p. Cooley, engineer Of
the Chicago drainage canal.
| The OHIO and Mississippi Rivers as
Transportation Factors" Hon. John l..
Vance, president of the Ohio Valley
| Improvement association
| In addition to the address Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the greeting by
Governor Patterson of Tennessee the
/ program of the afternoon session In.
cluded addresses by Governor Joseph
| w. Folk Of Missouri and Hon Theodore
e. Burton, chairman of the Inland
Waterways Commission and probably
the best informed man in America on
the subject of inland waterway. To-
night Governor Deneen of Illinois and
Governor cn-,snins Of Iowa are to be
heard.