Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-03
HAD HAPPY DREAMS
President Roosevelt Looked Radiant After Night Trip
 on the Mississippi.

Roosevelt stepped ashore here at ; o'clock to-day he manifested every evidence of having spent comforta- ble night on the steamboat Missis- sippi, and his spoken word confirmed the impression made by his appear ance. There was little to disturb his rest except two or three demonstra- tions on the shore whichthough vio- lent while they lasted were of brief duration.
 Quiet as was the after half of the night for the president, the first DOT tion of it was fully occupied. He was the guest at dinner on the steam CT Alton of the Business Mems league of St Louis, and with that en- tertainment. and the speechmaking that followed the dinner, his time until almost 12 o'clock was fully taken up.
 The dinner was regarded by all as an event of rare occurrence, and when the president had said his fare we'll not few were heard to remark that it would become historic The important feature was the fact that the scheme of a ship channel from the gulf to the lakes received an i'm petus which all believe will do much towards insuring the earnest press- ing of that enterprise. The occasion was also notable in that in addition to the president, it was attended by no fewer than fifteen governors, the members of the inland water ways commission and by several Illinois representatives of the business world of St Louis.
 The dinner was presided over by President Smith, of the Business Mems league, and President Roose- welt was the principal speaker. He requested that his speech be not re- ported, but consented that the state ment might be made that he had an nounced unequivocally his endorse men of the general principle involved in the scheme for the creation of a ship chanenl up the river and to the great lakes. He would have loop in the gulf at New Orleans, that would practically create an arm of that body of water to the lakes. However he was careful to say that he would not give his assent to any particular scheme of improvement. He also pointed out many of the obstacles oi carrying into effect any plan of such vast proportions and involving oi much expense, and, while promising all the assistance he could give, said the only way to make success cer. | tain was to so thoroughly prepare themselves as to render their argu, ments unanswerable.
 The speech was greeted with pro, longed applause, and this endorse. ment took the shapeof words when Governor Folk, Governor Deneen, ,and Governor Blanchard spoke in favor oi the enterprise.
 The president was presented with an oil painting of a section of the Mississippi river under present condi. tions, and the companion piece to re- present conditions after the com. pletion of the waterway" was prom ised for the future.
 Durin gthe night there were de- monstrations as the presidential boat passed Cape Girardeau and Grand Tower, but they came too late to re- celve recognition from the president. The Mississippi was escorted down the river from St Louis all the way to Cairo by ten other boats and it was met early to-day by huge excur- sion steamer from this city.
 The president and party drove to St Mary's park, where a great crowd was assembled.
 Mayor Parsons introduced Governor Deneen of Illinois, who in turn in- troduced President Roosevelt, who Spoke as follows:
 President Roosevelt left here short ly before noon. The next stop will be at Memphis, which will be reached at D. m. tomorrow.