The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-04
ROOSEVELTS SPEECH AT MEMPHIS TO-DAY

<0aAt nv 1AoLAE "a
in the old historic State of Tennessee, rlch
in its glorious past and IN the certainty
of an even greater future, but l especial
ly congratulate myself that l am able &c
speak here on an occasion like this, when
[ meet not only the citizens of Tennessee,
but many of the citizens of Mississippi and
Arkansa and of other States as we'll ana
when the chief executives of so many
States are gathered to consider a subject
Of momentous interest to all. The MIS-
sissippi Valley is a magnificent empire III
size and fertility. II is better adapted 70
the development Of inland navigation than
any other valley in either hemisphere, for
there are 1900 miles of waterway now
more or less fully navigable, and the con-
ditions are so favorable that it will be
easy to increase the extent of navigable
waterways to almost any equire degree
by canalization. Early in our Industrial
history this valley was the seat OF the
largest development OF Inland Navigation
in the United States, and perhaps you VIII
pardon my mentioning that the hrst
steamboat west of the Allegnenles was
built by a Roosevelt, my great-grandv
leans trade. and in that year made the
"trip from Pittsburg to New Orleans But
from various causes river and canal
transformation declined all over the Unlted
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 remember tnat
nearly a century ago President Madison
advocated the canalizatlon of the Missis-
~
sippiS
dom of Europe can compare win the
Mississippi valley and the region around
the Great Lakes. taken together, ana IN
population this huge fertile plain already
! surpasses all save one or two OF the ARG
est European Kingdoms. In this empire II
peculiarly stalwart and masterful people
| finds itself in the surroundings best nttea
for the full development of its powers api
/ faculties. There has been a great growth
~, tba uo11aU nf MAMMA curing centres,
the movement is good If 1t does not go too
far: but / most earnestly hope that TINS
region as a whole will remain predoml-
nantly agricultural. The people who i've
In the country districts, and who till the
small or medium sized farms on whlch
they live, make up what is on the whols
the most valuable asset in our 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 de-
livery. trolieys, bicycles, telephones, good
roads and sshool improvements. The val
lev of the mississippi is politically ana
commercially more importantly tnan any
other valley on the face OF the globe here
more than anywhere else will pc deter,
mined the future of the United States and
indeed of the whole Western world, ana
the type Of civilization reached IN TINS
mighty valley, In this vast stretch OF
country lying between the Allegha niles and
the Rockies. the Great Lakes and the Gun,
will largely fix the type Of civilization Ior
the whole Western Hemisphere. Alreaay'
as our history shows. the West has de-
termined our national political develop
ment. and the fundamental principle OF
present American politics, political equai-
itv. was originally a Western idea.
1.-THE wonderful variety of IN
portions of the valley make the
for transportation aitogetner ex-
Coal, lumber, corn, wheat, cot
icattle-on the surface of the SOIL ana
beneath the soil the riches are great
There are already evident. strong Ten
the northern part of the valley to
gulf, Throughout the valley the land
is 90 fertile as to make the heId Tor tne
peculiarly attractive; and where Ill
the West the climate becomes dryer we
enter upon the r%anching country; while In
to the products OF the SOIL there
are also the manufactures supplied IN IN.
Vulnerable manufacturing centres, great
small. Cities of astonishing. growth
ire found everywhere from the gulf TO the
Rockies; most of them being situated on
he great river which flows by your doors
upon some of its numerous navlgaple
tributaries. New mineral fields are dis-
Covered every year; and the constantly IN
,reasing use of all the devices of intensive
cultivation steadily adds to the productive
, San i q bd tine taf imteii Il oGHe s seiif- 11f and
5YAz r1yr. and. therefore, a good citizen,
farmer and w~ageworker alike-ln the
asst ANALYSIS the two most lmporaan I'd "e of
wing. and have developed a. stanohIu OF
.elf-respecting, self-reliant
which are OF good ausury hor tne 1850
he limit of the possibility OF elopi
n the Mississippi Valley. .-
Such being the case, ana TINS valieS puas
iii that concerns its welfare must concern
likewise the whole country. therefore, me
Mississippi River ana us trloutaaies t Dst
possibility. Facility of cheap. transports
Is an essential in our modern ciVlliza-
lion, and We cannot AFFORD any i0n E fu re
provided for us. These natural hlgh-
the waterways. can never De
monopolized by any corporation. They Pc
long to all the people, and It Is IN the
bower of no one TO take them away
wherever a navigable river runs beside
railroads the problem of regulating Ine
rates on the railroads becomes far easier
because river regulation is rate regula.
fion. When the water rate sinks the lanu
rate cannot be kept at an excessive
height. Therefore 1t is OF national I'M
portance to develop these streams as nigh
WAYS to the fullest extent which Is gen
profitable. Year by year transport
tation problems become more acute, ana
the time has come when the rivers ISah by
royided with channels deep enough ana
wide enough to make the investment OF
the necessary money proftaole TO the pun
lie. The national government snoulu
undertake this work. Where the imfne-
diately abutting land is markedly bene-
fitted. and this benef can be dei1nltely
lC Called. Il TRUST tndl lntfS. VIII bO 49,
FIJI Investigation to see whether some way
can be devised by which the lmmeolste
berehciaries may pay a portion OF the e1-
renses-as is now the custom as regarus
certain classes, of improvements in our
m,,nicipalities, and measures should DE
aiken TO secure from the localities spe-
cialiv benefited proper terminal faciirtles.
expense to the nation OF entering
nnon such a scheme of river improvement
as tina which | believe 1t should under-
take. will necessarily be great. Many
cautious and conservative people VIII LOOK
ae<ance upon the project, and from every
II is necessary, II we wish TO
make il successful, that We should enter
unOn il only under conditions which VIII
guarantee the nation against waste OF lts
money, and which will insure us against
entering upon any project until after tue
most elaborate expert examination. ana re-
liable calculation Of the proportion be
tween cost and benefit. In any pro!ect
me this there should be a definite policy.
ana ! resolute purpose to keep in mlnd
fhat the only improvements made should
he those really national In their character
I'VE should act on the same principle IN
Improving our rivers that we should foi-
low in Improving our harbors. The great
.harbors are OF not merely 70
the Immediate localities, but to immense
stretches OF country. and the same is true
Of the great rivers. 1t is these great rivers
and great harbors the improvement OF
which Is Of primary national Interest. The
main streams should be improved to the
highest practical degree of efficiency be-
fore improvements are attempted on the
and work should be undertaken
only when completion Is in sight within a
reasonable time. so that assured results
may be gained and the communities at
~. 1A---I $500. l. fRsANNxrcNa ~ 4 q