The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-10-05
ROOSEVELT
At MEMPHIS
Concluded from Second Page.)

ana therefore a good citizen; nm
farmer and wageworker alike-in til
last analysis the two most importau
men IN the conRmunity-enioy
standard Of living, aud have develol
/ Cd standard Of self-respecting, sell
reliant manhood which are OF GOO
augury for the future OF the entir
Republic. No man can foresee TIL
limit OF the possibility Of development
IN the Mississippi Valley.
Such being the case. and this vale,
being literally the heart of the Uni
tod States, all that concerns it's wei
fare must concern likewise the whole
country. Therefore, the Mississippi
River and It's tributaries ought by al
means to be utilized to their utmos
possibility Facility Of cheap trans
portation is an essential in our mod
ern civilization, and we can not al
ford any longer to neglect the great
highways which nature has provided
for us. These natural highways thu
waterways, can never be monopolizel
by any corporation. They belong to
all the people, and it Is In the power
Of no one to take them away. Where
ever nayigable river runs beside
railroads the problem of regulating
the rates on the railroads becomes far
easier because river regulation is rate
regulation. When the water rate sinks.
the land rate can not be Kept at an
excessive height Therefore it is Of
national importance to develop these
streams as highways to the fullest
extent which is genuinely profitable
Year by year transportation problems
become more acute, and the time has
come when the rivers really fit to
serve ms arteries OF trade should be
provided with channels deep enough
and wide enough to make the invest
ment OF the necessary money profit
able TO the public, The National Gov
eminent should undertake this work
Where the Immediately abutting land
is markedly benefited, aud this bene
fit can be definitely localized, | trust
tlidt AHtir VIII De Ndltlul lIAGSliBd-
tion to see whether some way can be
devised by which the Immediate bene
ficiaries may pay q portion OF the ex
penses--as Is now the custom as re
CARDS certain classes Of improvements
In our municipalities; and measures
should be taken to secure from the
localities specially benefited proper
facilities. The expense to |
The nation of entering upon such a
scheme OF river Improvement as that |
which believe 1t should undertake. |
will necessarily be great. Many can,
.ious and conservative people viii |
0ok askance upon the project, and
rom every standpoint 1t is necessary.
t we wish to make 1t successful, that
We should enter upon ii only under
conditions which will guarantee the
lation against waste of its money l.
md which viii insure us against en-.
ering upon any project until after
he most elaborate expert examina-
ion, and reliable calculation of the
proportion between cost and benefit.
II any project like this there should
e definite policy, and resolute
urpose to keep in mind that the
My improvements made should be
hose really national In their charac I
er. We should act on the same {
rinciple in improving our rivers that t
re should follow in improving our a
arbors The great harbors are of
not merely to the imme t
late localities, but to immense \
.retches of country; and the same is 4
ne Of the great rivers. 1t Is these
reat rivers and great harbors the i'm 2
rovement of which is of primary ma o
onal interest. The main streams ,
lould be improved to the highest &
tactical degree of efficiency before A
lprovements are attempted on the |
.anches, and work should be under 81
ken only when completion is in h
ght within reasonable time, so Il
at assured results may be gained 4
Id the communities affected depend In
ION the improvements. Moreover W
an incident in caring for the river W
that it may become an efficient Il
annel of transportation, the United
ates government should do its fu. 4
rt in levee building, which. in the =
wer reaches of the river. will not e
ly give a channel for commerce. n
t will also give protection to the q
accent bottom lands. v
Immense sums have already been pc
ent upon the Mississippi by the of
ates and the nation. yet much of
remains practically unused for In
The reasons for this fact al
, many. One is that the work done ce
the national government at least is
5 not been based upon a definite M
continuous plan. Appropriations tic
congress. instead of assuring the tn
ady progress and timely compile pu
n of each piece OF work as il av
8 undertaken. have been irregular tn
l. uncertain. As direct consc- IA
snce. far-reaching plans have been Flu
couraged and continuity i'm execu- de
0 has been made impossible. 1t is ou
1gether unlikely that better results all
| be obtained so long as the meth pie
e foifouoI IF making Martial an inl