Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-28
THE PRESIDENT
Being Royalty Welcomed
Along the Mississippi.
Friendly Feeling Being Made
Stronger Every Day Of Tri ,.
Other Crafts Left Far Behind by
His Swift Boat.

Helena, Ark, oct 21.-President
TaftS river schedule went all to pieces
today owing tn tie inability of the
vessels following his flagship. tn.
oiednd"r, 20 maintain the pace. Tho
President tried to remain with the
ilcct as far as possible and delayed hts
arrival in Memphis three hours this
morning in order that the boats carry
ing Tho g governors and the III con
grasSmen as we'll az other vessels car
ryrg delegates to the waterways con
vention in New Orleans, might dock
1t the same time.
Leaving Memphis an hour and half
late this afternoon, the Oleandcr had
to press forward at top speed in order
to reach Ilclcna at 8 o'clock tonight,
two hours behind the scheduled time.
In making the run the Olcander left
all of the other vessels of the fleet far
aStern.
Delays have wrought havoc with the
schedule fer the remainder of the trip.
Leaving Helena nearly thrc" hours late
tonight. the President will not reach
NiCkSburS until after dark tomorrow
night. that being his next stop. He will
have to leave the other vessels behind.
1t had beer intended that the Pres
ident should be welcomed to Arkansas
by Gov. Donaghey. but the governor $
boat Was an hour behind the President
and tire Introductory speech was made
by Mayor Martin
The trip down the river according to
the President has amply demonstrated
the inadcquacy of present river traffic
to compete with railroads, and the
need for deep Waterways. The Pres
ident said:
congress has the power to improve
the rlverWaNs. They have spent much
money but have not entered into a
general plan. We all realize that if we
do anything etfectually and econorr.
iCally it must be on a general plan II
it IS proved practicable / believe it
ought to he don" and done quickly.
We oLght to treat it like we hav"
treated the Panama canal issue but cot
in pcaccmcaL Itt us center on Il gen
cral plan and issue bonds"
In onening the Y. N. c. \. at Mem
pris the President used gold key
which. he kept rs a souvenir He men
toned that he had once opened the
doors of Y. NJ c. A. building in
shanghai for Chinese.
As the flntilla of boats was leaving
Helena shortly after Q O'Clock tonight
President Taft went aboard the steam.
or quincy for dinner as the guest OF
the III congressman on board. The
oieander remained within hailing dis
tancc of the Quincy while the Dime,
vas in progress and took the President
on board again while the boats were
under way, 20 miles below Helena.
Memphis. Tenn, Oct. 21.-ThouSands
of threats called a loyal and true
Southern greeting to President Will
liam II. Taft on his arrival at the
wharf here today President Taft and
his party were delayed on the river
during the night. owing to the en-
tremely low stage of the water and the
many sand bars and did not reach
Memphis till nearly II O'Clock. Hun
dreds of whistles and changing bells
all over the city took up the refrain
and in no city visited by the President
in his trip across the continent has he
been given a more enthusiastic recep-
ton. All Memphis and thousands of
visitors thronged the wharf and bluffs
continued on Page Twelye.)