Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-23
Renews His Advocacy Of
Good Deep Waterways
And at Same Time "A Square
Dear for the Railroads.
Passes Day at Corpus Christie
Leaves for Houston and Dallas.


nouncing himself as an enthusiastic
advocate of deep waterways, when such
projects can be shown to be practlc-
able and necessary and declaring that
the "piecemeal" procession by jerks
policy of Congress in the past WIN
reference to such improvements shout
he replaced with definite general
plan for opening up the great avenues
of commerce. President Taft aroused
the delegates to the convention of the
Interstate Inland Waterways League
today to an enthusiastic demonstratI"l
of approval.
Continuing. the President said that
in addition to extending commerce
deep inland waterways would serve as
the best means to control rallroa
rates In the meantime he urged the
amendment of the interstate commerce
laws to make their provisions more Ell
fective.
Mr.. Taft added that he did not favor
radical legislation that his purpose
merely was to keep railroad companies
within the bounds of the law ana down
to reasonable rates.
He said the railroads should be EN-
couraged. In this connection he re-
there is disposition to do injustice -
the railroads and to drive the corpof-
atoms to a system OF economy which
prevents the development of the couh-
try through which they pass.
The President urged "a square deal
for the railroads. that they might not
be deprived of reasonable proflts
through popular rejudce.
h.Ah ii
ing ard sporadic system of river ana
harbOr Improvements in the past was
the work of the committees In Congress
who had responded to clamor from
home and to party considerations. me
time has come. he declared, for
change in this system. A nne-foot in
tercostal canal was one OF the projects
to which, the President has part of y
definite system of waterways improve
mcnt.
President Taft arrived in Corpus;
Christi on the revenue cutter Windham
from his brothers ranch. After a
short automobile ride through the
prettily decorated city ne was taken
to a grandstand at the foot of a nat
ural terrace, where the delegates to
the Waterways Commission and the
general public We're gathered Schooi
Children were much in evidence.
The President made an immediate
hit with his audience by asking that
three tiers Of seats Immediately in
front of him be vacated by the early
Corners to make way for l0d or more
veterans of the Confederate and the
Union armies who had been assigned
to a more remote aeItion of the en-
closure Tile day was exceedingly
When he had finished his speech he
inetored to- the Corpus Christi Golf and
Country Club. and dedicated the new
Inks Dy' driving ball from TIE first
tee. The club pre- scented him with a
bag Of nine splendid golf clubs as a
souvenir II the occasion. The Pres,-
dent and several members of his party
diEnd at the home of Mrs. ii. NJ. King
Whose ranch comprises 300. 900 acres
The President returned to Gregory this
afternoon and left there at SO o'clock
tonight for Houston and Dallas. He made
a brief speech at 'BeeVille tonight. stand
ing on the rear end of his car. In his
address at Corpus Christi the President
said:
national resources received its first inn
pulse from that crusader and reformer
Theodore Roosevelt. He pointed out how
wastefu We had been of those blessings
which. God had showered upon the coun-
try and yet which had limitations which
if we did not respect would ultimately
bring us to a famine in relation to many
of them
The program of conservation is "a long
inc. 1t is one in regard to which We have
taken some important steps. OF the gov
eminent forests we have put about 10 per
cent. in forest reservations under con-
troll. so that we shall not suffer from
forest fires or denudation by private
greed.
we have not taken all the steps that
ought TO be taken. but they doubtless will
follow the adoption og the model plans
of the general government by the state