Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-24

correspondents was next IN 1nes Inen
came the Quincy" bearing the sena-
tors and congressman, following in
order were the nine steamers carrying
delegates, business mems associations,
citizens, and one boat for ladies OF the
party. In the bright sunlight, the
crafts gaily bedecked with flags and
bunting, with every whistle and bell
in the great city sending forth their
greetings of good cheer and farewell,
il was a moment of inspiration and ex-
citement. At every hamlet and city
passed enroute the enthusiasm was of
like character. Every mile of the dis
tance, by day and by night, there We're
assembled along the river large and
small groups of people, both white and
black, congregated to pay respect to
the nation chief and witness the pro-
cession of crafts carrying the most no
table party that has ever steamed down
the old historic river.
At six O'Clock Tuesday morning the
first stop was made for an hour at Cape
Girardeau. Missouri, run of l5 niles
having been made during the night.
Here the president made a dedicatory
address at the new normal school and
planted tree on the campus. Among
the presidential escorts from the boats
to the normal site were bands of In
dams and cowboys on horseback.
Carlo, where the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers converge, was reached promptly
on schedule time at noon. The leyee
was one mass of humanity and from an
improvised platform President Taft,
Governor Deneen and Speaker Canncn
made brief speeches. The decorations
in this city were especially attractive,
living flag formed by school children
dressed in the national colors shown
beautifully in the bright sunlight
Carlo is known as the hottest place this
side of the internal regions. mercury
registering ninety the day we were
there. Twenty miles to the south we
pass the old city of Columbus, Ken
lucky This region, like many others
passed, is historic ground. On the bill
overhead on tho Kentucky shore the
Federal batteries were placed in the
bloody battle of Belmont, and it was
between Columbus and the little viii
lage of Belmont opposite that this
battle was waged durinr. the civil war.
Hickman is next in order for halt,
where Governor Wilson and the presi-
dent make speeches. The shades of
night are falling as we approach the
famous 'Island No. TO-" twenty miles
below Hickman, around which SO much
of anxiety centered during war days.
Here it was that Captain Rehmer swan
down the river on log, crept over the
ramparts and spiked the confederate
guns before discovered. This is the
last place our feet made on schedule
time, the slow boats failing to keep the
pace. That evening President Taft
dined on the steamer 'St. Paul" as
the guest of the governors. A hundred
covers were laid and it was a feast of
intellectually in speech and song, last
ing till past midnight No more con-
genial spirit or better feeder ever
graced festal board than our plain,
manly Taft. Visitations of this order
were made to all the boats in the fleet
by the president, affording opportunity
for every member of the big party to
meet and greet him personally.
MEMPHIS OF PHENOMENAL GROWTH
No more stops till Memphisis reached
Wednesday at noon, four hours late.
Here was a more congested crowd than
greeted the president and the distin-
guished party at any other point.
Whizzed by autos through the busy
marts, the parks, the resident and
manufacturing districts for two hours,
opportunity was afforded for a good
estimate Of the city and it's varied en-
terprices. Everywhere was a sea of
faces anxious to get glimpse of big
Bnp' Taft More eolored people APP
| peared to be in evidence that at any
other location in the south. The pre-
sident dedicated Y. M c. A. building
and delivered an address in the audi
| torium The parade was an imposing
one. Memphis ia live city of 200, 006,
and is said TO have made more pro-
nounced gain in population and COM
mereially, during the past ten years,
| than any town in the United States,
rising from SO, 900 in 1880 to it's present
proud position. 1t boasts Of having the
only bridge that spans the Mississippi
| below the mouth of the Ohio river. 1t
| has nine trunk lines of railway and fine
harbor and shipping facilities, $50 man
ufaeturing industries, Is big cotton
! producing region and market. This
stable product In baled up along the
| wharves like haystacks in the north.
| was told that million bales were
| handled here per annum. Its ais .,
of the largest hardwood lumber mar
| kets in the world
t1GIstldf Aiha4A8dAt H-~h hIlS HSAk
/ scheduled stopping place, distance OF
,, n miles, TO be reached at six o'clock
D. m, but we were three hours late,
much to the disnay Of citizens and
travellers. President Tnft was escorted
to the government custom house where
he addressed the people.
on TO H. roRIc vicKsBURG
| 1t was past zen O'Clock when the
| fleet set sail frot1 Halena scheduled for
no halt till VIcksburg shall be reached,
| 295 miles 1t required twenty-four hours
| to cover the distance. The fact that
eight hours had been lost and Vieks-
| burg was to receive us at three on
| Thursday afternoon, a movement was
started by occupants of the governors
and congressional boats to land at
| Greenyille, where a speciai train was
chartered to carry TIE belgted excur-
| sionists to the scene of me desperate
siege of carnage in 1868. The run of
nearly hundred miles was covered in
| two hours, arriving at four o'clock.
! |icksburg had on her attire for Pre-
| sdent Taft and his associates in travel,
and ne was accorded right royal ova-
tion. addressing her citizens from q
public position, later being the guest
| Of honor at a spread in the Elks' par
| lor. Vicksburg is one of the moderate
going cities of the Mississippi valley.
! It's growth was doubtless retarded by
the ravages Of war. having at that