The new era., 1909-08-26
WESTERN men
meet IN DENVER
rRANsMlssissiPPi CONGRESS BE.
GINS ITS SESSION IN THE
GREAT AUDITORIUM.
ADDRESS BY WALSH
OUTLINES SOME OF THE VAST
PROBLEMS 1T HAS MET TO
CONSIDER.

PROBLEMS 1T HAS MET TO
CONSIDER.
Denver.-Hampered somewhat by
the non.arrival Of several delegates.
the Transmississippi Commercial Con
gress got under way at the Auditorium
| Tuesday morning and carried out its
programme for the first day without q
hitch.
The customary speeches of welcome
from local and state officials with re-
sponses by visiting notables. occupied
the morning session. and in the after.
noon Thomas F. Walsh, president Of
the congress. delivered most states
manlike address on the needs Of ths
West and the opportunities which the
congress has to aid in its development.
Latin America. the United States con.
sular service. and the beet sugar in
dustry. were discussed by experts dur
ing the afternoon, and the evening was
given up to talks ON insurance.
Former Governor James H. Peabody
was in the chair Tuesday afternoon at
2:30 o'clock when the congress began
its afternoon session. He paid hand
some tribute to Thomas r. Walsh,
president Of the congress, referring to
him as the man who was the friend OF
everyone who knew him. and then in
troduced Mr.. Walsh to the congress as
the hrst speaker Of the afternoon. Mr..
Walsh acknowledged with feeling the
kindly Introduction of the chairman
and added a few words of general in
PRODUCTION before commencing his ad-
dress proper.
Mr.. Walsh said in part:
Members Of the Twentieth Session
Of the Transmississippi Congress-La-
dies and Gentlemen: It is with great
pleasure that welcome you to this
beautiful city. the capital of our Cen
tennial State. With feeling Of pride.
properly tempered, l hope. with the
spirit Of meekness, 1 assume the du-
ties OF presiding officer of this au-
gust body Of truly representative cit
izens.
This gathering is dignified alike by
the distinguished citizenship of itsl
members and the extent and import-N
ance Of the territory they represent,
which Is approximately one-third OF
the population OF this country. one
fourth Of its material wealth, two
thirds of its superficial area. four
fifths Of its shore line, . large part
Of its great rivers and practically all
Of its insular possessions-interes
SO vast as to be almost inconceivable
and which can be grasped only by
comparisons. And it is only by COM
parisons that one can obtain any in
telligent conception Of the now latent
possibilities of its resources.
"The truth in reference to every
subject discussed, no matter what
that subject may be, is the end to be
sought. Personal prejudices, partisan
| politics and sectional rivalries should
alike be excluded.
"A glance at the program this ses-
sion will show you that, before your
labors here are concluded, you will
have considered almost all OF the
questions now demanding solution
which affect not only the Transmits
sissippi country but the whole United
States.
| The transportation question, that
by rail, by inland waterways, upon the
ocean and by country roads will, OF
course. be considered at length, but
the country roads have not received
the attention their Importance de-
mands, either at the hands Of the ma
tional or the local governments. TA
national government is annually ,
propriating millions of dollars in,
improvement of rivers and harbor4 y.
aid Of the commerce of the country.
Sixty per cent. OF that commerce
originates on the farm. yet muddy
roads, steep grades and bad bridges
make the cost Of hauling the farm
products to the railway station, but
few miles, exceed the cost of shipping
that produce to market hundreds of
miles away. Is it not. therefore, the
part of wisdom for the nation to ap.
propriate aid to the improvement OF
these highways that are the avenues
Of our rural wealth?
THE reclamation OF arid lands is a
great work. The results are all good
and are as lasting as time. The irri-
gated farms OF Egypt have supported
families since the reign of the first
Pharaoh. They will continue to do so
in the centuries to come. Reclamation
opens the way to a new era of inter
nal development and domestic cxpali'
sion. 1t is equivalent to the addition
OF new empire as important as that
drained by the Mississippi river and
its tributaries"
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