Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-08

Sc. Paul, Mimi, Sept. ~f.-Equaling
in interest the address OF President
Taft at the opening OF the conserva
ton congress was the speech Of Theo-
odore Roosevelt delivered today. The
hall was crowded to the doors by
people anxious to hear the former
president, and they frequently cheered
his utterances. His subject was ma
tlonal Efficiency" and he spoke as fol-
lows:
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedy high throughout the
world. We are efncient probably to the
full-limit that any nation can attain by
the methods hitherto used. There Ii great
reason to be proud Of our achievements.
and yet no reason to believe that we can
not excel our past. Through q practically
unrestrained individualism, we have
reached "A pitch Of literary unexampled
material prosperity: although tho dlstri-
button Of this prosperity leaves much to
be desired from the standpoint Of Justice
and fair dealing. But we have not only
allowed tho Individual a free hand. which
was In the main right: we nave also al
lowed great corporations TO act as though
they wero Individuals. and to exercise the
rights OF individuals. in addition to using
the vast combined power OF high organi-
cation and enormous wealth for their own
advantage. This development of corpo-
rate action, II Is true, 10 doubtless in
large part responsible for the gigantic de-
Veloprncnt of our natural resources. but II
Ia not less responsible for waste. destruc-
ton. and monopoly on an equally gigantic
scale.
The method of reckless and uncon-
trolled private use and waste has done
f. us all the good II ever can. and II Is
time to put an end to II before II does all
the evil It easily may. We have passed
the time when needless waste and de-
struction, and arrogant monopoly. are
any longer permissible. Henceforth we
must seek National efficiency by n new
and n better way, by the way Of the or
DERBY development and use. coupled with
the preservation. OF our natural resources
by making the most of what we have for
the benefit of all Of us. instead OF leaving
the sources OF material prosperity open
TO indlscrirninate exploitation. These arc
some Of the reasons why It IL wise that
we should abandon tho old point Of view.
and why conservation has become a pa
trlotic duty.
Waterways Development.
One OF the greatest of our conservation
problems Is the wise and prompt develop
ment and use Of the waterways OF this
Nation. The Twin cities. lying a. they
do at the headwaters OF tho Mississippi.
are not upon the direct line Of the pro-
DDS'il lHktS ~ 1le gun u6ep waterway.
Yet they are deeply Interested in it's
prompt completion. aH we'll as in the
deepening ana regulation Of the Missis-
sippi to the mouth OF the Missouri and to
the gulf. The project for a great trunk
waterway, AN arm OF the sea. extending
from the Gulf OF Mexico to the Great
Lakes. should not be abandoned. The
lakes to the gulf deep waterway. and
the development Of the rivers which flow
into II, should be pushed to completion
vigorously and without delay.
In nearly every river city from 81. Paul
to the gulf the waterfront Is controlled
by the ALWAYS Nearly every artificial
waterway In the United States. either d.
rcctly or indirectly. is under tho same
control. II goes without saying that (un-
less the people prevent II In advance) the
RAILWAYS will attempt TO take control OF
our waterways AS fast as they are i'm
proved and completed: nor would I blame
them. n We. the people. are supine In the
matter. We must gee to II that adequate
terminals are provided In every city and
t""n on every improved waterway. tcrmi-
nails open under reasonable conditions to
Ia" use Of every citizen. and rigidly pro-
to"'"d against monopoly: and we must
compel the ailways TO cooperate with
~" waterways continuously. effectively,
and under reasonable conditions. Unless
~" do 40 the railway lines will refuse to
1el'vcr freight to tho boat lines, either
= ~ ' w ~ I'f7' ''Ii'i
tious. and the waterways once improved
viii do comparatively little for the bene-
~ ~ the people who pay the bill.
Adequate terminals properly controlled
aud open through lines by rail and boat
nre two absolutely essential conditions to
the usefulness Of inland waterway devel-
opmrnt. 7 believe furthermore that the
railways should be prohibited from own
ing. controlling, or carrying any interest
IN the boat lines on our rivers. unless
under the ~str'ctest regulation and control
of the Inter State Commerce Commission
so that the shippers interests may be
fully protected.
The National Forests.
II any proof were needed that forest
protection Is a National duty, the recent
Destruction OF forests In tbs west by fire
would supply II, Even with the aid OF
the army added to that OF tho forest
out either II would have been vastly
greater.
But tho forest service does more than
protect the National forests against nre.
II makes them practically and increasing
" useful AZ well. During tho last year
for which 7 have the figures tho National
I, rnsts were used by 1000 cattlemen
with their herds. 5000 sheepmen with
their nocks, 5000 timbermen with their
crows. and 5000 miners. More than
coo persons used them for other special
Industries. Nearly 1900 settlers had
the free use Of wood. The total resident
populat!on OF tho National forests II
about "a quarter OF a million. which IL
larger than the population OF certain
states. More than 700. 900 acrss of az
ricuitural land have been patented or
listed for patent within the forests, ana
the, REPORTS OF the forest officers show
that more than 10000 people n year use