Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-20
FOX MAKES INTERESTING
TALK At MON. MEETING
TEL Is OF GREAT GOOD OPENING UP OF EVER
NAVIGATION WOULD PROFIT IN MORE W<Ys THAN
ONE - GOOD ATTENDANCE MUCH ENTHUSIASM SHOWN
BY THOSE PRESENT COMMERCIAL CLUB

I What of your own great river and
the part it has played in the past, or
is destined to play in the future IN
the building of this western empire!
Gentlemen, it matters not how many
railroad lines may be built into this
vast region, the great Missouri river
will always be your greatest asset as
a commercial developer, because 1t
will be a potent factor in making and
controlling rates of transportation
! Commerce, like water, follows the line
of least resistance, and when condl
tions are all equal again you will find
that your line of least resistance is
northwest and southeast along the
valleys of the Missouri and the Mis-
; sissippi. New York may well credit
. the Erie canal for its greatness;
Pittsburg and Cincinnati are rich and
pOpulous centers because the Ohio
river gave a reason; Kansas City and
Omaha are great jobbing and distrib'
uting centcrs because the Missouri
river developed conditions; Chicago
is the fourth greatest city of the
world today, because water transport
tation was effective, and so you have
much to count upon in this great
river that wends its way throughout
1900 miles of these fertile prairies.
Thus far the Missouri has played no
part in the making of Bismarck from
commercial standpoint. 1t made
Bismarck by hating the Northern Pa
cifc railroad for a while, so that peO-
pie and business accumulated, but you
have a point of vantage here that
will make you far greater and rich
er city in time to come than any
point west of St. Paul or north Of
Omaha Don't take my words as a
prophecy, for they are uttered only
because dictated by logical deduction
from facts and conditions concerning
the whole territory about you. Your
city's future as great commercial
and industrial center is just as GER
tain as was that of any other city
that has grown to great proportions
today, because it occupied a stragetic
position geographically. Only one
thing remains to be done to make it's
advantageous position obvious and
that is definite and reliable neviga-
ton on the Missouri river. You will
then enjoy rates to other parts Of the
country that the railroads cannot take
from you and that cannot be secured
by cities less advantageously located;
and these will INVITE great jobbing
houses and industrial plants, because
of adequate facilities for transporta-
ton and distribution.
1t behooves you, then, as builders
of this promising city to grasp the
situation and realize your advantage,
and then move heaven and earth to
secure that which means more to
you than any one thing. Recognize
the valuable asset you have in the
Missouri river and bend your ener-
gies towards securing it's immediate
Educate and agitate
until the whole valley rings with a
demand from Fort Benton to the Mis-
sissippi for the adoption by congress
of definite and systematic plan of
and then never cease
working until you see 500 ton barges
coming and going from your wharves
as Familiarity as you now see the
freight cars of the Northern Pacific
railroad.
1t is estimated that $42,000,0O0 will