Evening star., 1938-08-18
Texts of Roosevelt Talks
Good.Neighbor Relationship Between Countries
Stressed in addresses at University and
BRIDGE Dedication.
Bridge Dedication.

THOUSAND ISLANDS BRIDGE.
Canadian United States Boundary.
Aug. 18 (P).-The text Of President
Roosevelt's talk here today follows:
Mr.. Prime Minister. 1t has always
seered to me that the best symbol OF
common sense was bridge. Common
sense Is sometimes slow in getting into
action, and perhaps that Is why we
took 50 long to build this one.
It is a particular pleasure to me to
meet you here, where . boundary Is a
gateway and not a wall. Between
these islands an international gap,
never wide, has been spanned as gaps
usually are, by the exercise Of ability,
guided by cooperative common sense.
freely I know they will find, as I
have done, happy welcome on either
shore, and for the right fellowship
FROM neighbors who are also friends.
The st. Lawrence River is more than
q photographic line between our two
countries. God so formed North
America that the waters of an inland
empire drain into the Great Lakes
Basin. The rain which falls in this
vast area finds outlet through this
single natural funnel, above which
we now stand.
Events of history have made the
river boundary, and as result the
now Of these waters can be used only
by joint agreement between our two
governments. Between us, we stand
therefore. as trustees for two coun-
tries Of one of the richest natural as
sets provided anywhere in the world.
The water which runs underneath this
bridge spells unlimited power; permits
access to raw materials both from this
continent and from beyond the seas,
and enhances commerce and produc-
ton.
Make Use Of Resource.
When a resource of this kind is
placed at our very doors, think the
plain people of both countries agree
that it is ordinary common sense to
make use of it. Yet up to now the
liquid wealth, which flowing water is,
has run in large part unused to the
sea. I really think that this situation
suggests that We can agree upon some
better arrangement than merely let
ting it contribute microscopic frac-
ton to the level of the North Atlantic
Ocean. The bridge which We here
dedicate is a tangible proof that ad-
ministration by two neighbors of
job to be done in common offers no
difficulty Obviously the same proc
ess applied on the larger scale to the
resource of full sea-going navigation
and of complete power development
offered by the st. Lawrence River can
build and maintain the necessary
facilities to employ its magnificent
possibilities.
I suppose it is true, as has been
true of all national resources, that a
good many people would like to have
the job-and the profits-of develop
ing it for themselves. In this case,
however. the river happens to be
placed in the hands of our two gov
ernments, and the responsibility for
getting the results lies plainly at our
doors.
. At various times both the people of
Canada and the people of the United
States have dreamed of the St. Law
renee and Great Lakes development.
They have translated those ideas into
plans which can easily be carried out.
While there has been no difference be-
tween us as to the object, history COM
pels me to say that we were not able to
arrange matters so that both peoples
have had the same idea at the same
time. How would it do for change,
If, instead of each of us having the
idea at alternate intervals, we get the
idea simultaneously. I think we are
rapidly reaching that happy and de-
sirable event.
Denies Rail Handicap.
am very clear that prophets of
trouble are wrong when they express
the fear that the st. Lawrence water
way will handicap our railroad systems.
We know now that the effect of
waterway is not to take traffic away
from railroad lines. Actually, 1t
creates new possibilities. new busi-
neSses, new activity. SUCH waterway
generates more railroad trafic than it
takes away.
There is today a 14-foot channel
carrying traffic from the Great Lakes
through the st. Lawrence River into
the Atlantic Ocean. If this were deep
ened-which can easily be done-to
~ or 80 feet, every city on the Great
Lakes, now inland, would become an
ocean port. The banks of the st.
Lawrence valley would become one Of
the great gateways of the world and
would benefit accordingly. Here all
that is needed is cooperative exercise
Of technical skill by joint use of the
imagination and the vision which our
two countries have. Can any one
doubt that, when this is done, the
interests Of both countries will be