The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 53 



is important to bring in good cows from the outside of your 

 state. I assure you that we will not purchase a bull from any 

 part of Mississippi to send it to any other part of that state. 

 We demonstrate the importance -of new cattle by taking in cattle 

 from outside territory, and then you are starting imm^ediately 

 with new cattle. 



I state this to show you what we have done and what we 

 are doing in a spirit of co-operation. The railroads are a great 

 factor in this work, and on this cut-over pine land proposition, 

 and I sincerely hope that before the deliberations conclude, the 

 interested delegates will organize a plan along conservative lines 

 that will be so attractive that it will be simply impossible for 

 any interested party, including the railroads, to get away from 

 participating and doing their full share in carrying out such a 

 plan. The railroads of this country have an organization known 

 as the Railway Development Association, and will have its annual Promises Aid 

 meeting at Louisville, May 9-10-11, and the Secretary of that of Railway 

 Association, Mr. Welty, is present. I am glad to say that we ^«^o^'«^'o« 

 represent 90 per cent, of the railroad mileage of this country, 

 including Canada — and I might say Miexico, or we used to — and 

 we would certainly enjoy having anybody attend that meeting 

 who is desirous of our co-operation in the movement you have 

 under way now. Secretary Vrooman told Mr. Welty and myself 

 today that he would endeavor to be with us at that time. 



Now, this Railway Development Association, gentlemen, 

 represents the Agricultural, Industrial and Immigration Depart- 

 ments of the various roads, and you will readily understand from 

 that that we are very much interested in everything pertaining 

 to development. We don't claim any special credit for what the 

 Illinois Central has done; we are not in this for philanthropy; 

 we have a selfish motive. We realize that as the country develops 

 the road develops, and therefore we are desirous of doing our full 

 share and part in the general development work. I want to say 

 to you people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and 

 Texas, and the whole South, that we have, in our general pas- 

 senger waiting room in Chicago, an exhibit of the kinds of soils 

 and pictures of the most progressive farms in this Mississippi 

 Valley. 



Allusion has been made to the land man. If there is anybody 

 I am prejudiced against, it is the land man, and in order to protect 

 him and myself and the would-be homesteader, I am always frank 



