 The Cavalcade of America. Just as traditions of American character have grown up with our people, so the DuPont Company has grown with the nation to occupy an increasingly useful place in our economic life. And DuPont presents the Cavalcade of America in the belief that the stories of face and courage you will hear on these programs represent a heritage too precious to be forgotten. These are true episodes brought to light by the careful search of distinguished educators and historians prominent in the American Historical Association. Today as ever, America carries its traditions forward, driving through to new accomplishments, so well exemplified by the research of DuPont Chemists in creating better things for better living through chemistry. In every chemistry, in every walk of life, this spirit of get ahead, this desire for constant improvement has always inspired and will continue to inspire the Cavalcade of America. We set our stage tonight for the year 1889 with some melodies that were popular in the gay 90s played by the Cavalcade Orchestra. Our trade is more American than the spirit of healthy competition. Friendly rivalry has done much to advance our nation's progress. In every walk of life, we find the urge to succeed, to advance, to conquer difficulties and oppositions, often spurs us to win where praise softens and brings self-satisfaction. Our nation's history has many examples of contests out of which came advancement and improvement. Tonight, we are concerned with but two. In 1889, the plows of empire are leading westward. New territories are opening. Broader horizons are stretching before an eager nation. In her sister's home, Mrs. Molly Nesbeth is reading a recent copy of a St. Louis paper. Anna, Charles, look here. What is it? Somebody dead. It's the president. President Hollick. Yes? No, no, of course not. He needed a proclamation. Oh, is that all? From the way you acted, I saw a heavy... Indian territories could be opened up at last. Made part of the, what do you call it, the public domain. I saw something about that a few weeks ago on the paper. Now speak of it. And you never told me. Well, Congress ratified so many bills. Two million acres of land could be given away. I don't know why anybody would want to take up land and wilderness like that. And why? For a home, of course. For a living. A fresh start. No, I suppose there are folks, but thousands of them. Land hungry folks who've been waiting here for the chance. John always said it would come. That it was bound to come. If only he could have lived to see it. But at last it hasn't. The government brought the land from the Indians. It's to be open for settlements. One hundred and sixty acres to a person. I know the very spot I'll claim. You will claim? Yes. What are you talking about? I'm going to join the run and stake a home stand. Well, I'll let you, Molly. I've been waiting for this day for years. The day when I could get land, land of my own, for myself and my children. You've got a home here with Anna and me as long as you live, Molly. You know that. I know. And I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful. But a home of my own is what I want. And here's a chance to give it. Well, now, Molly, we'll see. We'll just think it over a while. There's no time to lose in thinking it over. The President's proclamation was issued three days ago. The land will be open in less than a month. Hundreds of folks around the road already, most likely. On the road, heading for the line. You mean you have to go there? Of course. I just suppose. I thought you sent in an application or something. You don't ask for a section of land. You go and stake it out. If you can get it. If you can get it. Yes. Two million acres. And 50,000 folks may be after it. More likely, 100,000. Then what chance have you got? Everybody's got an even chance. They aren't letting anyone across the line beforehand. Not a day or an hour, not even a minute. A lot of them are flipping ahead of time just the same. They'll be disqualified if they do. They're still right here in the paper. Well, will everybody line up at the border? And wait for the hour. Yes. The signal to start. It'll be a race. Every man for himself. Molliness. If you don't really mean you're going to join that race. What chance would you have against a bunch of hard-riding land grabs? Consisting the world. Because I know just the place down always hope to stake out for us someday. You're following the whole greatest claim. There's a grove of cottonwood and a little creek. And some rolling hills. Oh, I could hit rice forest. On foot ice foes. Or on horseback. Or in a wagon. I'll find some way. Over the country they came. 100,000 people in trains, in wagons, in buggies. On horseback and on mulebacks. In ox carts and in prairie swimmers. On foot even. A crazy, heterogeneous procession. Pushing, scrambling, cursing, laughing. Eager to get to the line. Once there they waited. For they, some of them, under a burning sun. A mid-choking red dust. No place to rest. Nothing much to eat. Even less to drink. Waiting for the hour when the land would be open. In the midst of this mad milling crowd was Molly Neveson. It's back, everybody. Well, well, well, well, well, well, quiet boy, quiet. You making the run, ma'am, or just watching? I'm going in. With your husband? No, alone. You've got nerve. I got a good horse. You're right. You can't beat an Indian pony for endurance and over rough ground. Now, that fellow over yonder with a black mare, he won't be in it with you and me. No. At the race track horse he's got. Oh. Trained for short spurts. Watermelons! Where is he? Watermelons! A farmer with a whole-car load of them by a guy. Yeah, and they're going fast. Come on, let's try and get one. Oh, I don't dare to leave. I saw them all night to keep this place right in front. Well, you stay here and I'll go there. Get in there, Jerry. Well, what the place is there? You can't put your team in here. This is my place. Yeah, your place is back home, lady. Tending to your knitting. Well, this runs open to all comers, isn't it? I've got guests as much right here as anybody. Well, I hope you're a good rider. I am. Because if you ain't, there's no telling. Let that pony of yours stumble in a coyote hole and the rest of this thunder in the herd will ride right over you. Trample on you. You ever seen the cattle stampede? Yes. Well, it's going to be ten times worse. Because they're not running blind all after something. Well, they're human beings, though. Yo, this noise sounds human to you. They've heard a wild animal to tell you to tend up, raring to go. And guess cause you're a woman, though. I'm not asking any favors or given any. This is my place, here in the line. That's the living boat. Got one. I got one. I got a piece of watermelon anyway. Oh. That's paid a dollar for it. Yeah. Kind of warm, I'm afraid. Excuse me. Here, take that. Oh, I couldn't die. Come on. Oh, no. There's only enough for one. You eat it. Say, what do you take me for anyway? Think I'm going to guzzle a watermelon when you stand there with your tongue hanging out and your lips all cracked and dry? Here, take half. Oh. Thank you. Get the spot, don't it? Mmm. You know, I could bury my whole face in it. My eyes. Yeah. My eyes, Mark, too, like fury. It's all that brush smoke where they've burned the area ahead of us. Yeah, they did it to clear the way for us, I suppose. Yeah, and to smoke out the Sooners. What? The Sooners. The sellers who thought they'd sneak in sooner, ahead of time, and hide in the shrubs. Oh. That summer's managed to get in. Not their claims all staked up, but now most likely. Oh, but there's a panel there. Sure. Oh, there'll be plenty of arguments and shooting and lawsuits. Okay. Say, you see that fellow yonder in the spring wagon? Yeah. He's a lawyer. He's getting in on the ground floor. Oh, then they're not all going in for land. Oh. Some are making for the town site. Merchants. Builders. Bloomkeepers. Go on! Go on! A jackrabbit just run out across the line. Calling him a Sooner. Good things up to make him laugh and relieve the strain. Yeah. Back in for his body. Keeps back. Only a few minutes to go out. Yeah, you better mount your pony, man. Be ready. All right. The militias all got their watches out and their guns. Ready to give the signal. Well, how can we ever hear over all this noise? What? Wait, there isn't any noise. Have I gone deaf all of a sudden? They're listening for the signal. It's almost noon. Yeah. Oh, boy. Oh, goodness. Competition and civilization. Rivalry and progress. This spirit has always been strong in the heart of the American people. It stains the country from a wilderness to a land of hope. Even before the Oklahoma land rights, the roots of American love of competition led back to an incident which caused excitement throughout the civilized world. Our cavalcade orchestra takes up the Mississippi and the days of 1870 with an excerpt from Freddie Ghost's phase, Mississippi Suite. 1870. Down the brown waters of the Mississippi steams the Robert E. Lee, loaded with cotton for New Orleans. Captain John W. Cannon, owner and commander of the mighty packers, stands on a hurricane deck talking with one of his passengers. What's the truth, Garwin? Be there in about 20 minutes, you know. Making good time this trip, Captain. The Robert E. Lee needs good time every trip. He's in the boat on the river, can be there. Ha, ha! Now you talk just like Captain Leathers of the Natchez. Leathers? That wind there. This is a loud, mild breath. Yeah, now, Captain, what you say, Captain? Tom Leathers happens to be a good friend of mine. Well, I mean, he's both in one of those boats. Well, I did come up on the Natchez. You happen to be a good friend of mine, too. So I reckon I'll travel back on the lease. Well, uh... What do you think of the Natchez, then? A beautiful boat. Pretty as lines, I think I ever saw. Handsome ears as a handsome dog. Ha, ha! Well, the Natchez can do plenty. Leathers slave, she's the fastest boat on the Mississippi. And I don't know if... He's a liar. The Robert E. Lee's got them all. Ha, ha, ha! I'm sad we have come to Natchez now. How do you know it, sir? I think I don't recognize that whistle. She was still in Vicksburg loading when we pulled out. You must have done some mighty fast traveling over Taken. Well, we've made a lot of stops this trip. Yes, she comes round the bend. You're right. It is the Natchez. Pretty as the name. Even alone there. As quiet and graceful as a... A bride, a bride. Ha, ha, ha! Hey, Sam. Hey! Go below and tell Charlie to speed up on this. Don't worry, ma'am. You haven't got a little boat. We're not going to do any racing, ma'am. Well, you see, we just wanted to get out of the way of the Natchez. He, uh, he's gaining on us, Captain. Lasted why don't Charlie pile on the wood and speed her up? He's pulling up on us, sir. Don't let her pass us, Captain. No, you mustn't let her pass us. Well, I thought you was the one who just said that. I know, but, uh, well, it's all right with me if you speed up a little. I can't bear to see that other boat getting ahead of us. Fine. Please, Captain. Charlie says he's making all the speed you can, sir, with a few of us. Tom Neaton. Well, we're taking on more of that route, sir. That route? I want it now. Oh, sorry, sir, but we're doing the best we can. All right, all right. That's a little effort. Well, you can't hardly blame him for wanting to show up with a brand-new beautiful boat. Boy, he's done it with every boat he ever had. Way back in 1955, when he had the first Natchez, I had the old leaf. He could save a trick of his. Sneaking up and then swooping back. I'm almost the rest of our stern. Pass it. He's pulling right up alongside it now. Look at the way he cuts the water. And don't let him do this, sir. Well, we're going as fast as we can, ma'am. Look at him as he goes fast, Captain. Waving at you? From the old pool. I'll show him. I'll show him who's got the best boat. Challenge him to a race. And prove who's got the best boat. Challenge old leather to a race. A race what is a race. All the way up the river from New Orleans to St. Louis. 1200 miles. And then we'll see which is the fastest boat on the Mississippi than Natchez or the Robert E. Lee. From this challenge came the race which attracted nationwide, worldwide interest. The race between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee. Enormous sums were wagered. Not only in the river cities, but in large cities all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and Europe. Late afternoon, June 30th, 1870. The levee at New Orleans is strong with people eagerly awaiting the start. Well, I went down in New Orleans by my wife's phone machine to load a heap of bags. So I'm the Natchez on ease I'm begging on the lease. $500? Natchez will be there. Don't. Bravo what I mean. Back to the boat that bears the honor name of our general. Back to the boat with the best machinery, say I. It's only four years old. She's bigger. She looks bigger because she's wider and rises higher out of the water. But actually, she's not as big. Her name goes to take it from the world. You southerners are always loyal. They're about to start. Look, Lily is backing out. Oh, what would I give to be a boss? No, not for love or money, could you or anybody else get past the gunner? That thing cannot refuse positively to take any passengers of cargo. Naturally. It makes the room for fuel. What's the battling, wood or coal? Boss understands. He's got a big supply of things on hand for vector speed, rosin, pitch, hello, candle. He makes me. The levee looks as if a cyclone had struck her. Even her wheelhouse is ruined. Captain Salmon has made thorough preparations. That Captain Leveres has made practically none. He's even carrying a cargo in passengers. And still, he wins. Another 500 on the Robert E. Lee. Bacon. They've slung it to the... out! There it is! Johnny Hawkins' famous saloon. On the corner of Common Street and Riot is Halley, New Orleans, hundreds waited all night for news. 34 miles quick. Ahead by 4 minutes and 40 seconds. He will hold the lead long once old Leveres begins to let the Natchez out. And again for bad news! A good morning, July 1st in a Creole Hall. Which one you bet on, Miss Luzes? The Natchez, Mander. Why Miss Luzes? I know. But the Natchez was the boatman for John and I took our honeymoon tip on. No, the associate warden is Luzes. And you're betting on the Robert E. Lee, Mander? I would guess that. He's not on the lead, isn't he? He's joyous, ma'am. And that good-for-nothing doggie tells me... Luzes, Luzes! Yes, Sam, what is... Just put a bulletin' up down at the square. The Robert E. Lee breaks all records to the town Natchez. 17 hours and 11 minutes. No! I know York's not an exchange house on the morning of July 2nd. What's the latest on the board, Frank? Well, it's consolidated. The old news paper consolidated. Who's ahead in the race? The Robert E. Lee, sir. He passed Memphis, sir. 10 minutes past 11. All business has been suspended to the day. I told you the Lee would win. Don't be too sure. The race isn't half over yet. The Lee's gaining all the time, though. She'll win by an hour. She's got an unfair advantage. Having attended a fueler in midstream. She's got a smart cap. $1,000 at the Natchez will reach St. Louis first. Take it. Who saved London Club July 1st? What's the latest table report, Briggs? They passed Cairo, sir. Cairo? Not Cairo on the Nile, sir. Cairo on the Mississippi. Oh, right. Extraordinary, isn't it, sir? A race that runs for days on end. Most extraordinary, Briggs. Just why are they doing it, sir? Well, Americans are always racing and competing. But why, sir? Why, that's not all, Briggs. I don't know. But I do know I've got 10 pounds wages on the Natchez. Yes, sir. And I have 10 pounds on the Robert E. Lee. St. Louis. Shortly before noon, July 4th, 1870. For miles, both banks of the river are crowded with people. The hills are swarming with them, waiting to welcome the winner, whichever it may be. As you come, I can see it. It's the Natchez. Natchez, you're grander. Why, it's the Lee. You can tell by the way she rides. I don't see how you can tell anything, though. Those stairs go in the way. Oh, I've seen the Lee too many times, unless you can't pull me. I sure it's the Lee. The Natchez is way behind. But he was packing up the Natchez. And $25 of my money says it's the Lee. Take it, strangers. Oh, I can't believe it. No three days, a long time for race. Yes, sir. Hey, that's her whistle. Yes, sir. Only one on the river like it. The Natchez. No, no, the Lee. Come on, Captain Cannon. We're waiting for you. It's the Lee, all right. It is, sir. It's fancy. I'm sorry to disappoint you, miss, but I don't know the Lee's whistle anywhere. Yes, it's the Lee. I can read her name now. I saw the General Robert E. Lee's there, friend. I'll tell him it's that $25, friend. Yeah. We'll... Three tears for the Robert... From New Orleans to St. Louis in three days, 18 hours and 14 minutes. That was the record of the Robert E. Lee. Racing became more than a mere contest between rival captains. Racing was responsible for the improvement of the Mississippi Steamboat. Racing, rivalry, the spirit of competition brought better travel conditions, faster transportation of merchandise, progress and advancement. The Oklahoma Land Race was instrumental in conquering a wilderness. Let us be thankful that this inherent quality remains an essential element in our country's lifeblood, for the spirit of progress helps make America a nation. The other night I found out again that the American determination to strive and succeed is very much alive today. I wish that all of you could have sat with me at a dinner table, where I met a number of men whose daily work consists of the hardest sort of competition, competing with nature, using their brains and ingenuity to go nature one better. They were all research chemists. As they swapped experiences across the table, I was amazed to learn how far into the future their thinking extends and also how close they were to discovering new secrets of nature that will change and improve our lives tomorrow or next week or a year from now. One of those men told me the story of the part salt plays in chemistry. Well, you know, I had the slightest notion of the number of useful things that DuPont makes for us out of salt. Common salt. I thought salt was just something you put on french-fried potatoes and something that makes it easy to swim in the ocean. But these chemists told me they take salt as a basic raw material and make things as far apart as insecticides for farmers and cosmetics for beautiful women. Every time I pick up a salt shaker now, I remember that DuPont uses that same material to make products used in ethyl fluid for gasoline and Duprene, the marvelous synthetic rubber that beats nature's own rubber in many ways, even adhesive, cleaning fluid and ingredients for dentifers all out of the stuff I throw over my left shoulder for luck. And salt is lucky after all. We're lucky to have it around and we're lucky to have chemists who know what to do with it, how to turn it into many useful products. Another time, I'll tell you more of these fascinating adventures in the chemist's constant effort to provide better things for better living through chemistry. Next Wednesday evening at this same time, Frank Craven, well-known playwright, director and popular star of stage and screen, will be our guest star when DuPont presents The Cavalcade of America. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.