The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-21
INTERCOURSE WITH TEXAS.
Steam Navigation in the Gulf Of
sMexico.
Meeting at LaVacca, Texas, relative to Steam
ship Line between that Port
and New Orleans,
Mc

ASnmedO, ).
man, and A. T. Hensley, Secretary.
The meeting being organized, the object OF II
was stated by X. M. Forbes, Esq, and the follow
ing resolutions unanimously adopted
Resolved, That the course pursued by Messrs Nor.
gan and Harris with their boats towards the people at
Lavaea has been, aud still IL, such as TO demand
some united prompt and efficient course OF seitdstence
Resolved That we will ssvsrally and jointly
every exertion and influence both directly and indi
rectiy in eectng and sustaining whatever plan of de-
fence Of protection may be agreed upon by
the citizens Of Lsvaca, and adopted Is tAe most likely,
successfully to oppose the evils of monopoly disre-
gsrdful Of every consideration but Its own immediate
Interest
Resolved That in order the better to effect our OBJ
ject q committee Of thirteen be appointed by the
Chair whose duty sha be to collect aud present in
the shape of report to adjourned meeting Of the
citizens to be held Saturday evening next at seven
o'clock, p M all such information and data as Is
nected with the trade Of Lavaca with New York. New
Orleans and all other cities the United States and
rs may be pertinent to the subject, and recommend
such plan as may be deemed best The Chair appoint
ed Mesfrs R. NJ Forbes, Moses johnson, H. X. Fulton,
George w. Adams, A. H. Cook, Jonas Randall, j. T.
Benedict j. C. Davis, j. w Knscland, William Ii Ker,
Thomas Cooper, r. j. Glow and ID. Monitor, said COM
mittee.
Resolved That the meeting adjourn until O'Clock,
SATURDAY, Nov. 9th, 1919.
Met pursuant to adjournment, and the committee
not being ready to report, the meeting adjourned
until Monday evening next.
MONDAY, Nov 26, ISl9
Met pursuant to adjournment The committee,
by h. M. Forbes, their chairman, made their re-
port.
On motion of MAJOR Storrs, the report was re-
ceived, read, and unanimously adopted.
On motion OF w. Z. Mildly, Committee of Cor
respondence of seven, TO be appointed by the chair,
was unanimously adopted.
The Chairman appointed Messrs. w. p Mildly,
Z. K Fulton, II. Nj Forbes, w H. Ker, Jonas
Randall, Moses johnson, Il. j. Glow, said COM
mttee.
On motion of j. T. Benedict, the meeting adj
journed to meet again on the oath day of December
next. j. III. DAVIS, Chairman.
A. T. HENsLEY, Secretary.
REPORT
The undersigned committee, acting under a re-
solution adopted at meeting of the citizens held
on the 2lst inst, have given TO the subject submit
ted to their consideration all the attention and in
yestigatlon allowed by the shortness OF the tlme
and ask leave to present the following report, with
the resolutions attached, and recommend their
adoption.
The committee present the following positions
which they think susceptible OF being fairly esta-
First. That the amount of freight and passage
money coming TO Lavaca Bay is fully sufficient to
sustain, with profit, line of boats between New
Orleans and Lavaca Bay direct.
Second. That the merchants and citizens OF the
town of Lavaca, for themselves and their cores
pondents In the INTERIOR say In Victoria, Gonzales
Seguln, San Antonio, Castroville, Fredericksburg,
Austin, Basrop, Gollad, Halletsvllle and Iexana,
and nelghborng settlements, pay nlne-tenths OF all
the freights coming to Lavaca Bay, exclusive of
the amount paid by the Quartermasters department
Third. That very large majority Of the persons
arriving and departing by the present line. OF
steamers, leave by way OF Lavaca, and arriving,
seek that as landing point, IT not prevented from
reaching ii by obstacles purpcsely thrown IN the
way, by the proprietors or agents OF the present
line Of steamers.
Fourth That the amount of trade to and through
Lavaca, well as the amount OF travel, Is rapidly
increasing from causes easily understood and Ia
miiiar 10 alias the extension and enlargement
Of .ettlements north western and western Texas,
the direction ef travel and emigration to New
Mexico and California, by way OF the sources of
the Colorado, TO Paso del Norte, and by the opera
tons of the military department OF the govern
ment upon the northern and western line OF our
State.
Fifth. That for all purposes of the coasting trade
BY sea-golng steamers, the depth OF water up Lava
ca Lay, 10 The town CT Lavaca, is fully sufficient
la Evidence OF the hrst position, the committee
have obtained from each OF the forwarding mer-
chants, the amount OF frelghts paid by them re-
spectively, since the list Of May last, period OF
about six and a half months, which sums up IN the
aggregate S2i,il5 # TO this sum be added for pas
sage money, average OF ten passengers each
trip, We have for the space above named S3,OOO
10 which sums may safely be AIDED hiteen per
cent for persons paying their own freights, emil
grants and deck passengers, producing the further
amount of $500, or sum total for the Six and
halt months OF S33 S21 and deductlng tor New
York freights, say sJ,e25 we have IN round num-
beers 10000, or about $50, 900, contributed by La
vsca, alone, TO the annual support OF line OF
boats.
make no estimate OF the amount of irelghts con-
trbu,td by Saluria, Matagorda and lndianols, and
by the government tor the transportation OF army
supplies aud munitions OF war that the sum Is
considerable, however, there can be no doubt.
To the above sources OF support Tor boat or
boats adapted To the nature OF our trade, may be
also added the exports of Western Texas, which,
though small now, are rapidly increasing. The
cotton crop of the present year will be largely over
600 bales In 1917, the quantity shipped was
ABOUT GO bales, and IN ISIS, lao; and among
other articles shipped IN 1915, may be mentioned
$1,000 bushels OF pecans from Lavaca alone.
From all the shipping points ia the Bay, the quaa-
fi,y could not have been short of 1000 bushels,
the freight on which was equal to 1000.
The committee having information before
them To the cost Of sailing the average class
al sea-goIng steamers, can arrive at no con-
clusion as To the amount OF net revenue which
would be derived from the various sources referred
10. but that line OF boats, constructed with eye
TO the particular nature OF the trade, would pay
TIE owners handsomely, they think Is clearly es-
tablished.
In pscof Of the second position, il il sufficient to
siaie fact which cannot be disputed Ii is this
that siih the exception of the goods Tor some OF
The Victoria merchants, and perhaps the same
humber Of small dealers ia New Brauniels, every
barrel oi freight for Goliad, San Antonio, Goa.
zales, Seguin, Lockaart, Haleitsvlie, and Texana,
vel as tor some two or three houses In Austin,
arriving by steamers, OF Otherwise, IN Ltvdcd Bay,
a. landed al the town Of Layaci, and forwarded
thence to is destination; taSIng TIE number
Persons, who, merchants, de- their Business al
Lavace, and az all Olhrf Points on lhc nay below,
including ladlanOls, as a rule Tor estimating the
amount II business done by the several places
raned, aud the proposition will be fully as 90
IN favor of L.vaca That Liyaca contributes, tnus
nearly 9l0ths OF the private support gwen to the
present line of steamers, ", IN the opinion OF the
committee, fully and iaiily shown.
A. regards the alaval and departure OF passcn-
gers, a IL a matter OF public noton-ty that the
mail is brought ~ iOar no stages regularly,
once a week. To- Lavaca, aud that one or more
txtTa stages are held in readiness to take pissen
gers 10 san Antonio, and other places IA the IN
terlcf-wh,lst TO no other point on the bay below,
either to lndianola, Ia Sale, OF Siuriia Is tnsre
regular communication iOr the accommodation
,t uav,ers, II any KIND; aud persons payIag their
passage Ia New York, Orleans, or Galvesten tor
1aveca. when driven from the boats, At the su-
thcrsge below, or landed at IndIauola against
their will. and in violation at their rights, are
ttIil omgeed To come TO I.avaca, although IN
no. a