New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-01

msgs .. C,e,, Britain. These conditions were
se-ri;eA with. and the island remained nearly
.ersrrfle,s till about twenty years ago, when the
r,e.ent settlement was commenced.
Here. then, on this sand bank, In the twenty
nth degree Of north latitude and the ninety fourth
Iegree Of west longitude IL the City of Galveston,
destined in short time according to the predic.
lions of many, to become one Of the largest and
most aourishng cities in the South. These pre-.
dictions, without doubt, will be fulfilled for,
although this is not the latitude or the country Ia
which we may expect to see cities spring up with
that magic rapidity which has astonished US else
where. stll, the geographical position of Calves
ton 10 such, that It must at no distant period be-
come very considerable city. Nowhere between
Pensacola and Vera Cruz are to be found the
same natural advantages for trade, both foreign
and domestic, a. here. One cause which must
retsrd the progress OF towns and villages
spripginp up on either hand Is want oil
water al the entrance to the bays ana MYERS
upop which they are situated. The entrance 10
Sabine Matagorda and Arkansas Bays, also to the
Brazos River and the Rio Grande are an beset
with this difficulty. Matagords Bay, which Is the
most suitable for commerce Of any on the Texas
90. 81 90 the westward. never has, under the most
favorable circumstances, more than nine feet OF
wster mon the bar. Here the average depth is
twelve feet. As is usual in such cases, some
;ssIousv exists between the citizens Of this place
snd tbos. of other towns on the coast, each claim
inc peculiar natural advantages for his own local
ity. AT Matagorda it is claimed that the entrance
TO that bay by trifing expense, can be rendered
equal to that Of Galveston. At Galveston 1t is
claimed that, while there is more water TO COM
mence with, the same expense, or less, udiciously
incurred, would yield water enough to admit ships
Of large burden. Sectional feeling and personal
interest always have a large share in forming
mems opinions on such subjects, but If any one
will make out list of the shipwrecks and disss-
tiers which have occurred at the entrance to the
different ports on the coast. and look at this in
connection with other things, he must be con-
yipced that the advantages for commerce at Gal
weston are, and will continue to be, far superior
10 those Of any other city on the coast.
Here also centers the trade Of the Sabine.
Nueces Trinity and Brazos Rivers. The territory
watered by these streams is larger than New
York and contains perhaps three-fourths oil the
whole population of the State. All the cotton.
suear and other articles for commerce produced
in this region must, from the geographical nature
of the country, find their way to Galveston. This
can be seen by mere glance at the map. No
system Of internal improvements can be adopted
which will alter this Galveston is already so far
in advance of other towns in this portion OF the
State. as to control and direct any system of the
kind to her own advantage She is to Texas what
New-York il to the United States. The necessi.
doubtless will however, build up other nourshing
towns on the coast, but Galveston must continue
10 be what she is now, the commercial metropolis
of Texas 80
At the end Of the first six years in 1912, the
population of Galveston numbered about 2,OOO,-
AT the end Of the next, 1000. Now it is said to
be between six and seven thousand. L doubt
whether II will much exceed s 600 at this time
/ At the election which has just closed the number
ofvotes polled was about $50, and as there were
strenuous efforts made by each of the contending
parties 10 carry the day, conclude that these are
about all the votes in the place. As is usual 10
most southern cities many Of the residents seek
higher latitude on the approach Of summer In
winter the population may number as many as
1000 Even this, although ii does not compare
with the growth Of some northern cities no more
favorably situated, is very respectable when we
consider that il is the work Of the last eighteen
years. improvements are going on quito briskly.
Men who have accumulated wealth are beginning
to erect fine brick stores and Offices, instead Of
the more Indifferent ones which served them at
the commencement Many Of the private resi-
dences are neat and tasty
But Calves cannot advance rapidly untilthere
IL more direct and speedy communication with
the interior. The navigation Of all the rivers OF
Texas is uncertain and dangerous. Sometimes
vast quantities Of cotton will lie exposed on the
banks for months before steamboats, can ascend TO
II
ment of business moves on langudly, and the
PLANTER as well as the merchant is cramped for the
want of funds Many hundred bales Of this article
are cared fifty seventy five and one hundred miles,
10 reach point for shipment. Galveston will only
date the period of its most rapid growth from the
time when the State, either by public orpriyate en-
terprise commences an enlarged system of internal
improvements. Until this Is done, if it should be
twenty years hence, she will advance compare
AL. tha IA trh oh hp has n
present attained.
Galveston, on Sunday, contrasts strongly with
any New England town Of the same population.
Many things rise up before the eyes OF the pious
/ Yankee to shock his moral sense. This Is not,
however. from any want Of churches, for all the
leading denominations flourish here. Visit any
worshping congregation, and you would pro-
nounce the Galvestonians a devotional people.
Go into the street, however and you find every
drinking house, cigar shop, ten-pin alley and
billiard saloon open and in full blast. In these
places effort at all is made to conceal what Is
going On within. On Tremontst. even, the doors
are all thrown wide open, and the busy aamesters
may be scrutinized BY those passing to and from
the Sunday schools and churches. But these
things are looked upon by a large and influential
portion Of the population with sincere regret, and
the day is not far distant when the improving
morals of the city will require that such
these skulk away from the public gaze The law
against granting licenses toliquor establishments
/ which has just been carried, may be regarded as
a strong indication Of this, and also as a good
/ commencement
! Sunday is gala day with the negroes. Every
one turns out equipped in his finest, and enjoys it
with hearty good will. have seen forty around
a single ice-cream saloon, and have been amused
at the gusto with which each one helps himself to
the CONNECTION before him. No class of people
presents happier or merrier faces than the ne
groes of Galveston on Sunday.
Situated as Galveston is, eleven degrees south
l... lara Al ,..,tb . a