The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07

Cheap Harbor improvements.
Texas bids fair to be the State of surprises.
We all remember how, q few weeks since, the
President surprised the country by advising
Ex-Governor Davis to submit to the verdict OF
the people against him. A few days since we
had occasion to review the novel doctrine OF
Governor Coke-novel, at least. for South
ern State-to "settle what we owe and pay as
we Co." This was surprise for Wall street.
Now comes Major G. w Howell, United States
Engineer Of the Southwestern district, and
overturns oil our preconceived notions OF the
cost of harbor improvements by announcing
that for half million of dollars or so he can
put twenty feet of water permanently on Gal
weston bar by wonderfully cheap construc-
ton of submerged jetties and trimming walls
He acknowledges that his plan of i'm
provement is without precedent in its
details of construction, but claims that
it has been carefully studied, and
adds, IF these proposed structures succeed,
and do not see reason why they should not,
many of our Gulf and lower Atlantic sea-
board harbors can be improved in the same
way and at less expense than by any other
method" Neither do we, and we have care
fully studied Major Howel's report to the
Chief Engineer. General Humphreys, struck
with the novel plan proposed, convened in
New York board of United States en-
gineers, composed of Colonies Tower, Wright
and Newton, to examine with Major Howell
the proposed innovation and to report upon
its probable cost and the practicability Of
securing permanently increased depth Of
water in Galveston Bay and the entrance
thereto. These experienced officers endorse in
the main Major Howell's plan, and state, cit
is believed that the requirements of practical
permanency will, under the conditions ex-
pressed, be fulfilled"
Galveston has always been q twelve-foot
port. 1t is the distributing point for a vast
commerce with nearly all the trans Mississippi
region. New York has been obliged to build
large steamers of peculiar construction and
small draught to meet the wants of this growing
trade If for half million or even million
of dollars it can be made twenty-foot port,
let it be done and at once. Our freight trains
for the far West are crowding the lines Of
transportation from this to the Mississippi,
lodging the passenger trains and delaying
and endangering both, until the construction
of separate freight lines has become almost
an imperious necessity. This traffic with the
rapidly growing far West must increase, and,
if forced into the already thronged lines from
New York to the Mississippi, will bring
despair to the cheap transportationists, if,
indeed, it does not result in the permanent
loss of valuable trade to the merchants Of
our city and the manufacturers of New Eng
land. The bill to carry out the recommended
tons of Major Howell is before the House
Committee on Commerce at Washington, and
we hope they will recommend an immediate
and liberal appropriation for the work. No
greater economy can be exercised than that
which shall give our domestic commerce
cheap harbor improvements, and such sug-
gestions as these Of Major Howell do not come
once in a century