New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-09
RIVER REPORT-3P. NJ.
Below high water marA of 1874.
Appropriations for Texas Harbor I'm.
Drovements to be withheld.

Appropriations for Texas Harbor I'm
provements to be Withheld.
Lieutenant Davis, the engineer in charge
of the Galveston harbor improvements ar
rived from New Orleans on Tuesday, pre-
pared to commence operations at the gov
eminent works on Bolivar, and would hay,
had fifty men at work yesterday but for
dispatch received from Major Howell in
structing him to await further orders
Major Howell had been in correspondence
with the chief of engineers, and having rep
resented the works at the mouth Of TIT
Mississippi and on Galveston bar as of the
utmost consequence, was ordered to pro
coed with the works necessary to effect the
desired improvements, and Lieutenant Da-
Wis was, in accordance with these instruc-
tions, ordered at once to Galveston to re-
sumo operations at the point.
Information was received here YESTERDAY
from q reliable source to the effect that
Galveston and Texas are in danger of
losing use of appropriations by last Con-
gress for river and harbor Improvement"
and suggesting that steps be taken in Gal
weston to strengthen the position of Major
Howell, who strenuously opposes any delay
in the work on the bar at the entrance to
this port, and who proposed leaving New
Orleans for Washington yesterday evening
to lay his circumstances before the proper
authorities.
1t will be remembered that President
Grant declared he would not permit dol.
lar of the appropriations made by Congress
to be expended except when absolutely
necessary, and it is surmised that the OBJ
position to use of funds intended for river
and harbor improvements in Texas comes
from the executive. This eupposition
amounts almost to certainty, in view of
the fact that General Humphreys had or.
dered the work to be proceeded with. Be-
fore entirely suspending improvement of
the harbor of Galveston, at the cost not
only of prospective benefits, but of all that
has already been done, it will be we'll for
the President and his adviser to under.
stand that Galveston is not port upon
which few Texas towns depend for an
ocean distributing point or place of entry
fof0mpOrtatiOns. Kansas, Wisconsin, Ne
braska, Colorado, and other Republican
States, look for an outlet through Calves
ton, as we'll as the Democratic common
weslths of Missouri and Texas, and that
such punishment as that contemplated by
the Withholding of appropriations from
Texas, can not be inflicted on Texas with
out exercising damaging effect on the
commerce of the States west of the Missis-
sippi.
Citizens will cheerfully respond to the
suggestion to strengthen Major Howell by
all means in their power, in his effort to !
have the order resembling instructions to
resume operations countermanded. No
time is to be lost in the matter, and per- |
hsps the best plan will be to telegraph |
General Humphreys in the name of the |
Cham Der of Commerce, Cotton Exchange,
Produce Exchange, Board of Har Dor I'm |
provements, collector of the port, agencies |
OF steamships lines, and leading merchants |
and citizens, the great damage that would |
result from suspension Of work on the bar,
and the loss that will fall on the govern.
ment from displacement OF what has al |
ready been done in the way of planting
gabions and construction of .jetties.
The matter is Of first Importance, and |
must have prompt and energetic attention. |
MsjOr Howell must receive all the strength |
ening that Endorsement of the authorities,
com mercial associations and citizens can |
give, and he should find the necessary dis. |
patches waiting his arrival at Washing
Characterization Neps.