The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-02
DEEP WATER AT GALVESTON


ton of deep water at Galveston figured very
prominently. Mr. Hoxie gave 1t rs his
opinion that the reason Congress had not
given larger appropriations for the harbor
improvements at Galveston was because so
many points on the coast of
Texas were clamoring for SINH
lar appropriations and the pro rata
for Texas had on this account been divided
up so as not to materially benefit any
point II will be remembered that the HER
AID said tho same thing not long since and
advocated the plan of first giving Galveston
what she needed and then Attending to less
important points afterwards. For this adj
vocacy the San Antonio Express and papers
at other points took the HERALD to task.
We thought then that we were right and we
think 80 yet. 1t should be a.matter of State
pride with every section of Texas to see
Galveston made harbor and seapoat
worthy Of this great State. There has been
too much of sectional opposition and local
jealousy for the States good in the past, and
II should be sunk upon the altar of com
mon material prosperity and development,
Sabine Pasa and Indanola and Rockpor
and Corpus Christi are all points entitled to
consideration as minor seaports, and all are
worthy of aid from the general government,
but they are not Of that import
ance, either so far as the State
as q whole, or their immediate sections are
concerned, as to demand tho governments
bounty at once to the detriment Of the one
great seaport, upon which the whole State
is dependent. Each State in the Union is
accorded its pro rata of appropriations for
sea coast and river Improvements, and that
which is to come to Texas should be given to
that point whore it will best serve tho interests
of the entire State. When that point has
been benefited all that can be Reasonably
expected, then other points in the order of
their Importance should DO looked after. Gal
weston, every citizen CT Texas knows, is the
one important seaport Of the State. A
great city is located at this natural harbor
it is reached by the entirs railroad system of
the State and IL is in direct communication
with the seaports of the world by ocean lines
Of vessels. This being 50, it is to the interest
of every section, indeed of every co unity
city, town and village of the
State that its commercial facil-;
tise should be fostered, cherished and de-,
veloped in every manner possible. THERE'S
opposition enough to any Improvement of
the Galveston bars from the railroads
throughout tho length and breadth of this
Union without local State opposition. The
railroads do not want water transportation
composition 10 and from Texas. They want
q monopoly of the carrying trade of the
State and all the obstacles they can put in
the way of appropriations through
lobbyists will not be wanting. As
a matter Of pride and as matter of interest
in behalf Of the commerce of State, every
section and locality should strive to the one
great end of having Galveston made great
seaport, to and from which the largest-sized
sea- going vessel can sail, bearing the imports
necessary for the use of our people and the
exports produced by our own labor, skill and
enterprise. We have not oae word to say
against Sabine Pass, Indianola, Roclipor,,
Corpus Christi or Br0os Santiago, but we
ask in all candor aud impartiality, are their
harbors not adequate at,present for their pur-
poses The sections about them and imme-
diatcly tributary to them are not SO
developed as to demand increased CONNER
yial facilities over those they al.eady offer.
When in the course of few years the
country becomes more thickly populated in
th ose regions and the demands of increased
commercial facilities for those ports have
grown as the county has grown, it will then be
time enough for an Improvement of these
harbors. In the nean time, by concentra-
ton of the pro rata for Texas on the harbor
at Galveston, twenty or more feet of water
will have been obtained, and magnificent
city, doing the trade of the entire State of
Texas, will have been developed. 1t is q
fact that the tendencies of the times are to
centralism, not alone in political affairs but
IN commercial matters as we'll.
Tue brain and money power of
New York is making a mighty effort to
centralize the trade of this entire country to
that one point. All the powers of the rail.
roads are being brought to bear to converge
the commerce of the country to that one
point. To attain this end the effort is made
to scatter the trade Of each State to seyera
different points, all those points being tribu-
tary to New York. Now we have no
argument or battle TO make for
other States. We are only striving for
the interests of Texas. This State is pecu-
liarly situated and circumstanced. An en-
pira in extent of territory, and an empire in
extent Of interests, facilities and resources, il
can and should be an empire in fact, indie
pendent in all particulars of every other
State in the Union. To attain this desira.
Bile, this grand achievement It should have a
magnificent seaport Of It's own, and do its
trade within itself. Why should Texas
merchants 90 to New York for anything if i,