The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-03-25
DEEP WATER, DEEP PACKETS,
AND DEEP THOUGHTS OF GAL

ized an examination of certain harbors
of its coast, Commodore Moore execu-
ted the work with much conscien-
tiousness, and the result was, haYing
surveyed Galveston, Matagords and
Aranzas, it was decided, in consequence
of the superior advantages of Matagor-
da bay, to establish the government
navy yard and station there. 6ubse-
quent eXaminations-one made by Jo-
seph E. Johnston-Yerified the report
of the Commodore. After all these
reports had been made, Major How
ell made examinations at Mata.
gords and at Galveston, and,
owing to the influences operating
in favor of the latter place, recon-
mended Its improvement, while his
estimates showed that the same ad-
vantsges could be attained at Mata-
gords with great deal less money
than at Galveston. Velasco at the
mouth of the Brazos was, and is still,
place of no pretensions and no in
fluences. Hence but little or no at
tention has been paid to this point as
port of entry, and yet it has the
| deepest and most perfect land-locked
harbor west of New Orleans, while its
opening to the sea is over bar less
formidable than any on the Gulf coast.
Galveston and Matagorda bays are
open seas, while the mouth of the
Brazos, for many miles away from the
gulf, is placid and deep estuary. av-
eraging in width between a quarter and
half mile, and land-locked, with
banks forever defying storms and sea
waves. This estuary is deep enough
and capaclous enough to float the Great
Eastern, and it would give room In
deep water to the shipping of New
York hsrbor. This deep water extends
all the way from Columbia to the
mouth of the river, and up to the very
breakers of the gulf, where lies bar
well defined and distinct, running
from northeast by southwest. This
| bar is hard sand bed, not over a
thousand yards in width, and ordi-
narily covered at its highest point with
eight to twelve feet of water. The
river is quite broad little distance
above. it's mouth, and narrows as it
flows into the gulf, thus forming res
ervoir for the accumulation of tide wa
ter, that when it ebbs produces most
powerful current, which, if confined
within the simplest walls of piles,
would soon gcour away channel that
would give over twenty feet of water
on the bar, without even calling into
requisition the commonest dredge boat.
The cost of removing this obstruction
in the way of affording fine harbor
for the largest chips would be 30 in
significant, that 1t is only surprising
the merits of this point have not been
specially considered by the govern
ment. The fact, however, is that
Galveston, though its political influ-
ence has produced an apparent forget
fulness of every other point within
reach of it on the Texas coast. There
are FIVE or six thousand voters in Gal
weston, and less than fifty or sixty al
Velasco, and the average Congressman
pales before the awful difference.
These points concerning our coast deYel-
opment become particularly interesting
just now, when, as the Nes0s says, ''ruin
or salvation" stares the people of Gal
weston in the face because it hasn't deep
water, which the Nesos says, cannot
be reached "before another generation
passes away" At least one-fourth of
the NesoS' issue of the fourteenth is de-
voted to the subject.of how Galveston
may be saved, and "leading citizens"
are being trotted out on this subject.
Mr.. Kopperl, who immortalizod him.
self in building the Santa Fe railway
doesn't want Galveston property
taxed to save it's value, but he
says the State should give Gal
weston $4,000, 900, to be used in
procuring deep water, and yet Major
Mansfield, the government officer in
charge of harbor improvements, de-
clares it will take "a, OO0, 600 carefully
expended to make deep water, Had
Mr.. Kopperl proposed that the state
| give the last named sum instead of
just half enough to complete the
work, there would be better hope
of his being gratifed. Judge Darrah,
another "leading citizen" being inter
viewed, frankly acknowledged that
he was not in leading strings on the
subject. Mr.. Brown, who has grown
very rich on hardware, declares him.
self in favor of property tax, and,
like brave man, says he is ready to
''pool," but it is not stated how much
of Mr.. Browns wealth has taken the
shape of United States bonds. Mr..
Woed, another merchant, who has made
many hard earned dollars, and who has
head hard enough to resist even q
Nescs reporters charms. says Galveston
is "the worst taxed place now he
had ever seen, and that it would have
to wait for natural boom to sweep
sand bars into the sea. Mr.. Sampson
Heidenheimer, who reyolutionized Me-
chanic street, and who made such tell
ing speeches for Col. Sweet in his late
successful canvass, said he didn't want |
taxation. and he wouldn't have it. By
this time the leading citizens had
learned that the young man Of the |
Nescs was out, and It became impossi-
bic to find Col. Moody, or any other
one Of them, with most dilligent search |
throughout the balance Of the day. In |
the same issue Of the Nescs, Col.
Mansfield, the government engineer,
tells that deep water may be gotten,
but that 1t will take seven solid miles
Of non-wearing stone wall. if the stone
may be gotten near Galveston, at
cost OF $4, 900, 0e0; and the inference
is. left that il the stone il not near,
and everybody knows it is not, the