The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-07
SABINE PASS.
Deep Water Across the BAr-Ths Hssa.
yons' PrOspects-SpsouI Rto. ,

Correspondents OF the Herald.
As the public eye has been attracted 10
some extent in the direction of Sabine Pass
as an outlet to the sea, perhaps a few facts
from actual observation may be of interest
to some of your resders.
lsuppose it is generally known throughout
the state that ali the old ''Tsrs" consider this
the safest hsrbor on the coast and it would
hardly be necessary to discuss the merits OF
OF the place as a seaport at this time. will
say, however, that in the event of its being
utilized as shipping point, tho great array
ofexpensses for lighterage, tOwage, insurance
on risks, and various other port and harbor
fees so common at nearly every port in the
lard, will not appear in the liIt Of charges
here, for deep draught vessels can come in.
side and lay rear enough the bank to Put
cut stage and discharge its cargo.
Ii may be doubted by some Of your read.
ers, yet 1t Is nevertheless true that there ia
to-day more water across Sabine bar than
aHy other in the state Of Texas, and the
United States drSdge boat Essayons ia cut
ting deeper and wider every day. Vessels
can now cross the bar drawing sixteen fest
OF water, and am pretty confident that at A
good flood tide they could come in drawing
eighteen feet Of water. But with all the adj !.
vsntages afforded us in the way Of safe bar.
Dor, deep water and healthy location, we
nave no railroad, no trsdS, no commerce.
There are several reasons for this stats of
affairs that lie concealed from casual OBJ
servation, and however much eastern TEXAS
may need the outlet, she will never get it so
long IS these yelled interests stand in the way.
The destiny of Sabine Pass is in the hands
OF shrewd might say INSCRIPTIONS, for
capital will bear the name snywhere) men
whose lnterestS are, OF have been, this far, to
hold this outlet under shadow. Our only
salvation lies in the possibility that q bigger
hsh may come along and eat up tho smaller
onas.
The East Texas company, through Judge
Crosby, say they intend to build the road TO
the Pass; but this has been q standing card
with the East Texas company for the last
ten years, to nay certain knowledge. But
here we might enter labyrinth of
reasoning and thsorizing requiring too much
space for any benefit. that might result. If
We had thirty feet of water across the bar the
result would be the same. 1t matters not if
all the cid "tArs' on tho gulf should BRO.
claim In chorus that Sabine is the safest and
best harbor or tho.eoast, the dog still stands
sin the mangsr." The late L. Kellet OF one
time engineer of the Southern Pacific said
that ne was aStonishsd when he saw this cut.
let with its superior natural advantages, that
nothing bad been done to utilize them
Thht deep water can be got across the bar
quickly, easily, and at 3 trihng expense COM
pared with other places, has been amply and
satisfactorily demonstrated by the work of
the dredge Essayons, both now and on
former occasion. This fact admits of no con-
tradiction. That it is a safe, SEC ire harbor is
sufficiently proven by tho way vessels make
for it on the approach OF storms on the gulf,
and cross the bar and ride them out in safety,
But the citizens of Sabine Pass have become
pewsrle,s to sct their property has already
passed into the hands Of non-residsnts,
sPeculators, etc. CITIZEN.
SABINE PASS, Texas, Jan. 4. 1881.