The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-06
DEEP WATER PIRACY

II ih0OIlnb OF the members OF inc M6r-
chants Exchange will be held this oven
ing at 4 o'clock for the purpose Of con-
sidering the question of endorsing the
deepwater speculation Of GAIT, FAD, at
Galveston. There was a meeting last
evening, when an effort was
made to accomplish this and
also to instruct our Representa-
tive in Congress to favor the scheme,
but it met with such unqualified opposi-
ton that another day had to be set for
It's consideration.
Just how Or why any citizen having
the interest Of Dallas at heart can pre-
vail upon himself to advocate such n
monstrous dive into the National pocket
il hard to be discovered by the HERALD.
Galveston, proverbially selfish and I'M
sympathizing with other Texas cities,
calls for the support of the interior OF
the state to carry out what? Merely an
appropriation of$775O,OOO to relieve her
shoaly harbor, when the constituted
and regularly appointed engineers
OF the government declare the scheme to
be- a shameful and unnecessary specula-
ton. MAJOR MANSFIELD, q most scien
tifio and reliable officer, whose whole
life has been devoted to the higher
branches Of engineering, emphatically
declares that the work can be success
fully completed for sl,5O0,OOO at the
utmost. He says, which is true, that he
has been compelled to work on meagre
appropriations, but that with such an
amount, harbor after harbor could be
indented upon the guilt coast.
Is there any peculiar reason why this
sam should be wholly devoted to Gal
yestont Will 1t not exhaust govern
mental generosity, and could our united
delegation secure another cent for
any other harbor if this immense
sum be donated to Galveston alone
For this amount various places, promi-
nent among them Sabine Pass, could be
so improved as to dot the coast with
deep water landings. Tothese different
shipping points, roads could be con-
structed. The interior cities would be in.
terested in their construction and would
lie profited thereby. Shall all roads
lead to Rome? In other words, must
the entire influence oil this state be- made
tributary to Galveston and dependent
upon her for trading facilities9 Or
rather, shall the voice of the whole state
be raised In supplication for he enrich
ment OF the Galveston Harbor and
Wharf company, to which tribute has tC
be paid by every shipper and snip
ownerf Once let Galveston have the
monopoly Of sesports, and we may ex
poet in the future the same cold ant
grasping selishness that has dis
tinguished her in the past.
But make other seapOrts, which car
be done at less expense han over he
bars lot trade start aud go in dill rem
directions and tho portions of Texa
which pay the taxes will also be beneii
Charles in the grand results. Were tn
port at Sabine Pass, the roads would q
from Dallas through the piney region
and mutual advantages result. So, il a
Rockport, roads would be made, tina
would benefit both the port and the in
terror, but 10 deliberately decree tina
every cent of money intended for Texa
or which she could reasonably or hop,
fully ask tor, should DO devoted to OH
monopolihing city, is proposition M
heard Of and not worthy of a seoon
thought. The scheme is a fraud upo
the government, an imposition on tn
rest Of tho state, mere engagement ,
a capaoious spcculator, utterly unnet
essary, destructive Of the interests of III
interior, and ut the present writing tn
, grandest piece of jobbory on record.
is to be hoped our merchants and bus
ness men will reject the proposal thi
evening with honest indignation.