The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-15
oAIvEsToN'S GRAB.

The question of an appropriation OF
the huge sum Of T,5O0,OO1 for the I'M
provement OF Galveston harbor neces-
sarily attracts universal attention IN
Texas.
That this matter has provoked adverse
criticism from unbiased Journals might
have been expected, for the press OF
Texas is too intelligent and too we'll
informed not to probe such schemes to
the bottom. II the consensus OF public
opinion on this subject were formulated
into definite objections they might he
stated AS follows;
First-This appropriation would enor-
mously enrich the Galveston Wharf
company, owned by tho city of Calves
ton, and divers private citizens. The
entire state would 30 forced 10 pay an
eternal tribute TO this wharf monopoly.
We need but appeal to contemporaneous
history, and the Galveston News, for
evidence of the intolerable eSactions OF
this Old Man Of the Sea.
1t is exceedingly questionable as to
whether justice TO every other harbor In
Texas, and especially TO Sabine Pass,
toward which Dallas is projecting an
important road, would warrant this APP
preparation.
And, lastly, If such sum, or anything
approximating it, is to be appropriated,
it had better be expended in opening
the Trinity river through LANHAM's,
THRocKMoRToN's, WELLBoRN's, Mills,
REAaAN's and STUART's congressional
districts. 1t is well known to the News
and the older residents of Galveston
that Col. GEORGE NJ. FLoURNoY once
pressed before congress bill to cut
through the divide between tho head
waters of the Trinity and Red river and
10 divert such portion of the waters OF
the latter stream as would be sufficient
to maintain navigable canal from Red
river to the gulf.
That such plan IS possible ana
within the powers OF modern
engineering TO compass cannot be ques-
toned. That it would rebound to the
interest, not alone of Galveston, but of
the entire state, cannot be doubted.
A waterway penetrating through the
center of the entire state would operate
as q pronounced and determined factor
in reducing railroad rates to the sea. In
deed, the wheat, corn and cotton OF
three-fourths of the state might well
seek that outlet to the gulf.
The state of Texas has long since been
committed to the opening and improy-
ing of the Trinity river, having iii 1874
let the contract to- j. PAIrEvoUr TO clean
out and open navigation in that river to
White Rock shoals III Trinity county,
and appropriated large bodies OF
the public domain to that end
There is yet another powerful reason,
as affecting central north Texas. why
Sabine pass should not he ignored. The
Trunk raj road will, in all probability,
shortly change hands and be projected
on, southeast to the pass. If present
arrangements can be consummated,
this road will enter theEclanger system,
meeting the southwest extension Ct thai
system from Shreveport, at or near
Athens. IL this contamination be had
we at once have rival line, slightly
DETECTED to south, from Dallas to
Shreveport, thence to Vicksburg and to
a CONNECTION with the lines penetrating
Birminb ham, Alabama, at which point
we reach enormous supplies OF coal and
iron. The main branch will split the
long-leaf piIieries wide open, making
Dallas the greatest lumber marketin the
southwest. fit should go to the Pass, |
and it would inevitably gravitate there,
we would nave another outlet to the sea.
These are some of the reasons actuacing
our opposition to the Galveston scheme.
In tho one case an individual city and \
wharf company are to be immensely |
-6enefltedi In the others to the entire
state inures the grand results, /