Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-26

row b.r, & natural powerful current, like
that which furnishes the securing force
for Eads' successful work at the mouth
of the Mississippi; deep Rster in the Gulf
at the mouth of the Pass, and strong lit
torsl currents that carry away any sedi-
ment that msy now from the hsrbor.
2. It's importance to the commerce
Of Texas and the Ncrthwest-im-
por.snt In saving rail haul
Of Thousand miles or more
for commerce seeking tide water Of the
Atlantic. The meridian Of the 20Sh de-
gree Of longitude west from Washington
passes through Aransas pass. TWo-thirds
OF Texas and ever one-haif of the United
States lie west of this line and sre more
directly tributary to Arkansas than to any
otaer harbor On the Gulf coast.
8 Its ,vident importance to our con-
mercisl relations with Mexico.
l. Its Importance IS har5or Of refuge
for Gulf shipping for long extent Of
dangerous coast in time of storms, being
completely land locked, conveniently Sit
uated, and easy Of access, affording 6
secure hsrbor for both large and small
vessels.
8. As naval port or port Of supplies
in case CT strained relations with our
neighboriDg southern republics.
Such ore some OF its claims for national
recognition. With its ample harbor
room and It's depth of twenty eight to
t1irty-fve feet Of water, Arkansas can ac-
commodate the shipping Of great nation.
There is no need Of interior dredging to
make II available for deep shipping AiGer
the bar at its moath sha!l have been re
moved.
1t WAS clearly demonstrated to the
river and harbor committee two years ago
that the jetty work st Arkansas had given
an increased depth On the bar OF six feet
and that, too, on D total sum of only
S3a0,00 scattered in meagre spproprIa
tons through the var;Ogs river and harbor
bills since 1876 Had this been followed
by 8 liberal appropriation and active
work there would bs to-day, without
doubt, twenty five feet Of water over the
crest OF Arkansas bar. No other harbor
on the gulf COST has made Or can make
such a showing for the money expended.
In writing of the advantages Of Arkansas,
of its promise Of speedy and economical
and Of its 3aperior claims
as a natural deep water hsrbor l am
forced TO make comparisons with other
Texas hnrbors, which, however, are not
intended to De invidlous.
AS early as 1888 the superiority CT
Arkansas OVER Galveston was recognized.
a survey Of Galveston haThor made In
that year showed twelve feet OF water on
the crest Of the bar, and distance Of five
miles from the shore line, to the I've
fathom curve In the Gulf. An examine
ton Of Arkansas made Immediately after
showed eighteen feet of water on tbs
crest Of the bar and distance from the
shore line to the ave-fSthom sgrVe only
OF . mile. 4 Mexican
chart. published in 1886. shows twenty
feet Of water on Arkansas bar. ThisdHas
its natural depth ;. but subsequent severe
storms cut away the yielding banks Of tie
islands and deposited the sand at the
mouth of the pass, forming the bar. To
remove this deposit and protect the
ends Of the Islands IRON further
erosion are all that is necessary 70 make
deep water at Arkansas Pass; and It's cost
will be mere song compared 10 the pro-
posed improvement at Galveston.
The United States engineers have time
and again declared that the "Work at
.Aransss offered the prospect otthe earli-
est attainment OF success Of any hGrbor
on the coast" Private capital, gecog-
MIXING this, has caused an important rail
road Cthe San Antonio end Arkansas Pass)
to be constructed to tideWater there. An
equally important railroad Cths Mexican
NationaD is now In operation between
Corpus Christi and the heart d Mexico,
and making rapid strides toward the
Mexican capital, which 1t will reach be-
fore this year closes; while other rail
roads are heading for Arkansas, and
only awaiting the consummGtion Of the
there to begin setiYe con-
strucsion to that point.
II the question Of q selection should be
left to be decided between Galveston and
AraESas on the merits Of cost, as between
jestiss four and half or Eve miles long
and the same three-foarths Of mile
long, there would DE no doubt Of the REL
sult; and there can be no doubt Of
the governments decision # left to
de- eide on the natural merits Of the two
hsrbors, unlnfluenced by local interests
OF political considerations.
Arkansas is ready to enter competitive
examination with the other hsrbors Of
Texas and Sbide the result, Whstever it
might be. ". 2. CARUTHKRs.