Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-26
DEEP WATER.
Where Can 1t be Secured Speedily,
Permanently and Most Rconeml-
cRllyf the Question to be Solved.
Tho Place Should be Selected By a Board
of United States Engineers Appointed
Especially for the Purpose.

10 the Editor OF the Gazette.
the most important question before
the people Of Texas to-day Is that Of deep
water. On It's satisfactory solution de-
pends the ultimate success Of the immi-
grafton movement and the general pros
perity Of the state. It is not new sues
ton; but, with our own rapid growth and
the development Of that great area of
country lying between the Mississippi and
Pacific, 1t has assumed such importance
that it can no longer be ignored or its
solution delayed. The increase of popu-
iStion aud wealth In Colorado, Kansas.
Nebraska and other states OF the west
within the last decade is q matter
of wonder to the civilized word; aud the
corresponding growth of their agricultur-
al, stockraisiDg, mining aud manufacture
ing industries demands for the products
Of these Industries, q short, cheap haul to
the SEES, and deep-water port adequate
to accommodate the commerce of that
great section Of country. Bot only Is 1t
necessary SO an outlet for our surplus
products, seeking foreign markets, but as
an inlet direct to the consumer for the
CO f. IS, fruit, etc, that we import from
ports, asiwe1 as for importations from all
European countries. Thus deep-Wster
on the Texas coast has become question
OF national importance. Relieved of sll
local interests i. sppeals for government
aid IN behalf Of the prosperity Of nearly
sWO-tAirds ct the United States.
LccSl ieslousies between the various
ports OF the state, engen! cred and kept
ua nv hn nj All -
q certain city by the ses, have kept this
phase OF the question in the background
and public sentiment feyerish and d.
Vided. To sppease this and keep har-
Eouy IN the political family, the river and
hsrbor bill, during the last ten years or
more, has been scattering hundreds of
along our coast In vkin effort to i'm
prove our several hsrbors. The appro-
priations in each cSse, being inadequate
to the work required to be done, hSve
accomplished little; and the improvement
left in an incomplete state, is damaged by
wind and wave for year or two before q
new appropriation is made and work re-
sumed. Consequently, each successive
appropriation is used largely to repair
damage TO previous work necessarily left
incomplete.
Il will be seen By this that the tdribles
system" will never get deep water on the
Texas coast. It is q, waste Of tine. II u
waste of public money that should not
be encouraged by Congress OF the people.
The river and harbcr bill rarely exceeds
Sl6. 00Gl0 IS total of its appropriations,
winch Is divided among 800 or more rivers
and haSoors Of tina United States, includ-
ing the large appropriations of the Mis-
slssippi river. There are seven rivers
and harbors Of Texas receiving federal
aid. In 1885 tina House committee ep-
propristed for Texas 81 l5e, 600, to be
divided among Its several harbors on q
basis Of 20 pei cent. OF the engineers
estimate for that year When tne bill
reached the Senate committee it was
treated to horiE )ntsl reduction OF 25
per cent, irrespective OF the merits, feast
bllity or importance Oh the several i'm
prOVements; and Texas suffered with the
rest, receiving only 1861, 500, OF which
Arausss received only SOL $50. This
appropriation WAS made March 81, 1886
There were no appropriations il 1887, the
Dill falling to reach the President in time
Ter his signature. Thus is the peoples
money squandered. The engineers es,i-
mates Tor river and harboE improvements
aggregates $40, 900. 900 to 5000, eco
Congress diregsrds the claims Of the
important works and eoollY makes
% per cent. rs the basis for the bill.
Texas, with the other states, receives It's
proportion, and no more. Since We can
not improve all our hsrbors Is not there
reason for the demand for the concenEra
ton OF all the appropriations for Texas
on one barber to De selected By the gov
eminent? Is it not better to do this than
to sanction the continued waste OF the
peoples money!
An EFFORT to concentrate the appropTis-
!lcrs for Texas on one hArbor where deep
water can be Obtained speedily and most
economically should receive the support
Of our people. Local interests should
hsve ne weight in making the selection
It is not whether 1t will benefit or hurt
Galveston, Corpus Christi or any other
Texas town; or which Is the largest, or
which controls the greatest trade. The
question for the government 10 consider Is
where can deep water be secured speedily,
permanently and most economically; and
adeoaste to the con N cree TO be served
The Dallas resolution is right 30 far as
IL declares for 8 deep-water port Tor
Texas, but wrong in making is the duty
of our thirteen Corgressmen 10 select the
hsrbor for the concentration OF the gov
eminent appropriations, who must either
decide il Is q question OF politics IN favor
Of the place having the greatest Political
power or perform the functions OF
board Of expert engineers. wsicn last
would be simply absurd. Texas should
stk through tts Congressional dele gsIion
for the appointment OF ooard CT ualteo
States engineers to examine all the har-
oors of the state for the purpose OF Sc
lectiug that one where deep water can oe
obtained speedily and economically and
when such selection shall have been made
that the appropriations for Texas De con-
centrated q. that point and in sum ads-
quste for such work
In this connecticut trust snail Dotgee
considered ont of order In calling thsat-
tention Of the people Of Northern Texas
20 the Improvement at Arkansas Bass, its
claims for government aid, and me feasl-;
bility of deep water there. Its clsimsfP
such recognition cannot be deniedby
anyone who will carefully investigate
= It's Feasibility OF speedy, sec5nomfcal
md rermsnent improvements damon
s.r..as ~ the success OF governments
.sssss s,.s.sv done, and the pnysicsi con-
Wot4 80 ~AfJ teeaI4 A mar.