San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-05-11
POINTING TOWARDS THE PASS.

Recent events have conspired to turn
the attention Of Texas toward Arkansas
Pass, and the state at large is taking q
very deep and special interest In all that
concerns the opening OF that port to
ocean steamers. Galveston has that
possession which is nine points Of the
law and having 1t has made the most OF
1t. All the natural disadvantages and
insurmountable obstacles which render
1t so impossible to make OF Galveston
the seaport Texas needs. have been
made light Of by that CITY and with an
energy and gall scarcely equalled the
citizens and wharf company Of that port
succeeded In creating the very genial
impression that no other seaport for
Texas than Galveston was within the
possibilities. That impression the peo-
pie and press of this city have been per-
sistently endeavoring to re move for the
past three years and at last success
seems to crown their efforts.
The great lines Of railway traversing
the plains OF Kansas and western Ne
braska have long felt the need OF some
seaport at which they could discharge
freights without being compelled to
cross continent to reach the Atlantic
seaboard. The connection of north
Texas by rail with western: Kansas and
Nebraska and Colorado, has revived the
interest in shorter rail route to the sea
and led to investigation of the Texas
gulf coast. That Investigation by unpre-
JUDGED capitalists and railway explor-
ers has resulted in the acknowledgment
of the superior natural advantages Of
fered at Arkansas Pass. The cry OF San
Antonio for an impartial examination OF
the merits Of her deep water port has
been needed, aud there Is q perfect
stampede for the long neglected, but al
ways eligible Arkansas Pass. This
movement has resulted in the organiza-
tion of the, Arkansas Pass improvement
company with a capital of SIC 10000
and as much more as necessary to open
the pass and make such port as will by
Its natural superiority draw to 1t the
commerce of the gulf.
Fort Worth has taken....a deep interest
in this matter, not from any ,partiality
to this section Of the state, but because
her gre,t northwest connections demand
an outlet at the sea, and the result OF
careful investigation leads to the selec-
ton of Arspsas Pass as the place of all
others where the,northwest lines should
reach salt water. Concerning the Pass
and the company organized for its i'm
provement the Fort Worth Gazette
speaks unequivocally, in leader from
which the following extracts are taken
as a sample:
"The organization of a strong syndi-
cate having representatives in all the
leading cities of the state, for the pur-
pose of securing deep water at Arkansas
Pass, does not bode very good to Gal
veston's aspirations. Care seems to
have been taken in naming the directors |
to enlist very general interest in the |
movement, thus guarding against
sectional opposition thereto. The |
Gazette is not advised as to the |
plan of operations the projectors |
Of this new enterprise will pursue. If
they have the nerve to put their own |
shoulders to the wheel. go down into |
their own pockets and start work with |
out waiting on congress they will have |
a decided advantage over Galveston. 1t |
is the misfortune or blunder-just as |
oh = 80 81
that the people there have never shown |
disposition to help themselves in this !
matter. They have always contended |
congress should pay the money to
prosecute harbor improvements there, |
and for years they have waited and i'm |
pOrtuned, taking doles and getting no |
nearer the goal Of their desires. There Is |
plenty OF money in Galveston; there has |
been a Ruper-abundance of capital there |
for twenty years. 1t has been a long
time since the banks there asked higher |
than s per cent. rate of interest. 1t is !
said Galveston money is going freely !
now at per cent. to make Galveston q
wool market. If this money had gone
freely, years ago, to get deep water
there, either by jetties, dredging, or
building pier to deep water, Calves
ton today would have been a city OF
$1,000 population and with prosperous
future assured beyond all doubt. As an
investment the outlay would have
proved permanent and munificent,
San Antonio is not so much interested
in what Galveston did not do as in what
she herself Is likely to secure through
the united efforts now being made to
give Texas the benefit Of ocean freights