Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-21
TEXAS DEEP WATER.
Meeting Of the Texas Delegation to
Discuss the Question.
Army Engineers Will Make an Impair
tial Survey of Texas Harb0rs and
Report to Congress.
Different Capacities of Galveston and Aran.
sas Pass for Deep Water-some Inter-
esting Correspondence.
HOW IT WILL BE DONE,

Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-A meeting of
the Texas delegation was had at Senator
Coke's rooms tonight to discuss the deep
water question as related to some port on
the Texas coast. Major benson of Gal
weston, who came in accordance
with the Denver resolution, was
the only outsider present. A
general discussion ensued, but
no definite plan was agreed on and an
other meeting will be held in day or
two. The idea that seemed to meet gen.
eral favor was to provide in the river
and harbor bill for commission of
army engineers TO make q full and i'm
partial survey of Texas harbors and
then to report to congress the most prac-
ticabfe port for future Improvement.
This is the outcome of the matter, and
though matters may yet take a different
turn, it may be safely predicted that this
course will be substantially followed.
SOME LIGHT on THE SUBJECT.
Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-The Texas
delegation held an important meeting to-
night and discussed the deep water ques-
ton. Congressman Grain submitted the
following interesting correspondence
which has just taken place: -
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 4
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1883.
General Casey, Chief Engineer United States
Army: -.
DEAR SIR-will you kindly furnish me
with answers to the following, at your
earliest convenience: =, ~!
/. What is the estimated amount of
money Under the present Scheme, which ii
is contemplated will furnish twentES6r
twenty-five feet of water ON Galveston
bar, and what amount is estimated for
thirty feet?
3. What is the estimated amount for
the carrying out of the scheme for the
improvement of Arkansas Pass, Tex?
3. How much of the last appropriation
for Galveston will be available on the
LIST day of June, 1882,
4. What amount will be available on
the 1st day of June, 1889, of the last ap-
preparation for Arkansas Pass? q,
= s. What amount do you say can be
profitably expended. at Galveston during
the next fiscal year? -
6. What AMOUNT do you say can be
profitab1y expended at Aransas Pass dur.
ing the next fiscal year?
I. Is it not disadyantageous to river
and harbor appropriations to. make linz
tied appropriations instead ofGappropria--.
lions in accordance with your official es-
Inmates and recommendation and if so
why?
8. Would there not in reality be a
saving to the government if annual
appropriations for river and harbor
improvements were sufficiently large to
to enable the engineers in charge of the
work to continue their Operations with
out cessation and is not large amount
of money annually wasted in repairing
damages done during the interval be-
tween the date of the cessation of
work occasioned by the exhaustion of one
appropriation and the time when another
becomes available, and does not the oc-
casional failure oBbongressto pass a river
and harbor bill occasion the use of large
portion of.the next appropriation in Ee.-s
pairing works and the plant used in car
rying them on!
8. Is not the failure Of the army en-
gineers to accomplish contemplated i'm
provement within a given time very
largely attributable to the refusal or
.failure of congress to furnish them with
sufficient funds annually to carry on their
work continuously? r
TO- Would not the improvement of our
national harbors and rivers be very much
facilitated and be made less expensive if
congress were to make an annual apprO-
priation to. be expended upon such i'm,
provements undetithe direction of the
secretary of war, and if the present drib-
let system of river and harbor appropria-
tions were abandoned?
: As desire to use your replies within
the next few days 1 will be greatly
obliged if you will furnish them at the
earliest possible moment. 1 have the
honor to be, general, your obedient SER
want, w. H. GRAIN, NJ. c., Texas.