San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-31
ON no THE NORTHWEST.


days slip by In inactioD, and so imperil
the success of her proposed northwest
ern railway into the Panhandle. Put 1t
down as bed rock truth, my son, that
no one Is rs much interested ia San An
tonic as she is In herself II she does
not push this northwestern extension
for herself, not only will no one else do
It for her, but she will find that other
roads have profited by her lnaction, and
other rival cities have stepped into the
pool OF prosperity, while she was walt
Ing for some angel to come and trouble
the waters for her benefit. San Ant6-
Mo has by no means quit claim deed
to the Panhandle country. Odessa
has plenty OF money, and is being
strongly courted by the roads from
Dallas and Fort Worth, which are push
ing westward and southwark for the
Fort Concho region. There IL not one
moment to lose in making up the
amount required In San Antonio. This
projected movement to connect this city
with the Panhandle country by way OF
Junction City, strikes directly at the
root OF some OF the most i'm
portsnt railway schemes that have
been cherished by northeast and
middle Texas. San Antonio must
not lose sight Of the fact that the open
ing OF the Arkansas Pass to deep water,
or the finding OF deep water on the west
coast OF the gulf, is not OF vital import
ance to any road save the Arkansas Pass
road herself. The Southern Pacific has
her connections with the gulf az Calves
ton and her interests lie there rather
than here. The International road CEN
tiers her trade at st. Louis, not at the
gulf. 1t would be reversing OF her
whole order of business to make her ter
minus at the gulf instead OF at the Mis-
sissippi river. Whatever she may find
II 70 her interests to do later. certain 1t
Ia that for the present she will not be
disposed to make common cause with
this city In opening the Arkansas Pass.
the west end OF the gulf. Needs 1t for
the benefit of her shippers; her wool and
hides and cotton buyers. Needs IL that
she may discount Galveston In all future
attempts to secure control of west Texas
trade by virtue of cheap ocean rates.
Give San Antonio an opening to New
York and Europe through deep water
communications at Arkansas Pass and
she will hold the key Of the great north
west Of this state, as also Of New Mexico,
western Colorado and western Kan
sas In her own grasp. De-
lay the extension OF this proposed road
into the Panhandle, and Dallas and
Fort Worth and Waco, and Austin and
Houston and Galveston will enter that
section at Mason and at San Angelo,
trade will be diverted eastward instead
Of southeastward and southwark. the
whole state will be enlisted In the
scheme for deep water at Galveston and
San Antonio will be left like a deserted
summer lodge in a garden of cucumbers.
Reports from along the line Of the
track are full of encouragement. The
cities and counties to the northwest, as
a matter Of preference, would link their
destinies with San Antonio rather than
with eastern Texas, but they will not
wait. Railway communication Is the
one thing that Is needed In order to the
development and increase of that region
lying west OF the International and
south of the Texas Pacific road. The in
habitsnts OF that section will welcome
the road that first reaches out to them
its hands and they will not long walt
for San Antonio when pressing offers of
railway connections are made by Dali
las. and Waco and Galveston. The
situation is such that delays are danger
Gus. The committee to whom was en-
trusted the work OF securing that sub
scription OF 100000 In lands payable
when the cars reach this city, need to be
very alert. Every citizen Of this city
should meet their overtures fully half
way, and not one hour should be left
unlmproved in pushing this matter to a
successful issue. Upon 1t hangs the fu-
ture of this city as upon nothing else yet
presented.
The war against foreigners grows.