Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-16
THE GULF COAST ENTREPOT.
The Grandest Scheme for the West That
Ever Engaged Public Attention.

Ever Engaged Pubic Attention.
To the Editor of the Eagle.
The recent discussion of the deer
water project at some point on the
western gulf coast and the appointment
of delegates to the convention on that
subject at Denver is renewal on a
broader and more earnest plan of a
project which used to entertain as a
youthful pet hobby. l have for twenty
years past wrote articles in the papers of
Galveston and Houston upon the
certainty that the natural route of the
United States coast-wise trade, the West
India trade, the northern South Ameri-
can and Mexican trade would as
population increased in Texas, Indian
territory, Kansas and New Mexico swing
around largely to some great metropoli-
tan gateway on the gulf. l have no
doubt today but what such will be the
case eventually.
Galveston in point of commercial i'm
portance, at least, and the fast accumu-
lating millions of people in her djoin-
ing territory promises, if good harbor
is secured, to become the equal if not
the superior of the cities of Constanti-
nople and Smyrna. She stands at the
important commercial end of the Amer
lean Mediterranean. In that case Wich-
ita is within seven hundred miles of
tidewater freight from every
place on the globe That will
always beat st. Louis, Chicago and
Memphis as entrepots for us. They are
quasi inland cities at best. and are fur
ther away by an average of hun
dreds of miles than is Galveston
With harbor on the coast of Texas,
Wichita will be between these cities and
the outside world of commerce They
will relatively change places with us, as
has often been done before. Every state
IN the western gulf territory of the
United States is interested vitality in this
deep water on the gulf.
Years ago had opportunities in the
United States signal corps, while sta
toned in Galveston, to learn much on
this subject. The past million or
more of dollars appropriated for improv-
ing the harbor has been frittered away
in experiments in photography. morality
and cupidity. Mr.. Eads, the greatest
American engineer, estimated that cast
iron breakwater harbor could be built
for 81, 1000, 900 that would accommodate
the commerce of the place for years to
come. His idea was to surround the
anchorage, or pocket" with a chain
breakwater and great railway piers built
into the gulf. leaving the harbor for the
light draughr or ''musquito fleet This
struck me as the real plan for entire sue
cess.
Recently / understand that artesian
wells have been successfully sunk and
plenty OF good. flowing water secured in
Galveston. The Texas people in their
zeal to secure deep water have on foot
plan 10 construct two hBrbors to allay
local jealousy. am of the opinion that
what is now wanted is to stick TO Gal
weston and first make her the great gulf
port. 1t is a great task just now, but
both feasible and honorable as well as
profitable 10 us all in this section. Gal
weston. like Wichita, is the only city of
her locality. She has, like Wichita. the
prestige, population and wealth to begin
with. She Is down on the maritime and
commercial charts of the world. Besides.
she is the railway center of the gulf
coast.
If such thing is possible the peo-
pie of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New
Mexico and Texas could easily
afford to raise $50, coo, 600 to secure one
good harbor on the western Gulf coast
If the money was properly loaned the
haroor dues alone. under congressional
limitations. would make Q paying in