San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-17
THE TOPEKA CONVENTION.

strictly apply with geographical ac-
curacy as Waco, Austin, Dallas, Fort
Worth and the Panhandle are equal
ly in terested with San Antonio, Aran-
sas, and the whole Southwest section
of the state. The one thing upon
which these cities and sections are
united, is DEEP WATER, and deep
water in the shortest time
possible. There are no heavy
landed interests to be promoted
by these parties there are no large
cities the very existence of which is
bound up in this matter; there is no
$40, $50, 900 Of personal property vir-
tually mOrtgaged to secure the con-
slant appropriation of congress at
certain point no matter how many
years of earnest effort lie between to-
day and its accomplishment. Dallas
and Waco and Austin and Fort Worth
and the grain regions of the Pan
handle and the commerce of Denver
and the northwest all have common
interest, common need, and should
make common effort.
This common need is deep water
port OH the gulf coast of Texas, and
such deep water port Immediately.
The last convention asked for gov
eminent commission to decide where
that deep water port could be easiest
created. This convention wants to
take up that matter just where that
last convention left it and push for
the deep water port at which results
10 DLt 20, Ill L.
power chat the convention can muster.
The delegates from this state who
desire deep water first last and
all the time and only deep
water and deep water just where
it can be secured soonest,
these delegates should have some
cOucert of action among themselves
as to the best means of presenting
this claim for deep water at once be-
fore the convention. Over and above
and beyond all other considerations
that of time is important. The vast
commerce behind this movement and
anxiously awaiting its outcome can
not afford to be delayed. The region
west of the Mississippi river whose
commerce would naturally seek the
ocean through a deep water port on
the gulf coast of Texas, has a right to
a consideration.
Deep water first. This is what Cen
trail Texas, Northern Texas, Western
Texas and Northwest Texas wants.
1t is what the whole region lying
Northwest needs. Given one deep
water port, others will follow as GER
tain as that competition is the life of
trade. The immense loss of each
years delay must not be overlooked.
The saving of freight charges in NOV
ing the surplus product of the Wes-
tern states through the gulf ports of
Texas, instead of over present lines,
is in excess of $40, OO0, 900 per. annum.
Two per cent of this amount will open
a deep water port on the gulf coast,
giving excellent deep water harbor-
age, and free channel over the bar
of twenty-fOur feet in all stages of
water. Were there large landed or
corporate ~ municipal interests at
stake this work would be pressed
upon congress with an irresistible
force, but there is lack of personal
motive for urging deep water at once
and where it can be soonest obtained
and this lack is felt in every cOnven-
ton. 1t is idle to fear that the crea-
ton of a deep water port in any one
place would initiate against a deep
water port somewhere else. Fort
Worth, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San
Antonio, the whole northwest will be
more eager for second port than for
this first. Competition in the carry
ing trade will compel this. All such
considerations can very safely belett
for afterwards.
Now, at this time, in the Topeka
convention the thing needed is a per-
sistent and united demand for deep
water at once. A demand that the
national government no longer dis
Criminate against the west in the
matter of harbOr appropriations by
doing out less that 20 per cent. per
capita to the section west of the Mis-
sissippi as compared with the appro-
prlatiOns for the eastern region, but
that adequate appropriations to open
a deep water port on the gulf coast of
Texas in the shortest possible time be
made without delay. Some concert of
action should be had among those who
are committed honestly to carrying
out the decisions of the last conven-
ton and who are not merely using
these conventions as the machinery
for delay. Let the voice of the United
States engineers be heard and let it be
needed. The voice of all engineers
concur in this, that deep water can be
secured for 81, 900, 900 and the Topeka
convention should unite in demand
ing the expenditure of that amount as
rapidly as it can be practically dis
bursed under competent engineering
authority. Two per cent. of the saw