San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-14
DEEP WATER HARBOR.

The deep water convention. called to as
semble at Topeka, Kansas, on October LIST.
1889, is the third interstate deep harbor con
yention that has been called In the interest Of
deep water on the coast OF Texas. This con-
yeEtion differs from the preceding ones
in that it will be very largely composed of
congressional representatives, so that from
the discussions and presentations made at
Topeka an interest may be awakened on the
part Of the Z, S. Senators aud representa- tives
who attend, that will be felt in the halls of
congress. The basis of representation at To-
peka is such that half of the delegates at
large are United States senators, and one
fourth Of all the governors appointments
from the several congressional districts are
congressional representatives. 1t is therefore
safe to conclude that the influence of this
convention upon congress will be more direct
aud potent than that OF either of its prede =
cessOrS.
1t is quite likely, also, that the modus ope-
randi of the convention will differ from that
of its predecessors, The friends of Arkansas
Pass will hardly press their demand for per-
mission to open the harOOr within that Pass
by private enterprise, AS the government
has shown no disposition to grant the per-
mission so urgently COntended for during
the past two years, 1t is quite probable that
the advocates of a speedy opening of Arkansas
Pass will cOnfne themselves to a presenta-
ton of the claims Of this port on account
of the demonstrated ease and cheapness with
which deep water and a safe harbOc can be
through the convention the necessity of such
an wi bn
continuously to its speedy completion As
in the past. so now, no attempt will be made
| to antagOnize any other port, but merely
to impress congress. through the conven-
zion, with the Importance of adequate apprC.
| priatiOns to open Arkansas Pass, as speedily as
| the work can be accomplished,
The Arkansas Pass advocates are simply de-
| srOus Of imposing upon the convention the
vast Importance OF opening up a deep water
| port on the gulf coast of Texas in the short
| est possible time aud al the least expen sc,
| and so securing the cooperation OF the United
| States senators and representatives in that
| convention for that object as to secure from
| congress adequate appropriations to carry on
the work at Arkansas Pass to its completion
without delay. That is, they desire congress
| to discontinue the piece-meal system of ap.
preparations and make at the next session of
congress an appropriation for the work at
Arkansas Pass of at least S5OO,OO with the as
| surance that the work will be carried on by
subsequent appropriations until the full
| amount necessary to give clear channel of
twenty-four feet is ex pended Which amount
| all engineers, government and private includ-
| ing Mr.. COrthell, agree will not exceed So OOO,-
900 all told.
While saying this let it be fully understood
| that the friends of Arkansas Pass do not desire
| anything but DEEP WATER AT THAT POINT ON
| THE GULF COAST WHERE THE RECENT COMMITS
| SION OF ENGINEERS SAY 1T CAN BE SECURED
| SOONEST AND AT LEAST EXPENSE, PARTICU.
LARLY SOONEST.
This is the position which the friends OF
Arkansas Pass will take at Topeka. They will
insist upon the convention pIedging itself t.
work, through congress, for deep water, by
adequate government appropriations. wher
ever the commission of United States engiI
GERS report that deep water can soonest b,
secured. That report has not yet been sub
mitted and of course Arkansas Pass advocate.
know no more concerning its conclusions thar
any one else, but they are confident from tn,
surveys already made that no port on the gul
coast Of Texas can be opened so eypeditiousl,
or so cheaply as Arkansas Pass which half ,
century since was the natural deep water en-
trance TO inland Texas. II is deep waite
somewhere on the gulf coast, and deep waite
at the very earliest hour possible, that the ad
vocates OF Arkansas want, and upon which
| they have ALWAYS insisted
"A beautiful day drew a Iarg,