San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-09
TEXAS GULF COAST.

The Manufacturers Record of Sep
TENDER contains a six column article
on the gulf coast of Texas and in that
article speaks out in meeting with no
uncertain sound. The key note of
that article is the Topeka convention,
and now that the work of the conven-
ton has passed into history, the ar
ticle in the Record is particularly
good reading. By whom the article
was inspired is not known, and the
author of the very exhaustive review
of the situation who signs himself
"W. H. Edmons," is not known to
the LIGHT. The article is chiefly
notable for its clear exposition of the
Galveston side of this deep water
question and this exposition is by no
means fiattering to Galveston. The
intimate relations between that am
bilious and self-seeking city aud the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fee rail-
way company are very lucidly ex-
planned and Topeka NoePs attempt
to control the Denver convention Of
1888 and the manner in which it was
aborted, are most clearly cited in al
extract from the East Texas Jour-
nal. This would point to some Sa-
bine Pass influence as at work in the
inception of the article. but from
whatever source it comes its publlca-
ton in so influential and widely cir
culated journal as the Record OF
Baltimore, can not fail of attracting
very general attention. The charge
very direct and specific is made that
Galveston did not want deep water,
and Ex-Governor Ireland's words at
Denver are quoted as affording
ground for that belief, parti cularly in
citing the case of the Calves ton man
who applauded the sentiment that
we do not want deep water. In ex-
pressing the hope that the Topeka
con veuUlon would follow out the i'm
partial lead of the Denver meeting,
Mr.. Edmons has simply forecast the
action at Topeka as already known
to the readers of the LIGHT. Another
notable feature OF the article in ques-
ton is the prominence it gives TO the
work at the mouth af the BraZos river
and the arraignment it makes or
the Governments driblet system of
appropriations. 1t cites the energy
displayed at Brazos by men who
have not, all told, SO, 600 600 interests
in the state and challenges Calves
ton with its $4,000, 600 TO show some
corresponding activity. Whatever
NAV or may not be thought OF this
article filling a page and half OF
the Baltimore Record, it cannot but
create deep and widespread inter
est on the Eastern seaboard. The
article itself is most friendly to the
attempt to secure deep water on the
Texas gulf coast, but while accepting
the Righteousness of the demand as
clearly demonstrab BILE does not believe
that a $1O,OOO,000 appropriation for
any seaport on the guilt coast of Texas
is within the probabilities for years
to come. The solution of the deep
water harbor question for this state
and the northwest it believes to lie
in the direction of private enterprise,
rather than of government appro-
priations. 1t commends the work at
the Brazos and recommends that
other points wanting deep water fol-
low the example there set and go
to work with private capital.
Mr.. Edmons may or may not know
that this is Just what the Arkansas
Pass people desired to do two years
ago and that they organized for that
purpose, but did not receive consent OF
the national government to under
take the work. Should the report of
the United States engineers to con-
gress be unfavorable to Arkansas Pass
it is quite probable that an attempt
will be made to secure permission
from congress for the prosecution OF
work there. as at the Brazos, by pri-
vate capital.