San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-09
PORTS AND POLITICS.


one. The movement, so general, for
deep water at every available point
on this extended coast, has behind it
the conviction that this Gulf coast is
destined, in the not distant future, to
rival the Atlantic sea bord as the seat
and centre of a vast ocean commerce.
1t requires no prophetic vision to fore
cast the years and see populous cities
sprung into existence in short de-
cade that will rival the century-old
ports OF the eastern states. The i'm
mense domain, stretching from these
gulf shores to the foot hills of the
Rockies, is destined to pour its treas
ures, the product of farm and forest,
of mill and mine, of loom and labora =
tory into the lap of this gulf
commerce to be horne into
and beyond the marts of
civilization to all the ends OF the
earth. The peculiar situation of
Arkansas harbor and Corpus Christi
bay, just where the gulf coast reaches
its westernmost limit and bends
sharply to the south, has determined
as by an ordainment OF nature just
where the most important port of all
the Texas gulf ports must be situated.
Here must all those railway lines con-
verge that traverse the great plains
lying between the foot hills of the
Sierras and the gulf, because no
other route can be drawn that so d.
rectly connects the region tributary
to the gulf and the Mexican and
South American states. Whether by
rail or steamer, here is the natural
point for arriving and departing
freights destined for the South Amer
lean and Central American trade.
These advantages have been appre.
hended, and capital directed by fore
sight and a prudent preparation
for the future has preempted its
claim upon the lands adjacent TO these
openings from the inland waters into
the broad gulf, that by their in
creased value as the result of the
opening of these water ways the bur-
dens of vast constructions might lie
borne. The activity at the mouth of
the Brazos, and at Rockport, and at
Arkansas Harbor, and at Corpus Chris
?; 10
ulatIon. 1t means that the capital
behind these enterprises has deter
| mined to make them self-sustatning
and desrairing of the slow methods
OF Improvement under government
supervision and appropriation, has
wisely concluded to cut short the
work for which half continent has
valnly waited. Brazos promises the
depth of water necessary for ordinary
shipping, from twenty to twenty
fur feet; within six months. Aran-
sas Harbor predicates the deepest
harbor on the coast as the result
of the operation of the Improve
ment company within eight months.
Ropes Pass is being dredged out and
beautiful city is laid out on the iu-
comparable bluffs across the bay, with
which the pass Will be connected by
rail and steamer. These improve
ments all mean large influx Of la
DOR, capital and brains to these Gen.
ters Of coast trade. The larger por-
ton OF this capital is northern capi-
tai, republican capital, and a republic
can influence Is as certain to radiate
from these centers as that trade will
be increased thereby. This fact, with
the rapid settling of the Panhandle
and Western Texas with republican
farmers and artisans and merchants,
gives great promise Of republican
grow tn in Western and Southwestern
Texas. This fact is particularly en-
couraging at this juncture, just
when democratic shortsightedness
is closing the doors to railway
enterprise and laying an embargo
on railway construction. The time is
most opportune for earnest, aggres-
sive republican work in the district
along the gulf, and this work would
not be vainly undertaken. All along
the Rio Grande and into the Panhan.
die its influence would be favorably
felt and its example emulated. South.
west Texas promises most richly for