Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-09
TEXAS AND DEEP HARBORS.

A correspondent OF the Fort worm
Gazette, in discussing the question OF
deep harbor on the Texas gulf coast and
the prospect of getting one through the
efforts of the government alone, takes
the position that Texas cannot afford to
wait for relief from such slow and I'M
certain process. He says:
s'In my opinion the people of Texas
will have-in the next seven years-con-
tributed enough to the Long Haul and
the powers that be in eastern money CEN
ters to get at least two good ports on the
coast with thirty feet of water at each
port. =,
1.-The Texas farmers and stockmen Will
foot the bills in the future as they have
in the past, and the same old song Will
be sung year after year. We VIII go
right along paying tribute to New York
and other eastern ports If we depand on
the government to give us deep water.
This is but natural, and farmer IN
Texas might just as well sit down ana
wait for some eastern capitalist to send
him man and team from New YORK 10
plow his land and put IN his crop ana
harvest it for him as for the people OF
Texas to wait for and expect the govern
ment to give them deep water on the
Texas coast. If the farmer has any
work to do he knows by experience he
will have to do it himself or hire
it done. So it is with Texas. II
the state has any work to be
done the state will have to do 1t.
and it Is useless to depend on our opposl-
ton to do it for us. Our opposition
would give us an occasional dose OF tally
and fair promises and allow US to get a
little appropriation here and there, just
enough to keep us from going to work
and depending on our own efforts as we
should have done years ago. If the
state would turn loose and pillow for deep
water as her farmers do for corn we
would soon be independent of the capl-
talists VINO live in New York and other
eastern cities. Texas would bring the
capitalists within her borders instead OF
having her citizens going to and paying
tribute to them.
Less than one-fourth of a cent, ex-
pect one-eighth of q cent, special tax on
the property owners of Texas would give
us a harbor and port on the Texas coast
that would start the capitalists on run
TO Texas. 1t would also start the man
with the Hoe" the manufacturers ana
the ''Tin Bucket Brigade" for Texas.
The people of Texas pay yearly tax
of not less than one per cent IN the way
of freight rates on the 'long haui, TO
say nothing of the difference IN the
prices received for the products now and
what they would get had they good
port and a market on their own coast
This is presenting the subject in new
light. but it must be admitted that much
of what is stated for fact is fact indeed.
There is no question but that his conclu-
sions are in thesmain correct, for they are
borne out by the experience OF the past.
The west and southwest has never re-
ceiSed from the government for any
purpose more than an occasional sop IN
a substantial way and if precedents are
to be followed and we continue to wait
till a more convenient season it will
never be any better.
The idea of taking hold of the harbor
proposition by Texas, and by collectingsa
small tax proceed to secure at once OF
within a year or two what 1t may re-
uuire several years to accomplish If the
government alone is to be depended up
on is feasible enough, but if congress per-
mits such a thing to be done when fully
one-half of the country, in area at least,
is directly interested in it, and while the
government has millions of the peoples
money boarded up in the treasury SER
wing only as a constant temptation to
engage in all sorts of eXtravaganceS-we
say that if congress permits this lmpor-
tant matter to go by default by falling
to give it prompt attention and liberal
support, enough to accomplish every
thing that may be done and IN the
shortest possible time, and by such neg
lect shall force the state of Texas to I'M
dertake the work as a matter of self
defense, it will bring an open scandal
upon the government that will follow 1t
indefinitely. The state of Texas is able
to take hold Of this undertaking, great
as in is but this nor the fact that she is
perhaps more immediately concerned in
its accomplishment than other states
and portions of the west naturally
tributary to gulf ports when fully estao-
lished-neither nor both of these sugges-
tions constitute a reason or excuse for
neglect on the part OF the government.
Congress can have no excuse for delay
or for parsimonious action in this matter.
All the data that it requires or can desire
as to the extent of the undertaking and
its pressing Importance is in hand in the
81
form.
No more important proposition, to
large portion OF the country, is likely to
command the attention of the present
CONGRESS-