San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-27
DANA,S BAD BREAK.


inst. has a world of pertinent matter
original, communicated and quoted
from other journals, concerning deep
water on the Texas gulf coast. Not
the least spicy of the whole is the
communication, signed "E," headed
"Deepwater Rascality,' and which
scorches the secretary of the deep
water convention in way that is par
ticularly blistering to a thin skin.
The subject of "E's" communication
is the carricature of map which is
supposed to adorn, but only deforms,
the report of the proceedings of the
Topeka deep-water convention, sent
out by its secretary, F. l.. Dana.
Among other things, "E' says:
The secretary of the Interstate
Deep Water Committee has sent out
the proceedings of the Topeka con-
yention. In the front of which is
so-called map of the gulf coast which
stamps Secretary Dana as either an
ignorant fool on an unmltlgated
knave. This sO-called map has Gal
weston on the main land, about one
degree west of its real location, beng
about where IndianOla once stood.
Houston is about ten miles west of it,
instead of fifty miles north. Arkansas
Pass, where the engineers said deep
water could be secured for less mon
ey and in shorter time than at any
other point on the Texas coast, and
Arkansas bay in which they said was
the only natural harbor on the coast,
are not shown at all. Corpus Christi
Bav is made to debOuche into the
gulf instead of into Arkansas bay ans
according to latitude and longitude
would be located on top Of the staked
plains. The largest city in Texas, San
Antonio, is not shown, this is proba-
bly, due to the fact that TO place it
proper distance from Corpus Christi
on this map would throw it into Mex
leo. an late retaliatOry measures of
that government prohibited the emil
nent secretary from exporting the
City of the Alamo
This map was numerically guyed at
Topeka, where it was introduced and
circulated by a Houston land specu-
lator for his own personal ends as a
land boomer. There it had no sane
ton, no recognition, no authority as
expressing anything beyond the con-
ceit of private business enterprise.
But to take such u map with all its
inaccuracies, mistakes. its palpable
misleadings and omissions, and give
It the authoritative force of map
issued by the insterstate deep water
convention through its executive COM
mittee. under the hand of its secreta-
ry-to do this is to perpetrate an in
Justice, not to say fraud, upon all
who may be influenced by the map as
presenting the actual geography of
the region represented. The express
sions used by "E' which the LIGHT
has not thought best to reproduce
are very strong and impute motives
to the secretary which should only
be charged upon very clear testimO-
ny. 1t does not follow that Dana
"is q CHEERING idiot" or has unscru-
pulously sold his power" or has re-
ceived his "share Of the Doodle" be- |
cause he has permitted this classifying
map to go forth with the stamp of his
authority as secretary OF the deep |
water committee. But it does very |
gravely and seriously mpugn his !
fitness for so high and important |
position. and does justify the call |
which "E" makes for his resignation.
The literature and controversies of |
this whole question are national pos
sessions, and this map will be aCcep- |
ted for truthful presentation of the |
gulf coast and all that it pOrtrays,
coming as it does in connection with |
the official report of the last deep |
water convention. The far reaching |
consequences OF its falsificatOns and |
it's essential untruthfulness cannot |
be doubted. The fact Of its appear
ance is greatly to be deplOred, and |
the wisdom is much to be questioned
of continuing the secretaryship in the
careless hands that have rendered
N blrnHor Ypcuihla