San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-04-30
A PERTINENT CRITICISM.

upon the deep water question. Den
yer issued her circulars in behalf OF
Galveston and requested action of the
several chambers of commerce and
boards of trades to which those cir
culars were sent. Helena responded
by endorsing the action of Denver and
resolving in favor of deep water at
Galveston. Concerning this action
the Helena Journal says:
The action of the chamber of COM
merce in authorizing a committee to
report favOrably on the matter OF con-
structing a deep water harbor at Gal
weston. Texas, was hasty and ill-ad-
vised. A dozen or more of important
Texas cities are striving for an appro-
priation for deep water harbor, aud
in interesting itself in the rivairies of
the Loue Star state, Helena will in
vite the natural results of disappoint-
ment. Texas congressman repre-
senting other districts than that in
which Galveston is located, will re-
sent the interference when Montana
seeks recognition from the body to
which they belong. A sense of cour-
tesy did not require the chamber to
appeal to congress in behalf of Gal
weston, upon the invitation of Den
yer. A due regard for the interests
of Helena, for which the chamber of
commerce was organized; will suggest
caution in the consideration of matters
in which this community is not di-
rectly interested. An effort to secure
the support of Galveston for an APP
preparation for Helena would excite
ridicule alone.
This view of the case is preeminen-
thy just and the Journal has acted
wisely and we'll in putting itself upon
record. II does not effect the truth
of this view that the Journal is mis-
taken as to details, the spirit and
temper and justice of the article are
admirable. The Journal is led into
the common error of believing that
the feeling of rivalry is the dominant
one in this struggle for deep water.
This view arises from the persistent
representations of interested parties
that this great demand for deep
water port is only the cry of selfish
ness disappointe at the call Calves
ton has over other ports. 1t seems SO
hard for people in COlora 10 and Kan
sas and Montana to understand how
deeprooted and abiding is the con-
viction in north and west and south
west Texas that deep water can
not be secured at Galveston and per-
manentIy maintained, and that this
view is based upon the reports of en-
gineers who are above suspicion of
giving an interested and biased report.
Sabine Pass, BraZos de Dios, and
Arkansas Pass are moving for deep
| water because all these years Of effort
at Galveston have failed to give this
| immense coast line a safe harbOr for
vessels in storm, or to admit to her
wharves vessels drawing over twelve
feet of water. Had deep water been
secured at Galveston the attention of
! congress and the country at large
would have been directed to these
other ports only as increasing COM
|
ports. Bd5 this great gulf coast of
| Texas has no port at all, as ports 90,
and this Galveston bill says she can
not have under six and half years
! Colorado and Kansas and Montana
| may be willing 10 wait these six and
half years but Texas is not, and be-
cause she is not, Galveston secures
! through Denver, diversion in her IA
vOT. Already Sabine Pass shippers
are asking for private aid to supple
ment the $500. 900 CON- ressiOnal APP
preparation in order that work
may be advanced Brazos under pri-
vate capital is growing toward
deepwater daily and will have six
more feet than Galveston before Gal
| weston engineers have commenced
work under the c6, POO, 900 appropria-
ton. Arkansas Pass only asks the
! privilege of expanding her own funds
in opening a deepwater way to her
admirable land-lOcked harbOr, and
strong in the faith born of knowledge
is certain of reaching deep water
through channel, twenty feet deep
at low tide, within one year of secur-
ing permission to 90 to work. There
is no hostility to Galveston, never has
been. There is a deep and ever grow
ing hostility to the policy which
would shut up every outlet to deep
water on the Gulf coast for long years
waiting the hitherto fruitless attempt
to make deep cut through the ever
shifting sands of the Galveston bar.
The Montana Journal is assured that
the rivaIries of the Lone Star State
will end the moment that the embar-
90 is removed and our different sec
tiOns permitted to 90 for deenWatar