Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-26
A SAFE SEAPORT.
a Land-Locked Harbor Secure
from Storms.
PLENTY LAND FOR A BIG CITY.
Velasco BETTER Than a LandLocked Har-
bor-Absolute Security Inside the Jet
ties-Unequaled Facilities for Rail
Connection-Tributary Country.
San Antonio Light.

Most rapid are the changes that even one
week brings forth in this center of activl-
ties. This great state of Texas, and sister
states as well, seem suddenly to have reali-
zed that the deep water port so long looked
for on the gulf coast of Texas has at last
been found. In this realization all kinds
and conditions of men have come here de-
string to see and determine for themselves.
OF course the speculative spirit is rampant
and some buy only to sell again, while the
great majority, thoroughly convinced of the
permanent nature of the port improve
ments, are making investments for future
business and shrewdly calculating where
the best business streets and corners of the
great city, so soon to grow, are likely to be.
1t is not of these things that this letter is to
treat, but rather of the conditions surround
ing the seaport itself. Previous letters
have spoken specifically of deep water as a
fact, of the volume OF river flowing through
the ietties to the sea, and the facilities for
handling commerce. In this letter atten-
ton is directed 10 the security afforded
vessels loading and unloading at this port;
to its location-just at the point where ex-
isting lines of railway can converge most
readily, and IN the center of vast region
unsurpassed in the natural fertility Of its
soil.
The location of this port, five miles up the
river from its mouth. and on banks never
overhowed by tidal waves or river rise;
located also on stream unaffected by gulf
gales. forever insures the vessels trading
here from damage by sea or storm while
receiving or discharging cargo. Velasco is
not q bay shore over which sweeping gales
raise heavy seas, nor is it situated on an
arm of the gulf, a wide mouth opening to
to the sea and exposing it 10 the violence of
the gulf winds, but some miles from the
mouth Of the ietties, themselves but $50
feet apart, up deep channel, between well
defined banks in No place much further
apart than the jetties themselves. Once
vessel reaches the mouth of the ietties and
enters she is safe, and this entrance is as
easy and natural as possible, the ietties
opening in the direction of the prevailing
gulf winds. AL that a sense Of absolute
security can do to induce shippers and ship
masters TO clear for any port will lead them
to this newly created deep water port
within the Brazos river. Once within the
river, miles of commodious docks, stretch
ing inland and along both sides of the
river will await the shipmaster with
every modern appliance for rap
idly discharging freight and trans
ferring it without breaking bulk to
the remoteSt railway stations Of the great
West. The location of the port Of Velasco
reduces the difficulty of making port to a
minimum, and affords absolute security to
the ship and cargo once the mouth of the
river is made. When commercial agents are
acquainted with these facts, and have DEM
onstrated with what ease and safety port
can be made and cargo discharged and re-
ceiyed here, these very advantages will
speak loudly in its favor.
FACILITIES FOR RAIL COMMUNICATION.
Out of the world, as those who have never
studied the lay of the land may consider
Velasco, it is none the less at the very door