Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-12
VELASC0'S HARBOR.
FULL OF NESS---GREAT
THINGS PROJECTED.
No Danger from storms-Vessels at the
Wharves as Safe Boats at
the st. Louis Levee.
Omaha Bee.


On the 10Th of this month, September, a
party of gentlemen from Fort Worth, Dal-
las, Cleburne, Paris, Waco, Houston aud
Galveston. sounded the water on the bar in
the channel at the mouth OF the Brazos
river, They dropped the lead going out
and to be sure sounded all the way back,
finding the same depth. The shallowest
place they found was eighteen feet. From
water twenty feet deep inside 10 twenty
feet deep outside of the bar they estimated
to be less than two hundred and fifty feet,
and the distance across the bar on its crest
only about seventy-tive feet
The plans of this work by Mr.. E. L. Cor
thell, who was chief to Capt Eads in the
work at the mouth of the Mississippi, were
made to get twenty-three feet of water
when the ietties should be completed.
The work was commenced two years ago
with only four and one-half feet of water ON
the bar then. The result up to this time is
a gain of thirteen and one-half feet Of
water. 1t is absolutely certain that there
will be twenty feet Of water at Velasco
January l.
The significance of twenty feet of water
can be better understood by considering the
port Of Galveston. There they have
thirteen feet and three inches. Last year
the increase of value of exports at Calves
ton was ~ per cent of the increase of all
the United States, and amounted to over
s3:5 600, 900.
Thirteen and one-fourth feet Of water at
that port has built q city the richest for the
number of inhabitants in the Union. Last
year Galveston handled over one million
bales of cotton and nearly every vessel had
TO lighter part of its cargo. This year there
has been already over one million bushels of
wheat exported via Galveston and each
vessel had TO take on part of its cargo out
side of the bar, more than seven miles from
the wharves.
At Velasco this costly, dangerous light
ering Will not be required. AT Velasco
there is no danger from storms, for vessels
at the wharves are as safe as steamboats, at
the leyee in st. Louis. The harborage is
perfectly landlocked. The disadvantages
under which the port Of Galveston has al
ways labored do not exist at Velasco.
1t is only three months since the place
was surveyed out, and already over five
thousand business men have visited it, 1000
of whom have located there and are now
building and establishing themselves in
business. 1t is stated that 10 per cent of
the 5000 invested in property.
The first lot was sold the 18th day Of last
July. and on the 18th day of September, ex-
actly sixty days, the sales had amounted to
1855, 043, and the cash paid on the sales was
40 per cent of the purchase price. The
terms Of sale are one-third cash.
Every boat is loaded with prospectors
The Velasco Terminal railway will be COM
pleted by Noyem Der ]. That will give di-
rect rail connection with Houston. ffty-five
miles to the northeast. The indications
now promise the greatest rush to yelasco
when the railroad is completed ever en-
joyed by any place in the Southwest.
The company, who put up every Dollar of
the money Isl, 500, 0O0l to build the jetties
and secure the water, are now building
wharves, the Velasco Terminal railroad
and grading streets and boulevards. The.
Velasco," their splendid new hotel, will be
opened October l.
Already an ice factory, cotton seed oil
mill, soap factory, elevator. cotton COM
press and brick works are projected by men
and companies who are in the same kind of
business in this state and in Chicago. The
amount of building which viii be done
there during the next year win be mar
yelons. Since the place was Started, three
months ago, the trade in lumber has
amounted TO 2,S00, 600 feet, and it will take
5000, 600 during the next ninety days to I'LL
existing contracts. Three hundred and
sixty vessels have already urloaded freight
on Velasco's unfinished wharyes. 1t is
perfectly safe 10 say there is not such &C
tivity and proportionate development at
any other place in the United States. / will
keep the readers OF the Bee posted about
this promising deep water infant.
yelasco, Tex, September IS