St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-06
VELASCO, TEXAS.
1.-The Only Deep Water Point West
of the Mississippi"


The GLOBE reporter yesterday even
ing met Mr.. Frank Lerch, the Land
Agent" in the lobby of the West. Mr..
Lerch represents Velasco, the new port
on the Gulf coast. In conversation with
him. Mr.. Lerch stated that deep water
at NelascO had become an accomplished
fact, that the problem of finding a
southern outlet for the surplus products
of the Northwest had been solved. The
Importance of this fact can readily be
realized when it is considered that for
years past the trans-MissiSsipp states
have petitiOned congress to concentrate
its efforts upon some one point upon
the Gulf coast. A number of
Western capitalists realizing the
importance of such an enter
prise organized the BraZoS River Chan
lie! d Dock Co, and employed Z. l..
COrtnell, of Chicago, an engineer of
eminent ability, well known in this con-
nectiOn with the building of the Mis-
sisSippi jetties. Mr.. Corthell examined
the mouth of the BraZos and reported
favOrably Oil the project of making
deep water port there. The contract
was let in 1889, work Immediately COM
menced, and after two years OF steady
work and the expenditure of nearly two
million dollars deep water harbOr was
obtained in the early spring of the cur
rent year. The port was declared a
port of entry on the 18th of June by Sec
rotary Foster. On July 9, 1889, the brig
Atalanta, drawing 1917 feet of water,
entered the new port. Since then
number of vessels drawing from
ID to II feet have entered. Vessels
are now loading at New York for We
lascO, to whom the company guarantees
Is feet of water on the bar. Since it has
thus been demonstrated that vessels of
deep draught can safely enter the har-
Dor of NelascO, the company is prepar-
ing for the business which is daily
rushing to the new city to avail itself of
the superior advantages offered by the
new port. The Velasco Terminal rail-
road connecting VelascO with Houston,
the center of thirteen railroads, will be
completed iii November. Extensive
wharyeS have been built, splendid
hotel has been completed, and the
streets and bOuleVards are being graded
The fact that VelascO is the only deep
water harbOr on the Texas coast. that
it is surrounded by the richest farming
lands on the continent, its location at the
very door of Central and South
America, with which countries the
trade is increasing annually, des-
tine VelaScO to rank in the near
future among the largest cities
of Texas. The climate, especially for
winter resort, is unsurpassed. Flowers,
vegetables and small fruits can be read
lily obtained throughout the entire
winter, fish and oysters abound in i'm
mense quantities, game of all kinds is
plentiful, and hotel accommodations
are equal to any in the West. For pleas
ure and profit there is no trip that pre-
sents so many advantages to the inhab-
itants of the frozen regions of the North
as a journey to the sunny Southland.
Excursion rates have been obtained, and
information concerning the trip can he
readily secured by applying to Mr.. Will
Woodward, the agent of the Atchison,
Topeka u Santa Fee, Room 5l5, Guar
anty Loan building, Minneapolis.
Mr.. Lerch will he in Minneapolis until
Saturday evening, and can be found at
5l5 Guaranty Loan building, where he
will be glad to furnish advertising mat
ter to all applicants.