Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-09
VELASCO, DEEP WATER HARBOR.
Seventeen Feet of Water Over the Bar.
The Railroad to be Completed
by November l.

IHE GAZETTE reporter to-day met Frank
Lerch at the Ellis hotel. Mr.. Lerch, as
usual, was full of news concerning NeiaSco,
the deep water port. Mr.. Lerch states that
the water over the bar is steadily getting
deeper, and at present the company has
secured seventeen feet of water al low
water mark, and that vessels drawing
eighteen feet can enter the river at any
time within forty-eight hours. The jetties
are being rapidly completed. and the COM
pany is now engaged in putting in con-
crete Gaping three feet thick and eleven
feet wide on the crest of the jettes. There
is no doubt that the next rise of the Brazos
will secure twenty feet of water or more
over the bar.
The wharves are in course of construc-
ton and will be completed by November |.
The town Is growing more rapidly than any
of the new towns | have seen during the
past twenty years. On the fourth of July
there was nothing but a wilderness of trees
and prairie, where to-day some thirty or
forty two-story houses have been erected
and occupied by business men Of all classes.
A number of dwelling house, are in course
of construction, and $4,000 hotel, with
water, sewerage and electric lights is ready
TO be opened by September 15 The streets
are being graded, and 4 railroad connecting
Nelasco with the International road at
Chenango is being graded and will be COM
have already been received and the Uon for
the road is on the way from New York The
construction will commence at Velasco. In
addition to this the company has contracted
for three-mile railroad to connect Velasco
with Surf Side, suburb laid out on the
gulf shore, at which point the company
will build another hotel, and contemplate
making it a trst-class watering place The
beach is equal if not superior to that at Gal
weston.
There is no doubt, continues Mr.. Lercb.
that in few years Velasco will be one of
the most important cities in Texas. Deep
water that has so long been looked for by
the trans-Alississippi states, has at last been
OBTAINED at this point by private energy
private capital and private enterprise.
There is no question that the development
of deep water on the Texas coast will not
only benefit directly the lnstigators OF this
enterprise, but viii benefit the entire SouIh-
west. Ii will stimulate the tide of irnmi-
grafton that has already turned Texas
ward. The thrifty farmer of the North.
who has heretofore been at the mercy of
traffic associations, cannot but see the ad-
yantages Texas offers him in the way of
rich soil, cheap land, healthful climate and
short hauls to deep water ports.
The management of the company is ex-
ceedingly liberal. They will do anything
in their power, not only to establish a city
~ ehO L-Oulu Va Li4c DTdLOS, DUs 10 tuIn
migration toward Texas and develop the
lands that now wait for the farmer in order
TO increase the production Of the Lone Star.
state. ~
Mr.. Lerch is now on his way to Me
Northwestern states and territories in or
der to call their attention to the facts that
the deep water which they had not ex-
pected on the Texas coast for six years to
come has already been secured at thss
mouth Of the Brazos. and that the people
there are ready ~ wiling to handle the
grain and etaer -olaccs Of the far North