Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-29
GULF SEABOARD.
IT'S NEARER TO THE WEST THAN
THE ATLANTIC is.
Benefits Of Gulf Harbors-How Denver Has
Been Helped and Sioux City May he.
Blame and Reciprocity.
[SiouX City Journal.l

Q. W. Crawford, Velasco, Tex, is in the
city. Mr.. Crawford was formerly score
tary of the chamber of commerce AT uOus
ton and was chairman of the Texas delega-
ton to the Mississippi commercial
congress just held at Omaha, where ne was
honored by being elected to the assistant
secretaryship of the congress.
Mr.. Crawford was seen by 4 Journal re-
porter and asked what there was of interest
that had not been told of the proceedings
of the congress. He said: THE subject
of corn as food, which is at present attract
ing SO much attention in the Western coun-
try. was the first one discussed at the con-
eress, aud we heartily indorse the action of
Secretary Rusk and resolved that all the
corn states should assist him all IN their
power in disseminating information about
corn and its food qualities. Counties,
states and agricultural societies therein
where corn is principally raised should offer,
premiums for the best essays on corn as
food and for recipes of palatable. wholS
some dishes of corn. They should do every-
thing possible to populariZe this, our moSrs
natural and perfect corn product. -
The matter Of reciprocity and the build
ing up of 4 trade between the Gulf of Mex
leo ports and Europe and the Latin-Ameri-
can ports, was also discussed. We OF the
deep water port, Velasco and of the other
gulf ports, are deeply interested in the crop
traffic of the tranS-M Mississippi country. We
believe that its business interests can now
be best served by sending all export pro
ducts to export by the gulf ports. All the
corn, wheat. meat and -four which is SUP
plus in this cOntry can be sent TO deep
water on an average of 5G5 miles nearer by
the gulf than by New York or Atlantic
ports 1t is 266 miles nearer from Sioux
City to NelaScO than 20 New York. All that
it costs TO haul grain that 20j miles is an
actual loss to the man who produces the
-,
buShel of grain mile south than 1t does
mile east in fact, it is true that it costs
less. for it is all down hill to the gulf, while
i is up hill and down hill to the Atlantic.
III the years to come this particular feature
will make transportation TO the gulf coast u
very considerable percentage cheaper than
to the Atlantic ocean.
The West has been crying for deep wa
ter on the gulf for twenty years 10 free il
from the eXOrbitant warehouse charges OF
the Atlantic ports and the lOug-distance
railroad tariffs. The business men have
met in great conventions for the sole pur-
pose of discussin" deep water for the trans
Mississippi. They have demanded OF con-
Gress many millions of dollars to be ex-
pended for this purpose alone. 1t has been
considered the greatest economic desidera-
tUm of the West. The Texas delegation to
the trans Mississippi congress a Omaha<
came up especially to bring the news that
At last deep water is an accomplished fact
and that their hearts need no longer be sick
with hope deferred, and that the golden
prospects which they have pictured in prose
ard verse as the direct results of deep wa
ter navigation now are assured to them.
We came also to ask all the West to come
down and see for themselves that we hAye
q gateway for international coulmercesbn
the Texas coast. Now that we have il we
want the people of the West 10 use it and
urge your transportation lines TO enter into
competition with Atlantic lines. 1t is fact
that there have been four almost trans
continental north and south trunk lines
built since there WAS one bull east and
west as result of the agitation of the gulf
port export commerce Out i'll Colorado
they have a line direct to the gulf, and they
tell me that the mere agitation of tine build
ing up of an export trade by way L The gulf
ports has caused a reduction of It Celts per
hundred pounds in the railroad rates fronl-l
Denver to New York. When this country
and this city gets a direct line to the gulf
and it will very soon, for the Roce Island is
building TO Nelasco-I feel confident that
your freight rates to the Atlantic seabOard
viii experience like reduction. When the
principal of reciprocity is carried out, rs it
surely will be, the export trade of the West
will be by way of the gulf ports, for the
railroad companies are already figuring on
building lines from this country to the gulf j
Blaine has caught the people of the South
and has made Blaine immensely popular
He is undOubted the most popular Republi-
can with Southern people, and especially
those on the coast. If the president We're to
be elected by the popular vote of the people I
and Blaine should be the Il publican caudi- |
date he would poll enough Democratic |
votes in the South to elect him beyond a |
doubt As a result of his advocacy of re- /
l honestly believe that he can |
carry the cities of Mobile, New Orleans, |
Galveston and the other gulf ports inter |
ested in the South American trade. ! do |
not think, however, that he could carry |
big enough vote to break the solid South.
las a result of reciprocity Texas has |
made the first export of wheat in her his
tory, and the trade of the port of Galveston |
with South America, which two years ago |
did not amount to dollar, now reaches into
the millions. A South American shipping |
line was established between Galveston and |
South American ports, the stock for which |
was issued at par. 1t now sells at premium |
of 10 per cent. The successful result of |
this experiment has caused the organization l
Of three other companies, which are now |
building ships to engage in the trade with |
South America from gulf ports.'