Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-28
CRAWFORD OF VELASC0
ADDRESSES THE GREAT CON-
MERClAL CONGRESS
On Gulf Deep-water Ports, and shows
What Can be Done If Commerce
Seeks Its Proper Channels.

At the Mississippi congress much
was said of deep water. The New Orleans
Delta thus reports the speech Of
MR. o. W. CRAWFORD
of Texas, who said: The only excuse have
for answering the call to speak with which
you have honored me is that maybe 1 can
suggest some things which may start new
thoughts on the conditions and advantages
of the trans Mississippi.
1t was a part of the ethics of Aristotle
that The who thinketh himself worthy OF
great things is in truth worthy"
A wise man said. know myself Any
help to know ourselves is desirable. 1t is
proper TO give time and careful study to
what the best is and what we may make it.
This censrs gives the trans-N Mississippi a
population of IL, Az, 459. That is an increase
of 45S in ten years. With the same ratio
of increase 1900 will find US with %, 600, 0OO
inhabitants
The products of this great people repre-
sent our food necessities and our surplus.
This years crop of wheat by best estimate
is 800, 000, 600 bushels. This is $50, 900, 900
for our seed and home consumption, and
100000, 900 bushels to sell. More than four
ffths of this wheat is raised west OF the
Mississippi river. One hundred and sew
enty-fiVe million bushels of this crop was
raised nearer to gulf ports than to Atlantic
ports. Sixty-seven thousand one hundred
and six miles of trunk lines of railroads,
representing an investment of 81, ZIG, 2O0,-
600, transports the products of the West to
the East. There are seventy lines of east
and west railroads, and are the largest div
idend paying roads in America.
This shows something of the worth of
the business of trans Mississippi. AT pres
ent there are only 5000 miles of trunk lines
between the Rocky mountains and the Mis-
sissippi conveying products South, but an
encouraging thing is that there have been
North and South trunk lines built since any
have been built East and West.
This gives promise of what IS coming.
It has been preached against Southern
ports that we have no returning freight for
the cars, should the West send the grain tc
export via our ports. Much injury has been
done US by these unfounded statements.
The fact is that the commodities-mer-
chandise, manufactured wares, everything
bought by the merchants of Arkansas,
Texas, Indian Territory. Kansas, Colorado
and New Mexico, can be brought quicker
and cheaper from New York by water and
gulf ports than by rail.
1t is true that freight transportation by
steamship is twice as rapid and five times
as cheap as by railroad. For a verification
of this, ask your neishbor, who is buyer
in the East.
A prominent railroad man recently said:
'sTurn the traffic of the West from Atlantic
to gulf ports and there is enough for three
deep water ports, and this is what we
should all work for. With it and it right
fully should come to US, New Orleans, Sa-
bine Pass, Galveston, Velasco and all gulf
ports would have business which would
make of each of them cities like New York,
Boston and Philadelphia.
At -Velasco we have water now deep
enough to allow vessels drawing eighteen
feet to pass over our bar, through the jet
ties and up to the wharves. We have spent
our own money TO get this; we expect to
get more-twenty-thre feet at least
believe in broad, vigorous rivalry for
business. have no use for sentiment in
business. If New Orleans has the greatest
advantages to offer the great West she will
get the business. If Velasco can handle its
products cheaper and more rapidly, Velasco
will get the business. We at Velasco are
not afraid of the result. We are before the
West and Southwest asking for its business.