The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
THE ICE BROKEN.
THE STEAMSHIP AUsTERLITz OF GLAs-
COW ARRIVES AT vELAsCO.
Capt. Frazier, who has Entered Every Port
in the World, Speaks Very Enthusiastic
ally Of Texas Deep Water Port.
Railroad Facilities velas-
co.'s Only Need.

From the Velasco World of April s.
simultaneously with the passage o
the bill by congress making Velasco s
SUPPORT of entry, the steamship
Austerlitz of GLASGOW arrived as the
pioneer steamer to carry a cargo o.
cotton and oil cake to Liverpool from
this, the new and only deep-watel
port of the Texas coast. The ice has
been broken and from now the COM
MERGE of half continent will con-
tinue to seek an outlet to the markets
of the world through this young com.
mercial giant until it has become the
commercial and industrial metropolis
of the gulf coast.
With the firm belief that Capt.
James d. Frazier of the steamer Aus
terlitz would have something to say
concerning the mouth of the Brazos
and the river to Velasco that would
make very interesting reading, a
representative of The World called
on him on board the steamer this
morning and was most Hospitality en-
tertained.
The reporter asked the genial cap
tain if he was at all surprised to find
the present depth of water over the
bar and his opinion of the river. The
captain said: "Indeed, l may say |
was very much surprised and highly
delighted to find such depth of water
at the mouth of the river. / consulted
my book, the West India Pilot, issued
several years ago ny the Lords Com
missioners of the Admiralty of Lon
don, after receiving orders to proceed
to Velasco, at the mouth of the BraZos,
and found that there were only eight
feet of water over the bar. I naturally
concluded that L would be compelled
to load outside, and l dreaded it. I'm
agine my surprise and delight when
L came inside the jetties and over the
bar drawing IA feet inches at very
low tide. measurement disclosed
the fact that there was at least
II feet of water over the ba- when L
crossed it. AS far as the river from the
mouth to Velasco is concerned, | never
saw a better in my life, and / have
entered nearly all the ports in the
world. The river is wider and in
every way better adapted to the
needs of commerce than the Tyne,
the Thames, the Clyde, or the ports
of Rotterdam or Amsterdam, which
it very much resembles, but which
are not nearly so nice to enter, so con-
venient or so safe as the Brazos. The
difference in favor of Velasco as a
safe and convenient port is as Is
against 5.
"There are absolutely no obstruc-
lions to contend with. We came up
the river most of the way at full
speed, and if a vessel should happen
to strike the bank at bend it is inn
possible to hurt it in any way, for
they are all soft mud. The width is
not only greater than | anticipated,
and greater than most of the great
ports of the world, but is of sufficient
width to be eminently practicable for
all the commerce of the great Western
country and possesses possibilities for
an immense trade. Your banks all
the way to the mouth are as fine as L
ever saw and you can build wharves
from Velasco to the gulf and accom-
modate the shipping of a continent.
In so far as your sea connections are
concerned you are.fiXed as.well as any
port on earth and all you need now
are the railroad connections to bring
you the products for export and a
great city at this point is absolutely
assured"
Thus talked man who has been
over all the world and seen nearly
every port and whose Judgment in
matters of this kind is as sound as
that of any mans. The Austerlitz was
secured through the enterprising firm
of Ross, Howe & Morrow, ship brok.
ers, and agents for the Gulf Ports
Steamship Line who have offices in
New Orleans, Galveston, Mobile, Pen
sacola and now, last but not least,
Velasco, and who doperhaps the larg-
est business and handle more vessels
than any other firm on the gulf coast.
The vessel is now being loaded with
cotton and the cotton will contine to
arrive over the Velasco Terminal until
her cargo is completed. Other char
tiers for vessels are now being arrang-
ed for and cotton, grain and other
products will continue to leave Velas-
co for foreign ports.
-N-A-N