The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-06-18
PROVO CITY.
JUNE IS. 1896
THE TEXAS DEEP WATER.

We have Just received the June re-
port of f. L. Dana, secretary OF the
Interstate Deep Harbor committee IN
charge at Galveston and Texas City:
which is very encouraging. As this
great work vastly interests Utah we DO
not hesitate to present the report below.
Remember that the full completion OF
this great work or depth of thirty
feet, means eight hundred or thous-
and miles off the distance from Utah
TO our Atlantic coast, commercial
centers. When this depth is realized
our products of coal, copper, iron,
gypsum, asphaltum, ozokerite, gold,
silver, ETC., ETC., together vita our
onyx, marble and all other building
material. will be able to compete in
the eastern and European markets
with those of any Of the states east
or west of the Mississippi river. The
report is dated Houston, Texas, June
u, 1895. 1t seems from the report
that all the big operators in western
and south western productions are pre-
pairing in earnest to use the immense
advantage this depth will give them:
"GENTLEMEN, The work on the deep
water harbor of Galveston and Texas
City has progressed during the month
of May at most astonishing rate.
Scarcely had my report been Issued
for May, than Major Miller, U. ).
engineer, in charge of Galveston and
Texas City harbor improvements,
wired to Gen. Casey, then chief en-
gineer of the U. s., and who was then
about to retire from the service, the
glad information that the bar at the
entrance to the haTbOr had been re-
moved to the depth of Is feet at
mean low tide. Major Miller, in his
report of May 31st, just issued, gives
the depth on the bar at mean low tide,
at Is feet and inches.
"Thus the efficacy of the jetty work is
proven beyond question, and it is only
q matter of continuance of the work to
insure 30 feet of water on the bar.
steamers have crossed the bar dur
ing past month drawing is feet
inches without inconvenience.
The secretary Of war, was author
ized in 1890 IN lot -nnrtraot FOR tho
completion of the jetties and the OBJ
tanning Of so feet over the bar at mean
low tide, the limit of cost to be sc, ,200,-
600. Very little more than one-half
of that amount has been expended and
about three-fourths of the required
work has been accomplished. Eigh-
teen feet was the utmost depth hoped
for by September next; but if results
continue as favorable as in the last
few months, we may see 20 feet where
only the most sanguine had hoped for
Is feet.
The work at the Texas City channel
has progressed with even more favor
able results. The immense dredge
has broken all record by haying exca-
waited and removed as high as 10000
CUBIC yards of clay from the channel IN
"a hours. By the way, the dredge has
demonstrated the fact that the bottom
of the bay, between Texas City and
deep water, is clay of very firm, plas-
tic character, which VIII not cave or
wash. The dredge has moved forward
on the channel 5 800 feet and has only
1, 400 feet more TO dredgs before reach
the free docks at Texas City, which
point will be reached by July Ist;
when all that remains TO be done on
the channel is to go over it, slope the
sidee and cut out about two feet more
Of clay. August 1st Will, without
doubt, see the channel completed and
IN use by ocean going vessels.
1.-The work Of completing the docks.
low under construction, and the work
IN the new ones projected, will con-
Jinue right along all summer and fall,
'The largest handlers OF cotton in the {
world (Inman & Co.. have contracted
or and will at once begin the construc.
lion of wharves at Texas City for their
'wn use. These wharves will be
SOOx5OO feet in area, with capacity for t
handling and storing vast quantities s
f cotton.
Zone of the largest cottonpfrms in
Jew Orleans, are making arrange
nents to handle their business through
'exas City this fall and winter and ex-
ect to remain permanently there.
Another large cotton firm from
herman, Texas, Messrs. Birge, Forbes
: Co., and several others, have made
Imilar arrangements to handle their
oGton over the free docks at this new
eaport of Texas City.
Il must apologize for SO much of nv
eport being taken up in telling about
'exas City; but L am sure you will
ardon the pride take in informing
be committee of the grand results of
g efforts in chespining transporta-
on.
VERY respectfully submitted,
+. l.. DANA"