Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1897-09-01
AFTER WATERWAYS.
DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS WERE
IN ATTENDANCE AT ROcKPORT.
Encouraged the Great Projeot-senator
Mills and Congressman sayers and Ball
Are Wiling to Push the Measure-other
News Items.

| the waterways convention from various
parts of the State, and others arrived
yesterday morning by boat. Senator
Mills and Congressman Sayers and Ball
are here; so are James Clarity from
Corsicana, A. II. Paine fom Waco. Vic
toria has large delegation of her best
here.
At 1910 this morning the convention
assembled at Hirschfields pavilion, and
Senator Mills spoke briefly but very en-
couraglngly of the canal project. He
said it was an absolute necessity for the
development of the country; that 1t had
been overlooked in the past, but that it
was now the duty of the people to bring
this great project before congress and
urge that body to undertake the open
ing of the canal. He prophesled prompt
and favorable action in congress.
Joe Sayers was introduced by John e.
Elgin, who parenthetlcally introduced
him as the next governor of Texas. This
brought down the house. Men were
present who were with Sayers at Val
Verde and the Louisiana campaign.
Mr.. Savers spoke in his usual practi-
cal hard sense, matter of fact manner.
He gave great encouragement to the
pushing of the enterprise, and prophe-
sled that If the matter was properly
brought before congress that body
would open the canal from Mexico to
New Orleans. He said the whole of
Texas is with us on this enterprise,
which he characterized as an honest, ne
cessary and highly practical one, and
one that every member of congress
from Texas would work when congress
assembled again.
Thomas II. Ball, congressman from
the First district, and a member of the
committee on rivers and harbors, was
next introduced, and spoke in the same
encouraging strain, and advised the
this great and necessary waterway.
All of the speakers promised their hear
ty support to the movement.
Hon. Jonathan Lane also addressed
the convention.
Mr.. e. d. Linn was made chairman
and Hon. rs. ;s1TfcFarland of Victoria
secretary. On motion each delegate Sc
lected member of. the committee on
resolutions, which were appointed by
the chair, as follows: Jonathan Lane,
Fayette county; f. G. Proctor, Victoria
county; Z. b. Wheeler, San Patricio;
J. e. Elgn, Aransas; II. j. Skaggs, Bee;
Mr. Skrephot, Lavaca; Sims Thompson,
Caldwell; l. p. Kibbe, Calhoun; I. NJ.
O'Connor, Refugio w. j. Baker, De-
Witt; James Clarity, Navarro.
The convention re-convened at 3
o'clock, and the committee on resolu-
tons handed in the following, which
was unanimously adopted;
To the Hon. q. D. Linn, Chairman of
the Convention:
Your committee appointed on resolu'
tlons beg leave to report as follows:
Believing that it is feasible to estab'
fish and maintain at a reasonable cost
a waterway along the coast of Texas
from the mouth of the Rio Grande tc
the mouth of the Sabine river by dredg
ing the bays and making the proper
channel connection between them, ant
that the coast commerce of the STATE
amply warrants such expenditure
therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we request the con
gress of the United States that a suit
able appropriation be at once made TO
a survey and ascertain the cost of con
: struction of such waterway of navi
gable depth, and that thereafter tn
: government assume and undertake
such work.
Resolved, 2. That our representative
in congress be requested to assist In pre-
curing the necessary appropriation t
stake out, buoy and light the channels
reefs and passes in Corpus Christi Bay
Arkansas Pass, Mesquite, San Antonio
Espirto Santos, Matagorda and ada
: cent bays, and maintain the same.
: Resolved, 3. That the land owner
and other interested citizens along tn
I coast of Texas be requested to forI
: a permanent organization for the pul
l pose of promoting the work outlined b
Z the convention, and call any necessar
$ additional meetings and take such othe
s steps as are deemed necessary to carr
u out the object of this meeting.
I Resolved, 4. That the chairman {
S this convention be requested at his col
u venience herafter to appoint a commi
= tee of five or more in his discretion, an
: the duty of such committee shall be
Il prepare and furnish to congress sue
n information as may be required, toUcl
ing on the said waterway desired, il
benefits and the needs therefor, an
e that the chairman of this convention
D. connection with said committee const
~. a. y.
er to reassemble the convention ct vii