The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-10
THE BAYOU IMPROVEMENT.
Congressman SIaydeu Talks Of the
Great Work.
WOULD BE WELL WORTH THE COST
but 1t VIII Take Work 20 secure
the Necessary Approximation
60 Begin II.
Houston Post bureau,
Sun Builllne. Isl7 F Sir

/
Washington, January with the intcn-
ton OF interviewing every representative
and senator from Texas at the rate of
one a day, or as often as possible and
give them an opportunity to express them
selves upon any and all questions AFFECT
ing the interest OF our great State through
the columns OF its only great democratic
of San Antonio. who is the only represent
atiye from Texas in the democratic col.
| umn that Is n strictly business man and
whose experience in commercial Lire makes
Elm u thoroughly competent and practical
| authority on those subjects. / dragged him
| away from conversation with u cerulesn
tinted abdomen gentleman from Vermont
TO whom he was explaining the glories
of San Antonios climate with the follow
ing result:
Mr.. slsyden. what have you TO tell me
OF interest TO the readers OF the Houston
Post?"
Hardly more than that hope congress
may see fit to make the liberal appropria-
lion for the improvement OF Buffalo bayou,
which Is so strongly recommended by the
government engineers"
And what do you think of the chances
OF securing the appropriations
None whatever for the entire amount
at once. But the proposition is so nrmly
grounded in real merit that think q
good round sum should be secured to be-
gin the work with, and enough from year
to year to advance the work rapidly. STILL
you know that with governmental ex-
penses exceeding governmental revenues.
with the Dingley bin on trial. so to speak,
n lhtt tf,f .ty,. ,...,
economy it is going to be hard to secure
the usual rivers and harbors bill. Indeed,
have been told that word has been
sent down the line that 1t must be cut
in two.
Nevertheless it will be so easy to show
that the four millions asked for Buffalo
bayou Will be a good Investment that il
should not be impossible to convince con-
gress of the wisdom OF the expenditure.
Indeed, think / could show that on the
shipment of our one great staple crop.
cotton, if sea going vessels came up to the
city of Houston, there would be a yearly
saving OF not less than $500, 900, or per
cent on sl2,000,0o0.
AS the government, that Is to say the
people can borrow money at 2ls per cent,
this would seem to be a good Investment
in itself. But Texas is now an exporter of
grain and cattle hides and wool, and in
time no doubt will have still other COM
u Seuu out OF the state through
the gulf Assuming that go per cent uf
the present differential between Galveston
and Houston can be abolished the saving
will be enormous, and more than justifas
the Improvement.
But, my dear boy, don't fancy that
Houston is the only pebble on the beach,
IL that's the way you say 1t. Galveston
must be looked after whenever her great
jetty system or channel needs assistance
of any Sort and there is Sabine Pass which
also means to claim rank as port
What about Arkansas Pass?''
Y 81 don't know what is to BE the I'M
mediate fate OF the Pass. / only know
that it is most unfortunately complicated
at this time. The harbor company seems
to have abandoned its efforts to secure
deep water. and the people of that section
are heartsick over the repeated failures
to make the Pass navigable. 1t Is
tragedy.
But to return to the Buffalo bayou mat
ter. YOU have a wide awake representative
in Mr. Rall who, in addition to his legal
ability. has had large experience in COM
meroal affairs. and is especially well suited
to forward the enterprise. know he APP
preciates the Importance of the under
taking. and will overlook no opportunity
TO work for his people.
II think the entire Texas delegation, no
matter from what part OF the State they
come, will give every measure for public
improvement In the State a hearty sup
port. Speaking for myself 1t Will give me
great pleasure TO help toward the i'm
provement Of Red river, the Trinity or tho
Brazos. and when ii becomes feasible, the
Guadalupe up to Victoria. Every river
made navgable is sort OF railway COM
mission in itself. and regulates rates in
the interest OF the people. III the rivers
have named were nayigable up into the
interior Of the State. rates would always be
reasonable Even if no steamboat piled
their waters. they would still be menace
tonic river were large enough to Justify
an effort at improvement"
What can you tell me that is new In
the political world?'
Now, look here. you know / am not a
politician, and know nothing about their
ways.
II am told, however. that there Is great
distress In the minds of certain Western
and Northwe stern senators who are pol
iticians. McKinley's record was for free
silver and HIS platform was for bimetal-
Hsm. yet here comes his secretary OF the
treasury who is not a politician, and who
saws. with brutal frankness. that the pur-
pose OF the bill he has presented TO the
house is 10 more thoroughly commit the
country 10 the gold standard There are
terrible Carvings on in some circles. and
no wonder,
"HanSbrough OF Norln Dakota, clark
and Warren OF Wyoming. and other
rrofessed silver men who pretend to be-
ieye In the possibilities OF international
bimetallism, are between the devil OF the
administration with It's great patronage
on one side. and the deep sea OF the people,
with their great indignation. on the other.
"Wolcott OF Colorado, clever man WHIP
understands the question. and who is
real free silver man. begins TO see that he
was tucked into fooling away his time
and the peoples money when he went on
the European trip. Wharton Barker OF
philadelphia told me thirty days after
Violet Paine and Stevenson sailed that
they we're foredoomed to failure because the
administration WIS against international
or any other sort OF bimetaiiisni, and he
evidently knew what he was talking about
No doubt yon remember that our COM
missicners had hardly gone. With their
commissions signed by William Mckinley,
before Mr.. Secretary Gage. With mis- coin-
mission also signed by Mckinley. began By
interviews and writings TO discredit their
;s. 4 ~ Inf a n