The Daily Texarkanian., 1898-07-14
TRIP TO PORT ARTHUR,
The Coming Export Port Of the South
West, Provided the Short Ship
Canal Proves a Success


The editor Of this paper, accom-
panied by his brother, Mr. A. f.
Gardner, returned from a short
trip to Port Arthur yesterday. We
will give a short account Of obserya-
tions aud experiences while there.
Port Arthur Is the southern ter.
minus of the great Kansas City
Pittsburg & Gulf Railway system,
which extends from Omaha, Neb.,
and Quincy, ILL.,, on the north, via
Kansas City, Pittsburg, Texarkaua,
Shreveport to Port Arthur mile
age Of some seven or eight hundred
miles.
Port Arthur is located upon
Sabine Lake, some seven miles from
old Sabine Pass (town) which now
has deep water to the gulf, some
ten miles below. As the railroad
company could not get into the
old town because a rich northern
company owned it, determination
was made to establish a new town,
hence Port Arthur. Place
although only about two years old,
now has a population of over 1900
souls, and is on a considerable boom.
Railroad is now dredging out a deep
water ship canal from Port Arthur
to deep water in Sabine pass, seven
miles distaut-now have four and
one half miles of it completed
canal is being cut along the shore
near the lake, beginning at Taylor's
bayou, a deep, fresh water stream.
This will afford as fine fresh water
fishing as is to be found in the
world.
We took a trip oyer the placid
waters Of Sabine Lake, in the com.
pany's pretty little steamer, Alba
mia, in through the canal as far as
built, and on down to the towns of
old and new Sabine Pass, and out
to the jetty work, being carried on
by the government, by means Of
which channel over the bar to the
gulf was secured. Saw the large
hydraulic dredge, which is cutting
out the canal; it cuts a channel $50
feet wide and from 100 to $50 feet
long per day. Another dredge is at
work on the lower end, and it is
thought that the canal will be
completed inside of three months.
Along Taylor's bayou at begin
ming of canal, slips for ships are to
be cut 1000 feet long by 200 feet
wide-seven or eight are to be pro-
yided at once TOR the accommoda-
tion of commerce. Already an i'm
mense wheat elevator is being con-
structed, and others will follow as
needed. It is needless to add that
if this ship canal proves a success,
and we certainly cannot see why
it can be otherwise, Port Arthur
will be one of the main export
ports of this country. Sabine Lake
is very shallow, only three to five
feet deep, hence the necessity for
canal By means of light draught
lighters, some hundreds OF car loads
of wheat and corn we're exported
during the past winter.
While aboard the Albania, ira
versting Sabine Lake, we had the
pleasure of meeting quite num-
Der of people from Iowa, there
seeking homes or investment
among them we remember Messrs.
A. J. Dalby, H. L. Peck and ]. 7.
Brickley of Olin, Iowa, and Mrs.
! Isadore Niles, OF Cedar Rapids, lat
ter is an immigration agent of the
railroad, and brought the party
from that state. We enjoyed their
society and went on a fishing jaunt
aboard a sailing vessel with some OF
them.
At Port Arthur we met Mr.. Hay.
don, who is running hotel-form-
erly run the Silver Moon restaurant
and hotel on the West side; also
Mrs. P. B. Earhart, who is visit
ing Mrs, Hayden.
! We enjoyed our short stay at
| Port Arthur. 1t is a beautiful
place, and may become a great
city.
SANITARIUM FOR TEXARKANA