The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-07
orrIeIAL MAr suBAlrrEp Ml1n THE REroRr.

houses. etc, located on tho banks above
1 overflow, and climatic conditions favorable
| 10 preservation OF grain,
Clcso connection with the rail- transpor-
| tation interests and export trade already
established at the tidal railway center If
| Houston.
The crowning feature OF the progress "
| the last quarter of century has been the
| development OF the harhors and water
| ways OF our country. Since 1878 the appro-
| priattors for this purpose have been 1881, -
! f3l SIP, In thai period the results of these
| expenditures have exercised Is vast In
| iiuoncn upon our commercial position ana
the advanced prosperity OF our people.
| Among tho improvements accomplished are
the removal OF the Hell Gate distractions
| aud the Improvement of the approaches 10
| the haibor OF New York: the construction
OF tie great Delaware Brcalswatcr aud the
| Improvement OF the approaches TO the
harbnr of Philadelphia. the construction
| OF The st. Clair Flats canal, opening tho
| way for n commerce with the Great lakes
estimated at s2f5eOo, coo annually. the iln-
| proyoment OF the approaches TO the har-
| bors OF Baltimore and Mobile along long
| line OF drcdged channel; the Improvement
OF the hnrhors OF Savannah and Chnsles-
| ton; the great Galveston jeities romoy-
| Ing the Galveston bar aud opening the
way into the great Bolivar basin aud into
| Galveston barbor. the Sabine bar jottes,
| making the birhor OF Sabine Pass avail
| able for deep draft shipping, the removal
| of the Hragos bar; Improvement OF The
| channel and outlet OF the Mississippi river,
and the control OF it's waters for the pro
toetion OF tho regions along and contlgu-
Gus 10 It's course. sIgnaiised by the lat
great triumph over It's raging foods. Along
the North and South Atlantic coast. aud
around the gulf 10 Appalaehiooin, and In
the tidal waters and BAYS up through the
.sksta ~.
rome smai) now blasting the way from
the great Warrior coal fields 20 the gulf:
along the Great Northern lakes aud their
tributary streams on the far Pacific COAT
where the Columbia flows, and far mn into
the waters OF Washington and Idaho. these
appropriations have been the inspiration OF
improved water communications. Ia add
tion 10 tho outlaya named. provision "
made under continuous contracts for the
| completion OF number OF tho important
waterway improvements of the country.
the estimate OF the chief OF engineers for
the prosecution OF such works in 1898 be-
ing Stats, 053l6.
Tho vast fields covered by these works
the difficulties that have been surmounted
by the skili and genius of your distln-
guished corps Of the army of the United
states and tho benebcent results have
excited the wonder and admiration OF man
kind and commanded the appreciation and
thanks Of the American people
The period named marks tho ERA az thr
most wonderful Dronress ~ our country.
Just following the completion OF the great
railway lines " the Pacific ocean, the de.
yelopment Of these waterways and harbors
has expanded the business OF existing rail-
way lines and been the Incentive al new
railway enterprises. with resultant deyel-
nDment 81 dormant regions. from which tho
railway system as whole has drawn COM
pensatoty business. The railway mileage
Il
l7s,s2l miles of main line and $1,000 miles
o. sdings In 1870 the tonnage MOI ement
OF our railway lines is stated az 500
tons. The TONNAGE movement in 1896 IA
stated at 200, 799,SS3 tons. The popuIa-
tion In 1873 was about 1900 900. II IL now
wealth Was then about $4,000. 900 900. II 10
now estimated 10 be s6s 900 900, 900, The
tonDage engaged In our coastwise and iu-
terror trade was then a.l63,uUD tons. OF
which but Ii0.hil tons was Iron steam tom
mage. This tonnage had increased IN 1895
United States In 1896 iron steam vessels cfn-
bracing 81, 3ss tons. besides 1G.S3T tons OF
iron sailing vessels and bsrges. under this
impctus given BY the DEVELOPMENT 1T our
~atcr communications There Vas built
ia the United States from 1878 20 1896
iron steam TONNAGE amounting 10 500. oss
tons and iron sail tonnage amounting 10
63.74i tons. Our foreign trade for the lsenl
year 1873 was Sl.lt7 1Gs.sjs. With = ball
ancc OF trade against MS Of sl37, 49,. III.
Our foreign trade In 1897 was si.797.351,- |
7S5. with a balance Of trade In otr favor
OF seGsG2a.975. These facts evidence tbs
harmonious DEVELOPMENT NJ all our later |
tai Interests with that OF our tidal and In
teriur waterways.
These data are thus brought 70 Your att
tention In evidence Of the fkct that u has |
become tho settled uollcy az tho lInltlo |
States To develop IT. wuteswAvs 10 the 4
highest standard or usefulness 5urtjnedl
by present Or prosprrttye conditions and
within the limit ~ reasonable OUTLAY ana |
prscticabtltty. W. ~ tore y iusok1l