The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-25

MR.. w. NJ. READ Of the firm OF Inman
Dc Read made this statement in regard to
the situation: THAT Galveston has been
unable 10 take care OF the cotton sent
| that port this season is quite apparent
and Is fact we'll known to every one In
| terested In tho cotton trade. No one has
attacked the facilities at Galveston. for
they are certainly very fine, but it is never
tholess true that these facilities have been
inadequate for the business. do not PEE
tend to say why there is blockade there,
| or why Houston railroads have been unable
TO denver cotton at that port. but such
| is The case.
| II know that the Inman press has stored
this week 10000 bales OF cotton for the
Houston and Texas Central railroad that
Were consigned to Galveston, but which
could not be handled there. Between TO-
VVo ana 10000 bales Will be stored at other
presses and warehouses in this city The
cotton can come to Houston, but for weeks
the railroads. have not been able 10 get 1t
uHoaded when sent TO Galveston. Cotton
men are we'll aware of this fact aud have
becn put TO much trouble and Inconvenience
thereby.
why the Galveston News should at
tempt to deny this statement is unexplain-
able, and to assert THAT there is no block
ado at Galveston is 10 make deslalhiion
tiiste rs uDSuIuiy Iulst. Inc congestion
there has existed for weeks. and has been
50 serious that Houston presses and ware
houses have been used TO relieve the sit
cation. Today tho Houston and Texas Cen
tra1 railroad has moro empty cars going
back on It's lines than for many weeks,
simply because the cars were unloaied
here Had they been sent to Galveston the
tio-up would merely have been aggravated
In fact Galveston lines have given notice
GU several occasions That they could not.
or would not, receive the cotton consigned
them.
THE argument made by the News that
much of the trouble is due to the marketing
OF the cotton crop in the first sixty days
OF the season Is probably correct, but since
this early rush can not be remedied what
Is TO be, done? The only way out of the
difficulty is tho making of n deep water
port Mt Houston, whore the cotton can be
handled properly and to which point rail-
roads bring the staple from every nook
and corner OF the State
Houston has newer received more COT
ton than could be handled here. 1t Is only
when Galveston Ia blockaded that we are
rut To any additional worry ana expense.
The presses and warehouses here can be
used for storing several hundred thousand
bales, Instead of being made n storehouse
for Galveston, however, 1t would he much
better to have the ships come here to be
loagiei. 1t would save time and money,
and would prevent sslch bio .kndes az have
been experienced this season. Ii would
divide the business with Galveston. and
that does not necessarily mean the with
d.awal OF any OF the shipping interests
from that port. II simply means that In
order for Texas to handle the States ex-
port business properly and promptly there
must be more than one port with adequate
wharfage and terminal facilities.
Deer water Is badly needed Mt Hoiis-
ton today and each year the neee slty there
for Will be- greater. When / came to Texas
in 1889 the State raised 1900 900 bales OF
cotton. This broke all previous records.
and no one then dreamed that within n
dozen years the size OF the crop would be
doubled, and that In sixteen years Texas
would show tho Yorld a crop Of anywhers
,om $500 900 to 900 900 bales. Such a
RAPID increase having been witnessed Ia
the past. what reason have we to doubt
that wieiin the near future Texas Will
produce 5000 900 bales Of cotton annual,
arl that her other crops Will increase In
Nka proportion? To export such crops and
10 handle the immense business We hope
to get from Kansas, Nebraska and other
States. additional port facilities Will be
absolutely necessary. With ten railroads
bringlng the freight to this point Houston
naturally has many advantages and with
her bayou opened for the entrance OF YES
sells every line OF trade in the State win
be benefited. Freight blockades viii be
unknown then. and cotton buyers will not
hs asked TO bold their cousignmonts back
for DAYS or for weeks, as has been the
case this season"
MR.. w. d. CLEVELAND, when asked as
to what no thought OF the contentious and
assertions made by tho Galveston News,said