The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-29
HOUSTON. WEDNESDAY, nov. 20.
TEN PAGES TODAY.
OUR RIVER AND HARBoR INTER-
ESTS.


The Cleveland. Ohio, Plain Dealer says
that the question of Representative Burton
of the Cleveland district succeeding him
self as chairman OF the house committee
on rivers and harbors lis generally I'M
derstood to be settled. Notwithstanding the
efforts to persuade General Henderson to
appoint another.
There Is no committee in either branch
OF congress In whose composition Texas
is more directly concerned than the house
committee on rivers and hErbors. whose
province 1t is to prepare the liver and har-
Dor bill. There Is now remarkably wide
spread interest in this State in the matter
OF the Improvement OF our rivers and har
bors. The people of Houston, of Calves
ton of Sabine Pass, of Corpus Christi and
Rockport, OF Brownsville and the mouth
OF the Brazos, are not alone In this active
interest, but the towns on the BRACES and
the Trinity. far into the interior OF the
State. are likewise moving for such an i'm
provement OF our rivers as will afford an
outlet by nayigable waters from some OF
the richest and most productive sections OF
Texas to the deep water OF the gulf.
This new sentiment has been gradually
developing for years from growing re-
cognition OF the feasibility OF the pro-
jects and the immense benefits certain
to accrue TO the great agricultural and
commercial interests OF the State through
the possible revolution OF the Transports
ton problem.
AS these demands for government aid In
the premises must first go TO the house
committee on rivers and harbors, the Sig
nifcance 10 us Of tho membership of that
committee can be at once appreciated. The
committee of the last house fortunately
included in its composition our OWN intel
ligent and faithful representative Hon,
Tom Ball. Fortunately. too, that commit
tee was largely made up OF men, including
the able and influential chairman Hon
Theodore Burton, who had visited this
section and personally satisfied themselves
OF the merits OF at least one Of our great
Texas waterway projects. the Buffalo
bayou ship channel.
The fact that Chairman Burton Is to
be retained at the head OF the committee
Is encouraging to the people of this city
in this. that he Is known personally to
many Of the enterprlsing citizens who are
pushing this bayou improvement matter.
The retention OF the chairman, too, indl-
Gates the likelihood OF but slight changes
in the general makeup OF the committee.
30 that when our representatives again
present our claims to the practical recog-
milton of the committee we shall be APP
pealing to gentlemen not at all unfriendly
TO our object, nor unacquainted with its
far reaching interstate Importance.
There is every reason, therefore, at this
time for the people OF this city and sec
tion to feel assured OF even more sub
stantial aid from the coming congress than
was received from the last house, pro-
vided only that we properly present and
press again our good cause and that a
general or generous river and harbor bill
Is prepared and urged by the committee.
1t Is possible that party politics may pre-
vail. In view OF the coming National cam
paign next year in keeping down the APP
Preparations to the lowest possible limit.
and postponing the enactment OF another
general river and harbor bill. Even In
that event. however. while We might not
obtain what We now desire. a lump sum
sufficient to complete the Improvement,
and under the continuing contract plan.
yet We ought to receive another sum large
enough to keep the engineers busy for
another fiscal year on the work which will
he begun at no distant day under tho last
appropriation.
II viii be seen that our success In the
premises will, at least, largely depend on
our own efforts, and every man in Hous
ton. who has the faintest desire for or
interest in the future growth and great
ness OF bhis city. or section, should hold
himself In readiness to respond generous
" TO whatever call may be made upon him
IN the Dremises