The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
THE CELEBRATION OF A BIG EVENT,
Nearly Two Thousand Visitors in the Lit.
tie City.
SPECIAL TRAINS FROM MANY SECTIONS
and y Great Port Now Assured.
~ Features of the Celebration.

Trans mlBSlsblppl country anu hou all
parts OF Texas were hero and many of
them are still here. Special trains began
coming from Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa
last Wednesday, and every day has seen
the little city more crowded
Today-the day OF the real celebration
the climax in the way OF crowd was
reached The Austin train came in shortly
before 10 o'clock, bringing nine Pullman
coaches containing over 300 excurslonsts
consisting nearly exclusively of State Of
ficisls and members OF tho legislature.
This train left Austin at $3.50 O'Clock Fri
day night and came through to Port Ar
thur with only a short stop at Beaumont.
The members OF the Arkansas legislature
and other visitors from that State ar
rived in special train of ten coaches.
An hour or so after these distinguished
guests arrived the special Galveston train
pulled into the depot and poured out over
500 representatives Of that port
As a result OF these Two specials, added
10 the loads brought in by the regular
trains from Orange, Sabine Pass and else
where, Port Arthur today had more peo-
pie looking at its magnificent facilities
than the promoters Of the celebration ever
anticipated. The hotels and boarding
houses and the sleeping cars were taxed
to accommodate the crowd, and people
were to be seen everywhere
The managers of the entertainment were
tireless in their efforts to make all COM
Portable and the few little discomforts
experienced were forgotten in the hearth
ness OF the welcome extended on all sides.
As has been announced in the press for
many days previous, the big jubilee was
to celebrate the opening OF the Port Ar
thur ship channel-perhaps the greatest
private enterprise ever undertaken in
Texas. 1t was intended to leave the slight
obstruction that separated the north and
south section OF the canal until today and
10 then cut II away with impressive cere-
monies In the presence OF the assembled
multitude. but runors OF another injunc-
ton caused the Port Arthur managers to
finish the work of completing the channel
some days ago. Tho remaining thirty feet
were dug away early last Sunday morn
ing and now the waters of the two sec
lions of the canal mingle and flow from
the lower entrance at Mesquite point on
Sabine Pass, to the upper entrance at
Taylors bayou
The Port Arthur ship canal is now a
reality II has gone past the Injunction
stage-in fact has survived several in
functions, and is now In a condition where
there can be no further interference The
canal has been excavatod it's entire length
Of 37,700 feet to from eight to twenty
hNe feet 1t gives Texas another mag
nihcent deep water port and one that will
be of wonderful assistance in enlarging
the States business as well as aiding the
business of the entire Trans mississippi
region.
The population of Port Arthur Ia 1900. but
today 1t was more than doubled. 1t is es-
timated that there we're from 1000 to $500
visitors in the city this morning. Trains
ran from the depot to the point where the
ceremonies were to take place every half
hour. During the forenoon the time was
passed By trips through the ship canal 10
Inc dredges and to the government jetties
Several boats were used for the excursion
and they were crowded on every trip. The
point OF embarkation was at slip No 8
where there is mammoth grain elevator
with storage capacity of one-h half millior
bushels, and "A carrying capacity of 30 90,
bushels per hour. Ii is said to be the larg.
est carrying capacity elevator In the world
Ihis was thrown open 10 the visitors, ant
was examined from top to bottom.
During the trips through the ship cana
to the dredges short stops were mad,
alongside the various steamships loadinl
at the mouth OF the canal and visitors
were allowed to so on board. The Por
Arthur and Mexican Steamship Company,
freight steamers Themis and Transit ar,
rived at this port last Wednesday witt
100 cars of sisal. which will be shippe,
10 Chicago over the Kansas City. Pittsbur,
and Gulf
The Third regiment band furnished mu
sic during the day and also gave a yer,
fne concert on the galleries OF the Hote
Sabine from to 1880 p. IA. At s D. m
there was a grand exhibition of freworlt
In Lake Shore park in front of the Hote
Sabine, under the personal direction OF MIR
II. F. Schneider OF Kansas City. The pro
gramme carried out in the fireworks dis
play was IA follows:
Australian Violet Bouquet" America
Beauty Fountain" Washington Squnr
Cascade" mount Vesuvius Ariel Light.
grand set piece, showing p. and G. rail
road locomotive. 30xi5 feet, especlall
made for this occasion; "Hollander ArIt
Waltz" Sabine Pass Light" port Ar
thur Ariel Rosebuds, Manila Bay Bou
quet, grand set piece, showing an ooea
steamer from Holland, SOx15 feet; this Sc
piece was made especially for this oeca
sion; grand display of 4-pound exhibi
ton bouquet sky rockets; conclusion. fou
distinct ariel candle displays
Tomorrow special train will leay
Grand Central depot at 10 a. M. conyeyin
those who wish to visit the experiment,
farm. the rice farm and Nederland. return
ing TO Port Arthur for lunch At D. n
tomorrow there Will be regatta, to |
participated in by steamboats,, naphth
launches and sailing yachts.
The little city is quite prettily decorate
for the occasion. all OF the company
proI erty especially being made conspicl
GUS with eyergreens and flags and bum
Ing. Many stores and residences are ais
gayly decorated.
Local Manager George M. Craig ha
charge OF today's programme, and VIZ
ably assisted by Messrs. C. TO- Smith,
c. Collins. H. H. Beels. II. S. yilmar. \
II. Bos, Il. l.. Baker, E. M. Tele. r.
Laughlin. Walter M. HALL Joseph viii
Jams and Captain George Porter.
The reception committee was compose
OF the following citizens: NJ r. Stron
chairman; Judge w. NJ. Smith John
Collins. Mayer Brothers. w. y. Hall, D. {
Parker 9. II. Hamlin. d. II. Barnes. |
Ashley, Richard Meaher c. A. Smitl
4. F. Wolff, r. A. Bennett. Frank Han
Wond, NJ. n. Bos. DR.. Il. l.. Rothrock, \
N. eolinsky. WI A. Rogers. Dr.. J.