The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-19

Ton nave been g1von to understand that
the people OF Galveston would attempt to
place no obstacles in the way OF the Buff
falo bayou improvement. Even though they
might feel that another Texas port was
being opened which might ask for fair
division OF ocean trade with Galveston, 1t
was said that no unseemly jealousios, nor
narrowness OF spirit. would be allowed to
move the community of Galveston to OPP
position to the bayou project.
The citizens OF Houston took these pro-
testations OF fairness aud friendship at
their face value and acted upon them.
They began systematically. inteiligsntly
and theoretically to place tho necessity
for and supreme Importance OF "a bayou
ship channel from the Galveston jotties
TO this city before congress Our commit
tees worked under tho supposition that no
locality or agency In Texas would actively
or covertly oppose an Improvement 80
beneficial TO another Texas community, to
the entire state. and to tho great West
The deep water committee of Houston en-
tered upon It's labor of love without fear
or distrust. Tho members felt that the
commerce which was coming to the Texas
coast already. and that would grow In
proportion to our ports and shipping faoili-
ties. would be ample to give to oil the
deep water harbors we might obtain on
our coast line q large. satisfactory aud
lucrative business Not only under such
circumstances did this city anticipate no
opposition from its sister city of Galveston.
but confidently has relied on the assistance
in congress of the representative from the
Galveston district.
1t begins to appear now, however, from
recent occurrences. and especially from a
communication OF a few days since from
tho Galveston cotton exchange, which al
ways authortatlvoly speaks for Calves
ton, to Chairman Burton of the rivers and
harbors committee OF the house Mt Wash
ington. that tho confidence of Houston in
the city of Galveston has been misplaced
1t seems that We have been the too
trusting victims OF doception--that ioal-
ousy and sefshness were too powerful to
be resisted in their evil promptings on the
pirate isle! hasty glance, even, at this
cotton exchange communication to Mr..
Burton, dscloses the fact that where we
had looked for State patriotism and broad
ness of vision Is discovered only a
"shriveled localism" and near-sigbted-
ness; that where we anticipated friendship
We find narrow hostility and that whore
we reposed confidence Is uncovered the
meanest treacheryl The coven foot is
boldly displayed and greed and selflshness !
have thrown off their thin disguises Jus
lice and fairness TO sister community are |
rcpudlated, the principle OF 'llve and let |
i've Is ignored, the pirates have gone on |
deck again and tho buccaneering cruise has |
begun! Tho city of Houston and the State |
of Texas, and that portion OF the great |
West interested SO deeply in the Buffalo |
bayou Improvement, can prepare for n |
fight with the Galveston Wharf company. |
tho Galveston cotton exchange and the |
aliieH and agencies nt their beck and cali |
in the Island Cityl
II is necessary that the correspbndenee
~ communications. between Chairman
burton of the rivers and halbors commit
lee ana the Galveston cotton exchange
should be briefly summarized IN order IN
properly appreciate the foregoing remarks
ana thoroughly grasp the significance OF
ms latest attitude OF the leading forces In
'aiFeston toward the bayou Improvement
4cheme' Chairman Burton was not nm
aware of the wharf monopoly existing nj
'aiVeston and of the great freight hIoc,aao
mere this season. He felt that the asked
.Qr Improvement at Texas City ana tho
i'Haso" snip channel might both be
leeesslty OF commerce, under these copdi-
IONS and appears to have addressed mn
Pen letter through the Galveston Naws
'l recent date TO the Galveston eotto,
'NshahBe' IN which he propounded TO that
10y inc ioiiowing pertinent inuuirloa.
- question l. Are not tho statemosts "a,
reefS sV''n al Salseston. giYen above cor.
@ :. Can Increased facilities h, o,,.,,
~ ~ NulNvaloh by deepening The cb1,,''""tt 9
hy 49, 20 peyohd the existing wharvss W.
nseq We hove 20 tne east OF those now Ia
n,,on,t,." Va nu'e peen told that water gr"
li n,y hews over THAI portion of H. II
, AN 70 the westward. and that Mi lnr4,
Is ills information Is1S9 corI y slreSdy in use
I, ,,sis would be that the flow OF wairr
ON O. 1 IN NJ no iqauporabe obstacle "@'S'
Nes''t,, " NAAtuelOn OF tle nroaorf |
WAVES would tie enlarged availahla snonh
~ :. ionk 70 the Galveston Wharf co,n;,ni'y
81 ~ M9uld an Independent company or indIi,,
~ J. We are told that the cstyo.,o,, ,
Whit company In liking charge "a onJ ~
nutpehaent OF the present enistitutlnn 49,, |
Nv o. IeNns and that the rnfcs "a u" VI ,
'nisea by II can not be lowered ar ra,v
ateG py the state railroad COMMITS IA s SNur {
'tltf otue!al authority Is this eofrsc,5 %
!, v anu 9. Our Information Ia thst ,ha
llLeteheF In cost OF leading ootton ,ne
loafd shins at Houston ana 0aIgas,nn pn ,
eaton OF freight dfferenlials ana wborr ~
hatats would not be less than 40 ran.a
ale. mud that 1000 200 baies Nor nnn, vntS a
hieunh Houston TO Galveston. WIN i,
Nse ,hspe were ship channel 10 HouAtnn d
you'd 20 shipped from there, is NOT thla i
1t is not difficult to understand the
rist OF these questions. They virtually
harse a freight blockade because OF lin. :
ed facilities for shipping. they question
he possibility OF relieving such sit.
alton; they intimate the existence OF
ionopoly by the wharf company and the
reliability OF an extension OF the mon
poly In the possible extension Of tho
harves' they suggest that the Galveston .
'harf company is independent OF state D