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

the body OF the great public, in CONNER
cial and shipping circles
But, say these epologists for these con-
dltions at Galveston. Houston will need
to have wharves. wharves will cost money
and therefore Houston will also be COM
PEELED to place heavy tax on commerce.
But Houston answers that she proposes
TO invite provision In tho bill ordering
the bayou Improvement, that the COM
merce passing over its wharves shall not
be taxed along the entire thirty miles on
either side of the channel
4 4
Tho reply to Mr. Burton's fifth and
sixth Inquiries Is the most defenscless
and unfair OF all, but there was nothing
else that they could say In seeking to
evade the force OF an admission that noto-
rious facts compelled them to make
They confess that Houston has the adyan-
tage OF a differentinl Of 40 cents a bale
on cotton over Galveston and that this
would be saved by direct ocean ship
ments from this point but they say that
| III cents of this is wharfage at Calves
| ton, which they recklcssly and baselessly
assume Houston US a port would also
charge, and that the remaining 32h
cents Is an arbitrary and unjust dis
| elimination against Galveston by the
railway commission OF Texas This is
| gross mstreatment OF commission that
has come to Galvoston's relief by reduc-
ing the differentlals that formerly and
always naturally existed. For many years
the rate per bale of cotton between Hous
| ton and Galveston was $3.50. When Hous-
ton put transportation ON the bayou this
rate dropped step by step to so cents,
where It remained for many years more.
Finally the railroad commission reduced
the rate to S2is cents.
AS n further evidence of the justice and
propriety OF this differential 1t may be
stated that Galveston applied to the courts
for its removal, but the courts upheld the
rate And 1t stands today and viii con-
tinue to stand until, with deep water at
this port, 1t will save to the cotton pro-
dncers of Texas and the Indian Terri
tory from $500, 900 to 81 600, 900 annuallyl
In this connection 1t may be proper to
say that misleading and contemplate
feature of the Galveston cotton exchanges
report is the attempt to belttle Houston's
cotton business by claiming that we count
rs Houston receipts cotton that simply
passes through this city. destined fer Gal
weston. While 1t ia true that much OF the
cotton passing through Houston goes to
Galveston without breaking bulk, yet the
major portion Of 1t does not; Houston is
the largest cotton market In Texas and the
cotton shipped here locally represents fully
one-thrd cf the total movement. In adli-
tion TO this very large proportion of
Houstcns gross receipts is billed to Hous-
ton breaking bulk here and being trans
ferred to the various transportation lines
some going to New Orleans, some going
to Mexico and some to the West for China
and Japan. These vast shipments would
take ship here II deep water In the bayou |
were an accomplished fact, aud On all of IT
there would be a saving as compared with |
shipments from Galveston of 40 cents a
ballet million dollars year saved to
the farmers of Texas on cotton freights |
would be an item Of SEINE consequence
Before quitting this point 1t ought to be
told that even the transportation which Is /
now found on the bayou. amounting to
several hundred thousands of bales of cot
ton annually. Is placed under contribution
to the Galveston Wharf company. The
barees are not allowed TO load the ships
out In the channel, or IL SO, still pay their
tribute to the greedy monopoly! But while
the wharf company leyies this unjust trlh-
,,tn faTl IN igt, . ha ,.bIn L
we have a right TO demand, The barge
line this season had its boats detained at
as long as fifteen days because
their cargoos could not be unloaded on the
wharf or placed on board shipl
= =
From this curscry review OF tho main
loints of the open correspondence between
he chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee and the Galveston cotton ex-
'hange. II can be seen how unfairly and
,vasiyely the latter body have acted In the
premises. But there is more to be read
between the lines. The communication
rem the Galvestonlans ia ostensibly de-
ense OF Galvestons shipping facilities and
Possibilities. The ostenslble purpose, how :
ver, has not deceived the thoughtful clu-
ems Of Houston as to the real meaning OF
he Galveston cotton exchange. And just
iere 1t will not be nmiss to remember that
he Galveston cotton exchange is--Galves-
on, II is the life and blood of that city
Is purposes there are none to question. /
Is DEGREES none TO antagonlze, its ipse
kits none to challenge! Composed of the
nading business and social lights OF the
ity, It speaks FIR the whole city. with
he wharf company It constitutes twin
overeignty over the island so that when
70 refer to the cotton exchange and
hart company we refer to the community .
Galveston.
Tho real meaning of the communication y
ddrossed to Mr. Burton is a covert but
eep laid assault upon the Buffalo bayou
It Ia deliberate but, at last, u
lngling attempt to show that there Is no y
lcessity fer the government to undertake "
re digging OF the ship channel to Hous- ~
n or TO expend more money In the bay ~
Galveston for the present'--unless AT y