The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-02
The SHIP CHANNEL.
Statement Anent the Status Of the
Great Enterprise.
WHAT MR.. BALL HAS DONE.
Refused to Accept the Twelve.Foot
Channel Scheme.
ASKS THAT THE DREDGE BE BUILT
And the Survey Made According to the
Plans Of Captain Richie.
ASKS THAT THE DREDGE BE BUILT
REST OF THE APPROPRIATION WILL REMAIN
untiI Consress Decides that Houston
Shall Have the whole SUM ns Set
Forth in the uill

Forth in the btll
Washington, June 1.-Consressman Tom
Ball today handed Tho Post correspondent
the following statement anent the status
OF the appropriation for Buffalo bayou
ship channel.
THE house OF representatives. sppro-
priated 100000 for the Improvement OF the
ship channel from the mouth of the iet-
ties through Galveston bay and up Buff
falo bayou to the proposed harhor at Hous-
ton, Texas This provision was amended
in the senate by Senator Mills, provision
being made to authorize contracts for the
work not to exceed S2,OOO,0co. This senate
amendment was supposedly stricken out
in conference of the committees from both
! bodies When tho law was printed 1t |
was found that both the house and senate
provisions we're incorporated IN tho bill.
Senator Frye, chairman OF the senate
committee, and Mr.. Burton, chairman OF
the house committee at once notified the
secretary of war that the senate provision
was in the bill by mistake and was not
the chief OF engineers called for a project
from the engineer in charge. Captain
Richie, limited to the appropriation OF
5000 900 plus the $3.50 on hand from
previous appropriations Captain Richie
submitted project providing for con
structiug one OF the large dredses recon-
mcuded by the board who made the sur
vey aud the expenditure of the balance of
the money, outside of administration eS-
penses, in developing twenty hve-foot
|, channel from the north end OF Morgan's
canal towards Houston, so far as the
money would 30
AT the suggestion OF Senator Frye and
} MIR. Burton, who had both opposed the
project, that it was not the intention of
! congress that the money should be spent
in developing the twenty fveioot channel,
the chief engineers Endorsed upon Cap
, tain Riches project a modihcatia pro-
viding that the bayou be developed not
c over twelve feet This was handed the
secretary of war and when reached hero
e the whole matter was sheved.
After examination Of the law and the
senate and house journals, | reached the
, conclusion that the senate amendmcnt
] providing for $2.OOO.oOo had been properly
o and legally enrolled and asked that the
!, attorney general be requested to give an
= opinion. His opinion recognized the va
d Hdity Of both provisions, but advised that
e the secretary OF war withhold action on
y tho larger amount until congress met,
Nil Hn m
q item. Ascertaining that it was the purpose
a OF the secretary Of war to modify hiche
y project so as to secure at no place IN inc
n channel a greater depth than twelve feet
q al present, leaving the question Of addl-
n tional depth to be provided for by subse-
= ouent congresses knowing that such ac-
: tion would require different slope OF banks
) and other changes, which would increase
the cost Of ultimately securing a twenty
Ave foot channel, / insisted upon the adop-
II ,ion Of Captain Riches original project
but without success.
,, believing that any other course won't
impern our chances OF securing the chan
mel which Houston's commerce and TeNai
and Western interests demands, after VIII
!" ing and obtaining the approval OF tn'
Houston deep water committee notlce ma
heen given the secretary OF war that W.
wished no part OF the appropriation eN
e peuded except for construction oil TN
er dredge and necessary surveying In
w nroieot has been changed accordingly an
30 the sppropriation will remain intact ex
10 cept about sl25ooo for dredse ana sur
u veys.
n "Ths appropriation will not revert
&c the treasury by reason Of delay, but wi
. stand to the credit of the bayou channe
~ believe this to be the best course
be pursue Thomas H. eaii
IT, The people Of Houston may rest az
On sured that they have had an earnest an
ne able advocate OF their interests here
y the person Of Mr.. Ball He has worke
n early and late TO have their wishes cal
,.s ried out in the matter Of this approprii
ton He has exhausted every argumei
,on 70 have the work begun on the twent!
he five-toot channel and ne would have SUI
me ceeded II it had not been for the lette
OF Senator Frye and Mr. Burton statiI
~ that It was not the intention of the co
as terence 10 recognize the twenty-hye-fo
channel project.
Houston will simply have to pick B
hints. keep her powder dry and cor
la again with every assurance OF compile
' success next winter
se Texas postofhces established Phell
Walker county Edward McGar. postms