The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-03

survey and estimate of the cost OF
Gulf outlet from Houston to the mouth
Of the Galveston jetties, of requisite width
and depth, with a suitable harbor at the
Houston terminal. Pursuant to that act,
the survey and estimate were made by
distinguished committee of the corps OF
engineers, composed of. Colonel Henry NJ
Robert, Major A. II. Miller and Captain
George Nee. Derby. These men, skilled
and gifted in the line of their profession,
need no encomium or testimonial from
mine or other tongue. Their unanimous
report to Brigadier General John NJ. VIII
son, United States chief Of engineers,
which has been transmitted by Genera
Alger TO the United States house OF rep
resentatives declares the work 10 be en-
tirely practicable, finds no engineering OBJ
stacle in the way, estimates four million
dollars as amply sufficient for its success
full completion, and the annual after-cost
of only one hundred thousand dollars, all
that viii be needed for its efficient main
tenance. What more in this connection
could the most skeptical desire? II not
willing to accept this food Of light, then
might we well say, Though one rose from
the dead" yet would We doubt. Reflect
on il! Four millions for a waterway from
the high seas, twenty-five feet in depth.
with a width in its course of one hundred
TO one hundred and fifty feet, and five
hundred at its harborage point, leading TO
a port capacitated TO accommodate all the
commerce that could descend upon it in
quest Of Gulf outlet to the ocean
But, admitting both the adaptability of
Houston and the availability of her Gulf
outlet, someone may ask, why does not
deep water at Galveston obviate the need
OF it at oHuston?" The answer is plain.
Deep water at oHuston IS a manifest ne
cessity 10 overcome natural disadvantages
at Galveston, in order to bring to full
I fruition the splendid possibilities of the
latter's magnificent entrance TO the seas.
We would not disparage Galveston's port.
1t is with ii We are seeking to be more
efficiently united. But the high and uni
form banks Of Buffalo bayou, with their
uncircumscribed depth, are not in Calves
ton, ror are her other natural advantages
as a commercial conductive point of land
and sea. Great and commendable as has
been the enterprise OF the citizens of Gal
weston in combating her land limitations
by artificial aid. they 'canot overcome
them. Wharves have been erected at the
cost OF millions With a frontage of two
miles, but every bale of cotton passing
over them pays a toll of as much as 5
cents, and other freight in proportion.
More than that the six or SO additional
miles of possible land front, like that
where the wharves have been built, are
absolutely and irretrievably without depth
sufficient to meet the demands of the
swelling tide of commerce, in terminal IA
ctiities of railroad trackage, stock yards,
warehouses, grain elevators, congresses,
and hte manifold similar incidents of the
demands of traffic at a deep water port.
TIE railroad engineers and investors I'M
derstood this situation in descending in
close net work upon Houston instead of
Galveston; and the wisdom of their course
is today both illustrated and vindicated,
when it is considered that only two rail-
roads have trackage alongside the Calves
ton whaTves, yet the cars of the one fire.
quently stand in enforced id,eness waiting
for track clearage from blockade by cars
of the other.
There is no necessary conflict, however,
in respect of the two ports. The govern
ment, in expanding the Sc, 200 600 by which
it secured at Galveston, not twenty-five
feet only, but twenty-eight to thirty feet
of water, with an entrance, as declared by
the board, the finest south of Norfolk,
accomplished not only triumph in engi-
neering, but conferred beneficient bless
ing and lasting benefit on the agricultural,
naval and commercial interests Of our pso-
pc. But in order to the proper utilization
and complete realization of the blessing
and benefit thence to flow, deep water at
Houston is a necessity obvious. and nc a
man within sound of my voice, if he hail
from rans-Mississippi territory, who
should not exert his best Efforts to the
accomplishment of that end This thought
found utterance in the report OF the corps
OF engineers to which reference has been
made. These distinguished there say:
'he rapid development of the resources
Of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado
and New Mexico has for many years
made the establishment of a frst-class
harbor on the Gulf coast west of New
Orleans a manifest necessity.
This necessity has been recognized by
congress, and liberal appropriations have
been made for number of years. which
have finally resulted in the successful
opening of a channe, of magnificent pro-
portions across the bar at Galveston, CIV
ing access to an excellent harbor in Gal
country many millions of dollars, and has
introduced new factor IN the problem of
its prosperity. the full value Of waich can
only be realized by turning 10 account
most actively and in the most comrIe e.
hensive manner the new resources which
it offers to commerce
Buffalo bayou is an important factor in
the utilization of this improved entrance
to Galveston bay. The city of Houston,
al IF 1r-iC ;c Is,
tant railroad center. where fifteen roads
converge, and through it passes annually
| a vast commerce. seeking the seaboard TO
reach the markets of the world. Much 90
this trade. coming from ri lts nthe inte-
rior. passes through Houston ID soma mere
distant port Of shipment but much of it
leaves the railroad at this point and is
shipped by barge through Buffalo bayou
to Galveston bay. where it is transferred
to ocean going vessels in the open bay.
More than 10000 bales of cotton have re-
! Gently been shipped by this route in q
single year"
Let il be borne in mind that as fun
damental law Of transportation. traffic
VIII not. because in self defense II can
not, leave land for ocean at a point where
| T must suffer the hardship OF special &C 81
! or delay. Il will. Of this recognized ne
| cessity. seek other outlets, though longer
! in distance and time. and though less
| profitable but for the hampering 'ntfu-
! elces. This IS but an application OF The
/ immutable principle OF Representation.
| as true in commerce as in liberty and re.
( When l. IS reflected, then. As indisputa-
/ bic statistics disclose. that the grain. cot
/ ton and lumber products. aside from the
| various other interests. Of only the seven
/ states Of Texas Arkansas Missouri