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

the bayou improvement project, 1t docs
not stop there. Jeasousy is not the oni'
characteristic disclosed. They go furtnei
than the dog In the mangor-thcy pro-
pose while fighting of others TO Gu
the proyender themselves! Greed step
In, but by innuondo. and declares
that there ia no necessity for I'M
government to expend more money In the
bay OF Galveston for the present than II
will cost to excavate and maintain
navigable channel in front OF the I'M
improved property on Galveston Island,
and. II desirable, to continue such channel
to Texas City, of which Improvement
Galveston would heartily approve"
Yes, doubtless! We saw In the debate
In the house OF representatives over inc
river and harbor bill how heartily" CAL
weston approves OF the Improvement OF
Texas City. When that channel In front
Of the unlmproved property on Calves
ton island" was completed there would
be no necessity apparent to Galveston for
Continuing It to Texas City,"
Not content with the more than s6,oOo,-
900 secured for itself and in aid of Its
wharf monopoly from the general gov
ernment, this cormorant, Galveston, now
betrays purpose to so again TO the
| government crib at the expense and TO the
exclusion and injury OF other commune
ties of Texas Having arranged, as 1t be-
! lieves. for an extension OF Its wharf mo-
I nopoly, Il proposes to use the govern
ment to perfect the conditions to render
the monopoly effective. 1t is not salts
| fed, however, to stand on its own merits
or openly to announce It's intentions as
yet, but begins by inslnuating the basis
of its claims and pulling down other COM
munities. 1t is adopting the tactics and
appears to be inspired by the motives Of
the assassin.
What would be the effects OF the con-
summation of these desires of Galveston
as disclosed In the communication so often
referred to? The wharf company's prop
erty would remain intact; Huntington's
wharves would join on the west. with
streets closed and absolute authority over
Il large area, excluding other lines or
own terms; the city company" under
stood to be an ally Of the wharf company,
would hold the balance OF the available"
frontage and other capital or enter
prise would be shut out for all time. The
cost of construction would be high enough
tn Al md
it. OF eXorbitant wharf charges along the
whole of the line. Combination would re-
suit in wharf trust and the commerce of
Texas and the West would find itself at
the mercy of monopoly on Galveston
island that would challenge comparison
Charges would not be made prohbitlee,
for that would kill the goose that laid
the golden egg. But with Houston and
Sabine Pass and other points cut off from
deep water competition in port charges
and wharfage wauld be impossible and
rates would be placed at the highest pcs
sible figure that could be imposed and
still draw exports Southwark
Does any sane man doubt that these con-
sequences would follow the realization Of
Galveston's new dream?
The simple fact is that this disclosure
Of its spirit and evident purposes by the
Galveston cotton exchange constitutes one
of the most powerful arguments yet ad-
duced for the speedy construction Of the
hn, chi
against it. This improve
ment is now a necessity of the future
to prevent the establishment of a gigantic
on Galveston island. With deep
water In front of thirty miles of embanl-
ments which constitute natural wharves;
With commerce untaxed along this extent
with warehouses at the waters edge, for
miles, from which ships could be loaded;
With many competing lines OF railway
Coaching to the docks and the doors of
warehouses and differential in our favor
aving hundreds Il thousands of dollars an
ness men of Texas and the West--there
'ould no monopoly live here, nor on Gal
'eston island!
TO put the whole case in nutshell as
business proposition of surprising I'm
'ortance to the general public, and ire !
pective of the ambitions or desires of sep |
rate localities, 1t can be said without fear
4 successful refutation that 1t Is better
o have two big ports with their healthful
ompetltlon, than TO add merely TO the
commercial facilities of one port. This
ONT the Galveston cotton exchange fails
appreciate in Its solicitude for monopoly.
~
As to this great improvement, but one
rect reference is made in the commune
alton to Chairman Burton. Regarding
lie proposed construction OF the Buffalo
lyou channel" the communication con-
udes, this body feels Itself incompetent
make any recommendation, preferrlng
leave the same to the Judgment of the
'vernment!' ]
After having exhausted every argument
NEGATIVE the idea OF the necessity for !
us Improvement. they then grayely and ,
snihedly remark that they feel incom- /
tent to advise the government in the l
emises' This is the browning exhibi-
IN OF meanness--the spirit of ayarice