The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-12

the two together and pass up to the credit
Of Texas coast trade for this good year OF
1898 bank clearanccs of Galveston and
Houston. SEAS, 100000, and challenge COM
proximate and relative situation to each
other in this broad land OF ours.
| The continuation and expansion Of the
/ work Of ship channel improvement In
Galveston bay, tho San Jacinto river and
Buffalo bayou, to afford a passage for
vessels OF twenty-five feet draft OF water
from the Galveston jctties, through the
great harbor OF Galveston bay, to this
city, will crown the triumph of American
engineering over the distractions OF the
Galveston bar, with results grand in their
magnitude, benefccnt In the economies
they will insure and worthy of the splen-
did conception and skillful execution of the
great project evolved from the genius and
energy OF the engineering corps OF the
United States. now known to the world
as the great Galveston jetties,' Deep
water to Houston. thus achieved, will BIZ
the incentive to increased population.
wealth and the growth of all that con-
tributes to material advancement. This
result achived, our position as the point
OF transshipment for cohstwise and Euro
pean trade with the Pacific States and
countries by the great rail lines already
centering here will more thoroughly assert
4
trail and South America and Mexico will
at once be within our grasp. Our coast
wise trade with Atlantic ports, and our
foreign trade with Europe will be relieved
OF the cost of carringc to the gulf and
Tree from the exactions of competitors to
our trade. These resultant savings in the
cost of carriage and handling In condi-
.ion OF continually cafe harboragc on long
lines OF water front, Will give to us ship
ping advantages that can not be ignored
In competitive sea transportation.
10 Houston. its energies aroused to the
achievement of all that its ADVANTAGEOUS
position will bring In view, ii gives tho
promise of increased Importance as a seat
! OF finance and trade and transportation.
! worthy OF the great State which has con-
4 tributed so much to It's advancement In
the rank of cities: its progress a tribute
TO that great soldier, hero and statesman
whose name it bears. and though no en-
curing bronze reared by the grateful hand
of the people he loved and served so we'll
may show to the men of the coming time
that majestic form that once walked these
streets. amid the admiring gaze OF his
countrymen, this city. teeming with a
prosperous. happy people its industries,
commerce and trade commanding the at
tention of mankind and its advanced civ
llization their respect and admiration,
VIII be ms monument perpetuating the
story OF his heroism his wise statesman
ship, lofty character and civic virtues.
Out, therefore. upon the deep water
of the future | sail my bark Imagination
now stands with hope at the helm. My
vision rests upon long lines of warehouses.
elevators, mills, factories. congresses.
within capacious docks; the majestic liner
gaily dressed with flags; the compact uu-
kempt ocean tramp, the freight terror of
the seas; the clean built, we'll kept coast
wise steamship; the schooner. brig. bark
and clipper built sailor, their hutterlng
sails challenging the smoke of the steam
carriers; the heavy barge and steam tug
athlete-all power and no show; the long
line of cars in the rear or along the dock
discharging direct into warehouses and
ships; vessels outbound and inbound: as
my bark floats out along the deep, watch
ing the busy throngs that crowd the
streets. listening to the hum of industries
the smoke of labor blending with the
shadows of stately edifices. until in the
far distance these are lost to view and
the tall spires OF the temples of religion,
glistening in the sunlight but tell to my
vision that there is the HOUSTON OF
THE FUTURE!
Mr.. Chairman, turning from these
imaginings, l feel that ian not give
stronger assurance for the results of deep
water to Houston than Ia to be found In
the report of tho distinguished board Of
United States engineers who determined
the question of the feasibility and CONNER
cial Importance of a ship channel from the
Galveston jetties to Houston, as follows.
THE rapid development Of the resources
of Texas. Oklahoma. Kansas. Colorado
and New Mexico has for many years
made the establishment of first class
harbor on the gulf coast west uf New
Orleans necessity. This necessity has
been recognized by congress, and liberal
appropriations have been made for
number of years. which have finally re-
suited In the successful opening of a
channel of magnificent proportions across
two bars at Galveston. giving access to
an excellent harbor In Galveston bay.
This result has cost the country many
millions of dollars and has introduced a
new factor in the problem of It's prosper
ity, the full value of which can only be
realized by turning To account most act
lively and in the most comprehensive nan
ner the new resources which 1t o.iers to
commerce.
Buffalo bayou Is ali important factor in
the utilization of this Improved entrance
at the head of navigation. IS an impor-
tant railroad center. where fifteen roads
converge. and through II passes annually
vast commerce seeking the markets Of
the world
more than 100000 bales OF cotton have
recently been shipped by this route In a
single year.
"a conservative estimate would place at
sc00,0 per annum the direct saviag In
freight "a produce shipped via the Gal
weston entrance which would result from
such an improvement OF this waterway
ss is contem plated in the act uLdcr which
this board is convened. Tho saving OF
$500, 900 in freight would alore Justify an
Improvement of this magnitude. as 1t
amounts to more than the probable cost
of maintenance and the interest on the
estimated first cost OF tho work. The
board r.. however, OF the opinion that the
saving In the freight actually using the
Galveston entrance Is but small meas
ire Of the value Of such an Improvement
to the forming communities Of the neigh
boring States. as all rates to the sea would
necessarily he affected
Confident In the iudement. skill and ex-
perience nf these DISTINGUISHED engineers,
7 hail these eloquent and thoughtful words
with pride and strengthened hope that a
generous and just congress Will soon, in re-
Spouse to the PRAYER OF the vast interests
shown to be involved. give the assurance
that there Is to be deep water" to Hous-
ton by making the approximations neces-
sary to secure the expansion OF tho work
already In progress to embrace the compile
ton Of n ship channel fnr vessels OF TWEEN
ty-hve feet draft Of water.