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

ton which. between 1850 ana 1900 -. !.
total OF S.767.000 bales, has ,ncress.S :. =
the close OF the year 1893 to : Total -
oseshvVv caies, tho carriage Of the ntst
38S.771 bales. oe'ns
The population, which In 1870 was shou,
lzovV: has Increased to about "a. O0l, ths
taxable wealth has advanced to S22 on o,so .
the annual merchandise busincss rss
reached $500. 900; the annual banh cyesr-
ances Tor 1898 have swelled to 1907 900 600.
an increase over the year 1897 Of over sss ~ :
100000. The day we celebrate" bss cc cvs,
Tor the cotton receipts OF but four portns
OF the season OF 1S9S-99 have aIrsadv
passed the 100000 mark. This cotton
movement to Houston is near so per cent
more than the entire cotton cron ~ ths
United States In that year OF 1887, when
.ne pioneer schooner "Rolla." on that glo-
rious day dear to Texan liberty. law moorea
at the mouth of whiteoak BAYOU. in tho
city OF Houston. with "Old Glory and the
nag OF the Lone Star" Republic aoa,ins
at the masthead. "o"''"s
But, MT. Chairman and gentlemen. tho
facts Of history are too well known 10
warrant my dwelling longer In the cold
realm aa Oh aetaiis You have been the re-
cipients OF hospitality as unbounded as
the trade resources within the grasp OF our.
host, the Houston Cotton Exchange and
board OF Trade. Not only Turkey with
little Greese have been placed at your
command, but also the choice things of the
Dessert. The delightful sensations that
nave rejoiced you while this voyage
tnrougn the alimentary canal has been In
progress make the fossil dug out OF the
canal through Morgans Point poor food
ior digestion. Even the philosopher and
profound thinker would at such an hour
as this be ready to vote:
That Roger Bacon be Bore and Francis
Bacon CANNON"
know that no deduction OF mine, how
ever grave, can equal the force OF a can
vass back and gravy, although long fell
low has said that Like Accstes shaft of
old, the swift thought kindles as 1t flies
think that the fire kndled by these pop
ping corks now burns with a more fragrant
incense upon the altar Of YOUTH manhood
and ripening age than that ancient war;
rior knew. Gentlemen, there are no
flies" on old piper Hedsick.'' how to
the fact that "Mumms Extra Dry lis
more acceptable on occasions like this
than dry statistics, and be assured that
but for the word OF command from our
distinguished chairman l would have kept
mum, and let you sip your "Mumm'' in
peace. l know that quail on toast Is
inviting, when brave hearts VIII quail
before toast on foot and that however
much you may like deep water" you
don't care to be the victims OF water on
the BRAIN I fear, on looking around me-
that more than one friend who urged me
to talk steamship when sat down to this
banquet would be satisfied with a
schooner" right now, and that you will
have me In ''hock" pretty soon, II don't
quit, and let you go back to your Hook. :"
It has not been my purpose to offer salad
for the solitary" when you have 1t al
ready in the shape OF lettuce, so I will go
back to my mutton before you say Let
me alone"
Thus with my bark among the lilies and
the hyacinths, in the hooks along the
classic shores of Buffalo bayou, while light
draft messengers of trade are passing to
and fro, walt for the rising Of the flood
tide which is to bear me onward to the
sea, through the deep water" of the flu
ture, and pay tribute to the past and the
present of the water way from Houston
to the gulf
yet feel that while the best promise for
the future is in the outlook for deep wa
ter under the benefcent auspices of our
government, and that the browning result
Of all our efforts In this behalf Is to be
found in the splendid showing and unmis-
taxable recommendations in support of \
ship channel for vessels Of twenty five
Houston made by the distinguished board
of United States engineers who honored
lis by their presence and kind considera-
ton in the summer of 1897, yet there is
glad promise for the future OF this city.
and for the results to accrue from the COM
pletion of that great cork In the results
already within your sight. achieved by the
brain and enterprise that have sustained
our progress and the support already given
by the government toward the present
stage of development of our ship channel
to the gulf.
This project of the future has passed the
crucial test of the highest engineering
criticism. There is no effort here to force
the tidal current into new and devious
WAYS It has never known before, or TO ex-
tend it's reach through sluggish waters
against alluvial forces. To expand rs
breadth or deepen the basin where 1t rests
and maintain the same is but question
of money. labor and care
/ look back with reverent heart TO the
DAYS of the founders OF TINS lnsltu.ioh'
and honor the men around me who nave
fostered 1t while in its quarter OF q cen,
tury of corporate existence 1t has laporea
IN advance the commercial interests OF this
citv and press them forward to the present
nroud nosition of the chief interior cotton
market of the United States. thankluliy
nav my tribute to all Who tnrousnou. l.s
useful career, nave Buiueu anu Sue.
n Even in this hour of gladness ! can
not forget those of its ranks who nave.
after faithful time of duty, passed over
the river" leaving a blessed memory ne,
hind them / am thankful that can nan
the morrow with heart full OF remem-
brance of Yesterday. Oft have ! STOOD, as
the Iatenipg hours came on, and watchea
tho "god of day walk with grand ana
measured tread adown the path OF evening n,
ali glorious in his departing splendor. INC
thropg that basked in his rays as ne Went
I'm the steps of morning to his zenith, were
nfar waiting to greet pale Luna as sne
came IN the starlit way athwart the We,.-
ern horizon, the clouds agow with iisnt;
we're Redeemed and tinted with thousann
hcauteoms shapes that told OF some scens
in FARMLAND AS he passed througn sh,
gates of night, and ere lost TO my lingerins
raye 7 have bowed low to his presence,
for this thought was uppermost, N my
heart. "Thou hast warmed me, ana !
have fingered still watching the tading o.
the heavenly glow into sombre light untii
nj last the gentle stars OF evening can,e
ont and cast silver sheen DER the snau-
ows that hung DER the scene, ana they
have seemed to me, as the lights OF inep'-
ory that ever burn in my breast a. lne
shrine of the great and noble tne pravs
and true, the generous and good thet nase
given their blood ard lives. ana snoush.ss'
and toll. and means. for country, state anu