The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-12
AR Ayos RIVER REpoRT.

BRAZOS RIN Elk hEIphl.
The house committee on interstate and
foreign commerce has reported the bill
feyorably authorizing the building of a
bridge across Corpus Christi channel
Responding to the resolution OF the SEN
ate providing "That tho secretary OF war
be directed to submit report OF survey
and estimates OF the Improvement OF the
mouth Of the Brazos river near Nelasco.
Texas, With such information as may be ~
his possession, for the Improvement there
OF by continuing the work done by the
Brazos River Channel and Dock company
or Otherwise, with probable cost and such
other information as be may have in con-
nection with the proposed Improvement
the secretary submits report from Gen
eral Wilson, who epcloses letter from
Colonel Robert; Colonel Robert quotes
from "A survey made under the direction or
H. l.. Marindino OF the coast and geodetic
survey and says: The survey made WIS
very detailed and furnished all the IN
formation required for future work OF I'M
provement II q channel eighteen feet
deep at mean low water were dredged for
width OF $50 feet from the cigbteen-foot
curve in the gulf up to'the lighthouse ana
thence up TO velpsco for a width OF 100
feet. It would provide all that commerce
demands at present, and, in fact, all that
the board stated they were sure could De
maintained. Allowing the dredging TO aver,
are n foot depth below the channel to be
maintained and making allowance for scow
measurement, II VIII require the dredging
of 500, 900 cubic yards OF material to pro-
vide this channel. ] would estimate tho
cost ut Is cents per cubic yard, or q total
OF $4,000. Allowing for superintcndence
and contingencies, I would estimate the
cost OF the Improvement mentioned at
Ss5, 900 II Is estimated that II the work
was done by aid OF a government dredger,
one-third OF the cost would be saved"
Colonel Robert continues: Il would call
attention 10 the fact that the BRACES aver
board IN its report tpage 12) stated that
in its opinion the carrying out OF the Of
fer on the part Of the BrazoD River Chan
mel and Dock company 10 dedicate one
mile 81 river front to the public should
be condition precedent to any assump-
tion OF responsibility for tho maintenance
Of the harbor by the government The oner
of the company is found on page 6S OF the
above mentioned report would recon-
mend that the FIRST act approprlating funds
for this Improvement should contain O
proviso that none OF the appropriation
should be expended until one mile OF river
front be dedicated to the public in accord
ance With the offer OF the Brazos River
Channel ana Dock company, dated Febru-
airy 10, 1897"
II this dedication is made the board
states as It's opinion that the maintenance
OF the harbor viii he Of a sufficient pubic
interest to justify the government in un-
dertaking to complete the works and TO
maintain tho channel at as great depth
as may be found practicable and as the
interests of commerce may demand. II is
not 10 be supposed that when the channel
is dredged II viii be maintained Without
further dredging. Annual dredging VIII be
necessary at cost that experience alone
must determine. II would be reasonable TO
assume that as much as 100000 would be
required
General Wilson says that; In the abb
senee OF the cencrrfence OF the house OF
representatives In the action OF the senate
"a tho adoption Of the enclosed resolution,
II ou,d seem that the presentation to
congress Of the report now submitted Is
prohibited by law"