The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-26
PORT ARTHUR SHIP CHANNEL
WILL he TURNED OVER TO THE
GOVERNMENT ON CONDITIONS.
The New Management Has Made n
Tender, but Nothing Can lie
Done mt This Time.

Beaumont, Texas, April 25.lt had been
rumored here for several days that the
new owners of the Kansas City, Pittshurg
and Gulf properties were willing to turn
| the Port Arthur ship channel over to the
government, the only condition being that
the government maintain the present
depth--twenty- -four feet of water. In
fact, 1t was stated that an actual tender
of the channel had been made. knowing
that Congressman Cooper was thoroughly
posted on every movement looking to
harbor improvements in Southeast Texas,
The Post correspondent called at his home
TO verify or dispel the rumor,
Congressman Cooper is Just oonvalesc-
ing from a spell OF sickness that was for
awhile exceedingly dangerous. He is still
weak, but is gaining strength rapidly and
expects to return to his duties at Wash
| ngtou in few weeks.
| The Post correspondent told him of these
rumors regarding the Port Arthur channel
and asked If they had come to his atten-
tion,
Yes" ne replied, II have heard these
reports, and 4 have also been Informed
that 1t Is true that the new management
of the Peegee property is willing to donate
the channel right-of-way 20 the use OK
| the government to be maintained by the
government and extended to the mouths of
the Neches and Sabine rivers.
when the committee from Beaumont
came to Washington last winter In regard
to this matter ! went with them to Phila-
delphla and met with the reorganization
committee OF the Peege then al work IN
that city. The first time / talked with
them they were disposed to insist that the
government buy the canal, but positively
refused to consider any such proposition,
and told them that as congressman from
! this district I would oppose the idea of
the government paying a single penny for
| the channel; that ! knew the channel had
not paid them anything and that it never
would. The government offered to take
the channel off their hands and maintain
| 1t as a free waterway open to navigation
by all vessels. l left the committee under
these circumstances. They sent for me
to come back and told me that they would
| further consider my proposition, and
have since been informed that they have
consented to the plan to donate 1t, and
are now preparing TO do So"
Have you ever" asked the reporter
"been presented with the argument that
the channel was so mortgaged it could net
| transfer title to the property?"
Yes" replied Mr.. Cooper, land here |
| have some good news for you. With view
OF transferring this channel, the reorgan-
izatlon committee, when they prepared the
plans for the new organization, transferred
the total indebtedness on the channel
property to other property of the com
pany, and as II stands today there Is not
dollar in mortgages outstanding against
the channel OF course. In their PROPOSE
ton to turn this canal over to the govern
ment there Is not included any OF the
company property, such as slips. wharves
and other land improvements They retain
all OF these, and it is to this part OF the
property that the mortgages have been
transferred. In truth, the mere fact that
the Kansas City Southern people are Of
ferng the canal to the government is suf-
fcient evidence that they can do it, other
wise they would not attempt 1t, for GER
tainly they, better than any one else, know
what they can do"
! In reply to the question OF the prob
ability of getting an appropriation to ex-
tend the channel through this congress,
Mr.. Cooper said: 1.-THE rivers and harbors
committee Of the house have agreed that
they will not report an appropriation bill
| this session and for that reason there will
| be no appropriation made for the extern
sion OF the canal this session. The most
that they will do, aud l shall advocate 1t
II / can get back In time, Will be TO rec
ommend Sabine lake channel appro-
priation IN bill which they will ask to
be considered early In the coming session
The bill will embody the CONTIGUOUS ap-
preparation plan. It will at first provide
for a nne-foot canal, then a twelve and
finally depth equal to the Port Arthur
channel"
Mr.. Cooper discussed further the diff
ferences between Orange and Beaumont
on this channel question, saying that he
was working for what he thought was the
best for Orange as we'll as for Beaumont
He thinks that when the Orange people
learn that the Port Arthur channel will
be donated to the government tpa, they
viii at once agree that II Is the bes. plan.
1t means for Orange route TO deep =ater
| just so surely as it does TO Beaumont, and
/ also gives them the advantages OF the
port at the terminal Of the Peegee.