The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-14
The Future Of Galveston.

When all OF the business and half OF the
in October, 1871, well-known citizens ex-
pressed the opinion that the development
Of that city had been put back at least
thirty years. Other persons suggested
that the new city be built at South Chicago
as the better site for a great metropolis.
Such dependency was natural while the
ruins we're still smoking and the suffering
was intense. Energy was stunned by the
calamity. But Chicago soon recovered
from the shock and to-day is population
is over five times that OF 1871.
The Chicago fire is not comparable with
the Galveston disaster In loss Of life. for
only about one hundred persons were
killed. The calamity at Galveston h not
comparable with the Chicago fire In loss
Of property, for 500 900 900 OF buildings.
machinery and goods were destroyed.
II Ia not strange that now. almost before
food has begun to reach the hungry, we
should hear the most doleful predictions
as to the future OF Galveston. But these
~forebodings are not justified by experience
nor by the present situation. The zoo
nomio causes still exist that made Galveston
the second cotton port In the Union. and
doubled her export business between 1902
and 1899 so that last year she was the fourth
export port in the country. being surpassed
only by New York. BOSTON n Baltimore.
For the best Of reasons. Galveston will
rise again and grow In population and
wealth In proportion to the business ex-
pansion Of the vast and rich country be-
hind her. This reason Is that the port Is
necessary.
The future Of Sabine Pass remains 70
be determined. The Government has
spent large sums in improving the entrance
to It's land-locked lake and Its business in
lumber shipping Is now important. But II Ia
at the extreme eastern corner OF Texas and
geographical facts proclaim that Galveston
must continue to be the great port of Texas.
The Brazos Valley, the largest river basin
In the State and growing the best and most
abundant crops OF cotton, Ia directly tribu-
tary TO It. The port is centrally situated
on the coast Of the best watered, most
fertile and most populous part OF Texas.
II Is nearly 400 miles west Of the Mississippi
and Is the only port between New Orleans
and the Rio Grande. with the possible ex-
oeption Of Sabine Pass. that can ever
be available for the needs Of a great COM
merce and the accommodation OF the largest
modern vessels. All the other inlets are
very shallow and untitled for the use
Of large seagoing ships.
These are the geographical reasons why
Galveston has developed. in recent years.
more rapidly than any other port In the
Union. The result is that commercial
and financial interests have centred there.
One OF the transcontinental railroads Is a
feeder for Galveston's trade. Houston.
the collecting point for Galveston's COM
merce. is the largest railroad center in
our Southwest: and all the country between
the coast, st. Louis and Kansas City Ia
looking more and more to Galveston "a a
seward outlet. The port has large and
solid commercial backing. and plans are
talked Of for the rehabilitation Of the city
before we even know the amount OF damage
done. Nioe-President TWEED OF the South
ern Pacific SAYS, for example. that that road
will certainly repair the damage : is