The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-24
DALLAS HAS HOPES
OF DEEP WATERWAY
Texas City Expects to Make
Tremendous Strides Forward
when the Improvement of the
Trinity River Is Completed.
WILL, THEN BECOME PORT
WITH GULF CONNECTION
Cheaper Freight Rates Made Pos
sible by Steamer Transporta-
ton Expected to Expand Its
Trade and Influence Enor-
nnouslv.
BY HERBERT vANDERHooF.

BY HERBERT VANDERHOOF.
Few subjects are of such vital impor
lance to the welfare Of Texas or excite
such general interest In the state as the
subject Of deep waterways. Inc lmpof-
lance of the topic can be readily under
stood from a glance at the map of the
state. It's great trade centers, with the
single exception of Galveston, are all some
distance removed from the coast line
As e consequence the tremendous COM
nerce that originates in the state has
to reach tide water by means Of the
railways, and while this service is etf1-
cient ana rates are reasonable, a consld =
cradle decrease in carrying charges on
bulk freight could be effected if water
communication could be procured.
y With an abundance of streams, Texas
has none that are navigable except for
vessels of the lghtest draught. The COM
mercial bodies of various cities have for
years been agtating the subject of the
Improvement of the waterways on which
they are situated, and the matter has been
repeatedly brought to the attention of
Congress in the effort to obtain an APP
preparation. OF course, the possibilities
of navigation on these streams may be
simply dream, bus the Texans want 1t
tested. The matter is confessedly too
big an undertaking for any but the fed
seral government. eBsides, as the water
ways are all under federal control, it is
a matter of simple justice that they
should be deepened ana regulated by the
national government.
Probably no other city in the state has
such a deep interest IN this subject as
far inland. it has direct connection with
the Gulf of Mexico by means Of the Trim
fity river. The latter is pretty stream
with a considerable flow Of water, and in
its winding course to the gulf traverses
one Of the richest parts of the state.
In places on its route to salt water it
broadens out into veritable lakes.
Work on Trinity River.
The persistent efforts Of the Senators
and congressman from Texas, backed by
cial interests of Dallas, were successful
few years ago in obtaining an appro-
priation Of $4OO,O 900 in the river and har-
Dor bill, and the government engineers
rnent of the river. When this operation
is finally completed the stream will be
favigable for large size vessels with
great freight capacity from the city OF
with Galveston bay. The distance from
Dallas to salt water IS about $50 miles
. 1t is difficult to fully realize what this
improvement means to the future of Dali
las; In the first place, it means such a
reduction in carrying charges to the coast
that vast trade will De attracted to the
city that never reaches it now. Take
the single item of cotton, of which Texas
raises over 100000 bales a year. A
saving of only a single dollar a bale ir
carrying charges to the gulf would near
a saving to the producers of So 900 900
and. While it is not at all probable tina
1t would all come to Dallas for shipment
! yet vast amount would reach the city
! In addition to the regular trade it nov
enjoys. Experts in transportation mat
tiers have estimated that freight can b.
f#carried proftably by water transportation
| at about one-half of the rates that arr
charged by the railways, and if these
figures are correct the yearly saving BY
shipping from Dallas will run away VI
s. With the completion of the Trinit,
river improvements, Dallas will take it,
| place as a gulf port. the only one in tn,
northern part of Texas. The commerc,
l&of the western and northern parts of tn
Estate, which now goes around it on it.
way to the gulf, will be DETECTED to TIN
a> city in order to avail itself of the cheape
water water rates at The trade of Oklahoma AM
Indian Territory, on the NORTH will ais
seek Dallas as its nearest port. TIL
packing house products of Fort WORTH
snort distance to the west of Dallas viii
I'll naturally seek tidewater by way of tn
city, and because of the CHEAPER rate
they can obtain this will mean a tire
mendous enhancement of this industry I
VIII also vastly increase the packin
II industry in Dallas, which now does abou
H. $4,OOO,O00 a year, but which, with tn
leverage Of water transportation, Shout
II double or treble this amount in a. fe,
d years time.
What Dallas May Expect
Amazing as has been the growth G
Dallas in trade and population in the pas
thve years, it will break all previous rec
lords when the improvements of tn
Trinity river are finished. Mammoth ele
20 take care of the millions of bushels {
wheat. corn and oats that will seek waite
transportation to the gulf. Great store
houses will be erected to take care of tn
Elcotton that will be attracted there for tn
-sjsame reason. These staple products wi
be loaded onto, the river steamers, an
on their arrival at the gulf will be ru
td1rectly alongside the ocean going vessel
land transferred to the holds of the latte
The same influence that will make Da
las point it, of sshhipment-cheap wate
point Of distribution. The city is now til
Unnatural distributing point for the riches
lIpart@of the state, but this trade will t
tages of water transportation. Mercha1
Eldise from the north and abroad that no
Eisesks Galveston. as its distributing poi1
Twill possess a material advantage in tn
Ilrespeet that should give it a virtual m(
Ifnopoly Of the trade not only of this ser
ton, but Of Oklahoma and Indian TER
Iitory.
The business interests Of Dallas al
Euiy any Vs. TO the the giSnious prospects thu
d'9 and canab 6her IF iity and
Them. It's wholesale and jobbing trad
that now runs into the tens of million
every year, and WHICH embraces all lin
upon it without embarrassment. ii
city is rich enough to expand it's trat
without any financial stress, and ii
Icredit of it's merchants ranks high Wi
the development of the city into a shi]
ping point a add capital will be a
have an abundance of loanable funds
take care Of the increasing business
The average citizen Of Dallas is ce
lain of what the future is going to bril-
10 the. city, 1t is not a matter permi
ting of possible doubt in his mind. 'Yt
IN conversation. 1--WE are going ahes
how faster than any other city in II
Ibtate, and there are few, if any, 9th
Eities in the union that have euualed O.
growth in the past five years. But '
will put our past growth in the sha
when we get water communication wi
The gulf We will become the richie
Ind most populous city in Texas. We a
Today, for that matter; but there wor
be- any room for argument about it VIII
teep water comes"
Growth Of the City, X
Certainly there are few cities in t
ountry that can show the prosperity al
soasts. Building operations are going
With a briskness that shows the rapid i
Irease of its population. The ''To rem
liign is hard to find, and new buildin
The outskirts of the city are bel
Eushed back farther and farther eve
LEAR. ~.
I1No wonder Dallas looks forward wi
agerness to water connection with t
lI1f. It has everything else that is ne
- ssary to its happiness and prosperi1
is blessed with an ideal climate whe
lnshine abounds the year round. AS
Efy it will rank in architectural beau
fifth any city in the north or east.