The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-02-18
FIRST LOCK AND DAM.
Gates Are Closed and the Water
Rises for Twenty Miles.

Another epoch in the improve
menty of the Trinity work, whereby
this stream Is to become one of the
most important factors in the carry
ing trade of the state of Texas was
taken on February 10, when the
gates of lock No. l were closed to
make the test of the work on the
lock and dam. AS the river runs, this
lock Is some fifteen miles below Dali
las, and this dam will give the chan
mel a depth of nine feet from the
lock to the Commerce street bridge
in Dallas. This is a depth six feet
over the normal low water mark.
The test will require several days
for its completion, for every part of
the work will be subjected to the
closest scrutiny.
Already work is going on on other
locks and dams lower down the riv-
err and it is fully expected that this
work will be completed within the
next twelve to eighteen months, af-
ter which the stream at all times will
afford depth of not less than six
feet of water from Dallas to the gulf
What this will mean to the people
of the Trinity river valley and its
contiguity has been told and retold,
but even now it will bear some retell
ing. for the immensely of the revol-
ution in the carrying trade is so
great that it can never be figured
out in advance. Taking the item of
cotton alone, there will be a saving
to the farmer of the difference be-
tween $3.50 a bale, the present
hA ri
that il will be handled for by boat
There are million bales OF cotton
which win be handled at d saving
of from 81 to $3.50 per bale, for
there is no doubt that cotton will be
taken to Galveston from Dallas on
bsrges for 81 bale when trade is
once established. On the lint cotton
alone there is a visible saving of at
least 81 500. 000-more likely even
more-to the wealth of this section
every year. Then the seed weighs
twice as much as the lint, and all
this must be handled. This yearly
saving with a reasonable rate of in
terest for twenty years would mean
a wealth to the community that is
beyond calculation. But this is only
one item, and bespeaks the saving in
one direction only, for there is as
much stuff to bring in as is carried
out There Is the lumber trade; fuel.
too, is one of the important elements
in the growth of any country which
would be self-sustaiuing. The growth
of Dallas as manufacturing town,
by which 1t would be of greatest val
ne to its surrounding community,
depends solely upon it's ability to Sc
cure low freight rates upon its inn
ports of raw materials and it's ex-
ports of manufactured goods. This
river Improvement means that these
low rates are assured,
Those who know of the immense
ore beds of the finest iron ore in the
state which fairly line the banks of
the Trinity, and the Ignite mines on
either side close by the waters
edge, have some appreciation of the
good things in store for the active,
open-eyed man who knows what
thing is when he sees it. The main
cost of fuel to the Dallas section is
the item of freight. this remedied
the way Is open for the broadcast de-
along all lines of manu-
facture and commerce. All up and
down the river are the finest beds of
clay suitable for brick, tile and pot
terry. and any and all of these find in
Dallas the largest market in this
country. Every inch of pipe used in
this city must be brought from fac
tories hundreds of miles away, and
that shipped out, which is now no in
item, must pay two
heavy railway freights, which, with
the water rates, would be so reduced
that factories of this sort would nat