The Washington herald., 1909-07-04

Dallas. Tex. July 3.-DaiIas is the chief
city or Texas, it's metropolis and jobbing
center, distributing annually $l30,0O0oo0 OF
goods. Its position as the logical center
OF distribution in the Southwest has al
ready been won, and its population. well
over the 10000 mark, four-ffths Of whom
are Northern born and bred. are now
building for the future.
Transportation facilities have always
been the great factor in making the city
commercially, and despite the fact that
Dallas has eight railroads, II long ago
realized the fact that the most wealthy
and powerful cities have grown up on the
seaboard or on banks OF navigable
streams. and Dallas citizens began years
ago 20 urge upon the Federal government
the canalization OF the Trinity River.
Starts as Local Enterprise.
One hundred and sixty thousand dollars
was spent by Dallas business men demon
strating their faith IN the practicability
OF the Improvement OF the Trinity River
for navigation before the United States
government undertook the surveys and
marked the Trinity for canalization- Thus
FAR SllO0,OOO has been appropriated fer
the building Of five locks and dams and
cleaning the river OF distractions.
The first lock and dam has been com
pleted and the water backs up at the foot
OF Commerce street, within the city lin
its of Dallas. 80 feet wide and Il feet
deep. The other four locks and dams
viii be completed during this and next
year and barges drawing six feet or
more can run between Dallas and Cal
weston nine months In the year
The Trinity River in the quality Of land
which IT goes through and the territory
which II traverses is different from any
other Southern or Southwestern river.
Nearly all other rivers in this semi-sandy
territory, even If dug out with great
width and depth. are subject TO the dan
ger OF being fIIed by the constantly shift
ing banks Of sand through which they go
and the frequent sand storms which pre-
vail In the South The Trinity River is
peculiar IN that II traverses a territory
which is known as the famous ''Black
Waxy Land Belt" Of Texas. and in no
place between Dallas and Galveston does
il have banks or bottoms OF sand.
II one would inspect the map, 1t can be
seen that this canal extends at right an
giles to the Gulf OF Mexico. penetrating
the heart of one Of the richest agricul-
tUraI regions in the United States. The
distance from It's mouth 10 Dallas is 81
miles. and at Dallas 1t reaches the center
OF a section Of country which = will di-
rectly benefit
The territory Immediately surrounding
Dallas Of 100 miles radius contains 100000
people. 50 per cent Of whom are Northern
born and bred, men who have come 10 the
Southwest, have established their homes
and invested their capital On account Of
the fertility OF the soil in this territory
~ l. r~
section Il Is the fastest-grOwing portion
OF the Southwest and as such the Trinity
River viii draw for this immediate sec
tion and save 10 its inhabitants large
sums Of money by means OF water trans
portatiOn.
Territory Which Is Benefited.
The 100000 acres Of land which IS un-
der cultivation in this section constitutes
42 Of the 24s counties In Texas and Is 38
per cent Of the assessed valuation Of the
entire State. containing 30 per cent Of the
railroad mileage and 50 per cent Of the
total number Of business houses. One
fifth OF the cotton crop Of the United
States is grown In this section alone. Its
population IS energetic and enterprising,
and the navigation Of the Trinity River
viii give this territory superior advan-
a
outlet Of the crops raised in this territory
The fact that the Hartman and HiH
systems Of railroads are seeking connec-
tiOns for their interstate system 10 Gal
weston, appreciating the fact that export
trade from the section west Of the Mis-
issippi River must eventually go by the
Gulf Of Mexico, further demonstrates the
desirability OF the Trinity River canal
The wheat and corn grown in this ter
wAHr aNmA~
brought just 81 miles nearer water by the
completion Of the Trinity River canal.
St. Paul and Minneapolis send their
-four 10 European and Asiatic markets by
rail and water by way OF New York on
the east. a distance Of 800 miles. and 70
Seattle on the west a distance OF 1SJO
miles. The cost to reach either the At
lantic or Pacific coasts is 20 cents a bar
rel. The close proximity OF Dallas 70 the
coast when the Panama Canal is COM
pleted should, by reason Of having a
cheap water rate. promote the establish
ment Of Touring mills in Southwestern
territory that raises wheat and enable
this territory to put flour into Asiatic
markets at 90 cents a barrel and into
European markets at 80 cents a barrel
Cheaper Rates for Cotton.
Northern and Central Texas and Okla
section in the world and alone Of all the
cotton-produclng sections Of this country
has no water route 10 seaboard. The
opening Of this river 10 navigation from
Dallas to the Gulf viii not only furnish
a cheaper freight transportation TO the
South and TO the seaboard, but Il VIII az
ford cheaper transportation to the East
and North. where are located manufac-
turing centers and pOpulOus cities. the
necessities of which create a constant
demand for our cotton and stock. and
with a cheaper transportation will de-
mand our grain.
The plans Of the engineers for the i'm
movement OF the river are for locks 20 by
TO feet in the clear so that boats draw
Ing six feet can pass through at low
water. This viii allow barges OF twenty
five feet beam drawing six feet to carry
$50 tons dead weight
The climate and weather conditions win
not interfere with the boats running dur
ing any part Of the year: but granting
that only ten trips a season can be made,
figured on a basis OF Transporting cotton.
a seasons shipment for one barge line
would be equal to 10000 bales. the trans