The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-23
ARKANSAS PASS FUTURE.
Brilliant Prospects Ahead for DeveI-
opmenf of Harbor and Country.

Several years before the great civil
war, there came to the United states
a body of Englishmen in quest of pro-
ftable investment, in the great, broad,
fertile field of America. They were
really proverbial wise men, from
the east, but only i'll luck put an end
to noble project.
After due consideration of all the
natural and geographical resources OF
| the country, it was decided that a
point on the lower gulf coast of Texas,
| offered a remarkably good site upon
which to build a great city. 1t was
| the farthest point inland, in the whole
United States, where adequate harbor
possibilities offered themselves. A
syndicate was formed to dredge the
harbor, build jetties and plat the
the scheme and everything looked
lovely until the dark and threatening
\ clouds of the civil war commenced to
hover over the Republic.
1t was a disheartening thing that
such promising venture was to be
nfpped in the bud. Thousands of dol
lars had already been expended in ac-
tual operations and it seemed as if all
for naught.
The project was finally disposed of
to a private concern, for $1,000,000
and again the work was taken in
hand, only to again be delayed and al
most forsaken by the untimely arrival
of a great financial panic which swept
=
IL years nothing was done, after
which another company was organ
lied to take charge of the work. Right
here is where the local interest of the
scheme crops out. Less than Ia years
ago, when the new company was
formed, several Topeka men became
interested in the venture. Among
them was c. o. Knowles, who was
made assistant treasurer of the COM
pany. This company was handicap
ped by lack of government appropria-
tions and it was finally disposed of to
the present owners.
Since the great flood of Galvesto on,
several years ago, the government has
reconsidered it's opinion regarding
what is now Aransas Pass.
The first appropriation was for
$550,000, another was made several
years later of $490,000. The last one
of United States representative w. s.
Burton amounts to $4,000 although
his request was for only $350,000.
This makes a total expenditure of
lars.
The government is spending this
money with at least two great objects
in view. The one: to make Aransas
the Texas gulf coast, for commercial
purposes. The second: to provide the
most convenient harbor to the Pana-
ma canal. This new city is the closest
point on the Texas gulf to the new
canal. The work will be so complete
as to allow the largest battlesl1ip in
the United tSates navy to navigate the
waters of the harbor.
The city IS situated on the main
land, high and dry, yet only a mile
and a half from the shipping docks.
A fine natural harbor-its geograp-
hical location, it's wealth of railroads
both actual and very probable ones. all
combine to make what should be
great city of the south and west.
The present owners of the company.
Messrs. Burton and Danforth, are live
and progressive men, which fact will
have much to do with the success of
the venture. Their fiscal agents,
Wharton and Abbot, have recently
opened an office in this city. They are
located-with the firm of Wilson and
Neiswanger, in room 1, Bank of To-
peka building,