Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-11-03
Houston.'s Fight for
Waterway Parallel
To Valley Struggle

WIFI oh 40 dA4A q &AdA4 4OOb AAAdAA-
mel and turning basin completed
In 1908, men who were carrying on
the 71-year-old fight OF Houston
for a deep-water port realized they
still did not have anything" and
continued their battle until the
present 30-foOt waterway TO the sea
became a reality, according to Cap
tain Charles Crotty assistant port
director at present and for more
than a quarter Of a century con-
nected with the project In one o.
another capacity.
Eighteen feet is deeper water than
is needed for barge traffic and Is
too shallow to accommodate steam
ers." Capt. Crotty said.
Houston's dream OF a waterway
TO the sea which would connect that
port with the ports Of the world
was born in the minds OF pioneers
away back in 1887. and although
the fight was carried on constant
" from that time on real success
was attained until a 25-foot chan
mel and turning basin was COM
pleted Sept. Y. 1914.
Like Valley Struggle
The history OF that city's efforts
to obtain deep water is parallel in
many ways 10 the struggle In the
Valley and has much in IL TO in
spire Brownsville citizens TO car
ry-on" in their quest for a channel
to the sea.
The earliest .efinite mention OF
Buffalo Bayou. the stream which
has since become HoustOn's So
mile-long arm OF the sea. is found
in 1920 in which Il is told of two
men buring of a cane brake and
growing a crop OF corn In what
IL now Harris county. There con-
tinues to be some mention OF small
settlements being lrmed along the
stream until o. Jan. p. 1897, ar
rival Of the first steamer at Houston
Il reported. This was a light draft
side-wheeler. the Laura, which
came from Columbia, on the Brazos
river.
With that event the dream OF
"A. G. and John X. Allen, brothers
who founded Houston, and other
pioneers Of the town. took on shape
and color.
Get Private Survey
Gen. Sidney Sherman, a hero or
San Jacinto. In 1886 ordered at his
OWL expense a survey OF the water
way. This was undertaken by En-
gineer Geo. Steady. His survey ex-
tended from Bolivar Roads to Har-
riSburg. and his report closed with
a recommendation that the head
Of navigation be located at Harris
burg, three miles below the present
turning basin.
DurMg these ears a considerable
traffic by light boats had developed
between Hou-.on and Galveston
and on October 8. 1866 the Hous-
ton Navigation Co. was incorpor-
ated, and was invested with auth
ority to improve the NAVIGATION
Of Buffalo Bayou" This company
from Jan. /, 1869 TO Sept. 80, 1881.
transported through Buffalo Bayou
1885. sos bales Of cotton and did
considerable pa enger and misceI-
laneous freight hauling between
Houston and Galveston.
The city made a contribution OF
5000, 900 To have the channel sur
veyed in 1867 and appointed a COM
mite Of six citizens to recommend
a plan for building a ship chan
mel"
Barges Active
An early history reports that
soon after this three-fourths Of
the freights and products of the
interior were borne upon waters
OF Buffalo Bayou, the freight be-
ing carried direct from the Gulf
OF Mexico. thus avoiding the char
ges and losses incident to handling
at Galveston. IL being estimated
that the resulting saving amounted
TO "a million dollars per annum."
But all this time only very shall
low draft boats and bargeS we're
operating and there was no ocean,
going traffic possible.
Jan. %. 1853 the Buffalo Bayou
Ship Channel Co" was organized
TO construct. own and maintain a
ship channel from any point at
or within the corporate limits or
Houston through Buffalo Bayou.
deepening. widening and straight
Continued on page i0)