Speech #500116541

Meade. of the United States Navy. from which time following extract is given: "When once over the bar the harbor of Galveston is commodious and well sheltered. The approach to time coast is easy and safe. and from an experience of eighteen months in command of a blockader in 1864 and 1865. I can say that it is. as to weather and approaches. one of the safests of coasts." On the 21st day of December. 1887. a State immigration convention was held at Dallas. Tex.. and was largely attended from all sections of the State. That convention adopted the following resolutions: "Whereas the great State of Texas. with its varied and extraordinary resources. developed and in process of development and still undeveloped. with an ocean border of over 500 miles. is without a seaport of sufficient magnitude to properly accommodate the maritime commerce necessary to the work of sufficiently developing the grand stretch of States and Territories whose natural water way tq the markets of the world is the Gulf of Mexico. and Whereas through this condition the agricultural and pastoral interests of the Slate have been retarded in a very large degree. and the matter of economic ocean transportation burdened at the expense of the producers of a section of country greater in extent than all the rest of the United States put together. and " Whereas time cottongrowers of Texashave borne their share of the burdens which lack of a proper seaport has inflicted upon the people of the State. yet. greatest of all inflictions. through this condition has fallen upon the cotton interests of the State. and in an eminent degree likewise upon the graingrowers of Texas. and "Whereas the efforts of the General G overnment. through the recommendations of time board of United States engineers. for many years past to give a deepwater seaport to Texas. have been defeated by the system of desultory action and scattering methods. resulting in wasto of means and failing in the accomplishment of amy substantial good: Therefore be it "Resolved.