BUFFALO BAYOU AND THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL 1820~1926
50
The Story of 'Buffalo 'Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel By R. M. Farrar President Cbamber of Commerce Former Member Port Commission · President Union National Bank President Farrar Lumber Company Director Houston Branch Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Director Missouri Pacific Lines Houston, Te xas
Compliments of Issued by Chamber of Commerce Houston, Texas
Introduction urrr.u"'r---~>+=rrNE day in December, 1913, the Hon. Ben Of the early history of Buffalo Bayou no citJZen is Campbell, then Mayor of Houston, now a better informed, in my opinion, than the Honorable member of the Port Commission, called me Ingham Stephen Roberts, a distinguished attorney and on th~ telephone and stated, in substance, a native 1-Joustonian. Mr. Roberts has for years been ~~~~ that the twenty-five-foot Ship Channel was accumulating a vast amount of interesting data relating nearing completion and that it was necessary to create a to the early history of Houston and its waterway, all of "Houston Harbor Board" to advise the City authorities which he generously placed at my disposal and much of how to proceed to establish our Port. · the historical matter in the story which follows came Thus began what developed into eleven years of serv from his valuable collection. ice on the two Port Boards. I was reappointed on the During the first few years of my official connection old City I I arbor Board by Mayors I lutcheson, Amer with Port affairs there were innumerable discouragements man, and Holcombe respecti ve ly, and in 1920, when the and disappointments. There were some among us who Navigation District Board took over the administration bad neither confidence, vision nor faith, and as illustra of the Port's affairs I was appointed by the I Jon. Chester tive of the native doubter, I recall that a prominent rail H. Bryan, then Com1~y Judge, as one of the two County road traffic representative seve ral years back at an In 111embers of the Port Comrnission. terstate Commerce Commission hearing testified that the In june, 1925, I resigned after h~tving served more than " Houston Ship Channel was a hu ge economic mistake" eleven years in a work that soon became or surpassing and. as illustrating the Galveston sentiment, I recall that interest and which, in due course, developed into far in a conference with a prominent and beloved citizen of greater economic importance to this community t.han I our sister city he was quite emphatic in referring to our had the rC'molest idea or at the incepticm of my servtcl'. wa1 crway as 1he 11 damndcst fake out of doors." J n the past few months it has seemed to n1e dcsirabll' Early· in 1915 1hl ! Ch:1mhcr of Commcrc • appointed a that an authentic story should be wriltcn of the I louston Committee consisting or Messrs. R. I I. Spencer, A. S. Ship Channel which has hcccJme an Industrial \Vatcrway Clcvclnnd, and Burke Baker lo gq to New Y<)rk and of Nntional importance. t!ndvavor io intt~n·st the Morgan, · Stean1ship Line in Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Cbannel, 1820-1926 establishing a modest service between New York and in the story, it is unmistakably shown that the "faith of Houston. In this they were unsuccessful but they did the fathers" was founded on fact and not on fancy. succeed in interesting the Southern Steamship Company In my several years of Port service I was officially in establishing what soon became a Philadelphia and associated with citizens whose character, courage and un Houston service in which is now employed eight modern selfish devotion to the public interest have been an in cargo vessels-and which fleet is to be further increased. spiration and a blessing to me, for which I am pro After we entered the World War it appeared for a foundly grateful and I hold them one and all in af while that the service would be discontinued by the Com fectionate esteem and regard. pany's vessels being withdrawn for trans-Atlantic serv The railroads are all important to Houston and I ice by direction of our Government. The officials of the want to record here that the constructive and sympa Company, assisted by ]. S. Cullinan and Thos. I l. Ball, thetic interest of Horace Booth, J. S. Pyeatt, W. R. pleaded our cause so earnestly and effectively that the Scott, john A. Hulen, F. G. Pettibone, C. N. Whitehead order was withdrawn and the service permitted to con and W. G. Choate, as representatives of the variou tinue. It was indeed an important and critical period for carriers, were of inestimable value to the Port Commis our new Port. sion in laying the foundation for, and in the organiza tion of, the existing neutral switching ervice along the The history of the pa t one hundred years is, to a con water front, and which I regard as being of tremendou siderable extent, a story of the development and progrc s loca 1 inclu trial importance and which I hope may never of transportation. The steam engine, the electric motor, be disturbed. the internal combustion engine, the telegraph, the tele In xamining the historical data which has been phone and the radio arc, of course, each and all instru made a vail able, I found peculiar interest in observing the mentalities of transportation of people, property and vn rio us characters, and the parts they play d, as the sound, and our in dust rial growth is largely the r •sui t of r spcctivcly appeared upon the stage: the progress and development in transportation. General idncy 'h 'rman, a hero of 'an Jacinto, who After reading thL~ hi tori ·al p~trt of the t()ry which unmistakably visioned lh future, and who at his own follow, 1he r·;tdcr, it seem to me, will undcrsumd beller expen ord red, in 184 >, a survey of the wat rwa . and reason for 1hc n:marl abl• spirit or couragl', 'on B. A. Shepherd, 1he founder of th · First National fidencc and co-op ·ration whkh h;ts ch:1ra ·tcrizPd this Bank ~ who was, at an c:1rl day, Pre idcnt of a ~ ompan community in all nwttvrs relating to the Ship Channel which operat(•d s 'V{'r Col. john T. Brady, who saw in the future ocean that our community "should not fail to go its full length vessels around or about Harrisburg, who planned a Belt in providing adequate Terminal facilities." Switching Railroad, and built the old Magnolia Park At a somewhat later period appears H. Baldwin Rice, line and Clinton Railroad long before there was any econ several times Mayor of Houston, who clearly read the omic reason for doing so. future and gave most liberally of his time and means. J. R. Morris, who owned the leading hardware store, Thos. I-1. Ball appears first in the latter nineties, a on the site of the present Levy Brothers Dry Goods Com Member of Congress, and his long and distin15uished pany, whose home was on Main street between the service to the waterway, in public and private life, has present Bender Hotel and Second National Bank Build been, and is yet, of great value. His faith was always ing, and whose name so frequently appears two genera an inspiration to me. tions since. R. S. Sterling, who has served continuously and con Major E. W. Cave, who for many years was Treas spicuously since 1910 on the Navigation District Board. urer of the old "Central" Railroad, and for more than l-Ie has given freely of his time and constructive ability a generation actively interested himself financially and for more than sixteen years. otherwise in waterway activities and did much to interest Commodore Morgan. Je se H. Jone , who served as Chairman of the first I I. R. Allen, a brother of A. C. and john K. Allen, I I arbor Board, and who e courage, foresight, and adminis the founders of I Iouston, who e name so frequently ap trative ability wa of important value. pears up to the early seventies. ]. S. Cullinan, who visioned the future and on numer C. L. Longcopc appears first in 1866, and thereafter ous occasions, in his characteristic way, in important for ten years hi name occurs frequently and prominently. places rendered service of real and lasting value. W. J. llutchins, V/. M. l~ic , T. M. Bagby and Alex. C. G. Pillot, J. T. Scott, and E. A. Peden have each Sessums, whose names appear collectively so oft ·n rendered di tinguishcd and important service. betwe 'n 1 50 and 1875. John r I. Kirby, who for many y 'ars has given liberally \Vm. D. Cl ·vcland Sr., T. W. I louse, Capt. Sinclair of his tim and m ·ans. Taliaferro, P. M. Johnston and Chas. I f. Milby, all of For many car th' proj 'Ct of th r ntra-Coastal Canal whom were especially active a gencrntion since in advo - now nearing r ':diz:11ion - has also had the gencrou cating the improv ·mcnt or the watcrw:ty. and unsw 'rving support of the bu in ss interests of I Ious Chas. S. !Hchc, an ('mincnt and distinguished UnitNI ton, ;md J. S. Cullinan, C. S. E. I lolland, and G. J. States Engineer. in charge for many Yl':trs of 1he im~ Palmer have given liberally of thl'ir time and means to prov m nt of thl' w;ttt Many other names could be quite appropriately re corded but I have only mentioned those whose services have especially impressed me because of the frequency, duration and importance of the parts they played. The newspapers, too, have played a particularly use ful part because, it is to be remembered, that with in the past sixteen years the taxpayers of Houston and Harris County have voted public funds to the amount of nearly eleven millions of dollars for the improvement of the waterway and rail and water terminal facilities, and it was through the newspapers only that public opinion could have been crystallized and harmonized to such an extraordinary extent. This, indeed, is, perhaps, unprecedented in American communities when it is re membered that the population of I Iarris County in 1910 was only 115,693, of whom 30,950 vvere negroes. The support given to the waterway in its initial stage by the Cotton Exporters has inclced been of inestimable value and in the construction of privately owned deep water cotton Terminals, Anderson, Clayton & Company was the pioneer closely followed by the Alex. Sprunt & Son interests. The oil Pcfinnics soon recogn izcd 1he import ancc of the watcrw:tv and tlwv, too. have ontrihukd in a mosl important <1J1d imprl'ssivc way to make tlw Ship Channel of National importance'. Novc·mher l Sth, J1)2(>. \ ' ltl'lf/11/lll(/ Hll.f/(1/tl ]4it'IJOII Ill /')111' /11 P!IJ/8 The Story of Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel r~~~;1UFFALO BAYOU heads on the prairie about Buffalo Bayou from its mouth to Harrisburg may be ot thirty miles west of Houston, in the extreme interest: northeastern corner of Fort Bend County, and "Its banks are high and lined with the Cypress knee which its course is slightly south of east a distance hoots up along the edge of the water. In passing over. this of some fifty miles to the San Jacinto River singular body of water, which is confined, with few exceptiOns, and thence into Galveston Bay. Its entire course lies to precipitous banks on either side, covered with massive timber, whose rich dense foliage throws a melancholy, sombre shade within the limits of Stephen F. Austin's first grant from over its dark and sluggish waters. Throughout its whole extent Mexico. Buffalo Bayou i an arm of the Gulf of Mexico it bears a strong resemblance to a canal." -it is recorded that at the foot of Main Street, in I Ious Capt. Chas. Crotty, now Assistant Port Director, who ton, there i a daily rise and fall of the ocean tide of less was for many years in the service of the United States than two inches, which increases eastwardly towards its Engineering Department, states: "In dredging in 1904 mouth. past the San Jacinto Battle Ground, the dredge brought At I louston, White Oak Bayou Oow into l3uiTalo up two buffalo h ad , several cannon balls, muskets, Bayou, and the latter i. further augmented by numerous sabre., etc. The buffalo heads were cleaned and shipped oth r "Bayou ", among which may be mentioned Brays', to an An lonio for the Alamo." In our Spanish Deed Sims', Vince's, and Gre n's as being the most important. J ccord thcr is one from John D. Taylor, dated April In its primitive stat' it was an Lmu ual tream. 11 Hth, I 2H, conveying his league of Ian I to Stephen F. han!< were high, its waters deep, ~nd it wa overhung Austin, in which Ta~lqr describes himseir as living at with the hr:tnches of large forest tree . All reports com "Punto l>i11o" (Piney Point) on "del Arroyo Cibolo, en ment upon its unusual and omhrc b{'auty. The following In gles BuO'alo Bayou." Apparently the name Bun·alo is d<' rip I ion, onwwlnt proph 'I ic, wri1t n in 18 37 , of dcri vcd rrom the Bison. 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Ship Channel, 1820-1926 The earliest definite mention of Buffalo Bayou in the vessel and warehouses at the old town of New Washing history of Texas appears to be on the occasion of "in ton on San ] acinto Bay-a short distance north of the the year 1820 Col. Knight and Walter C. White burned present residence of I-I on. I-I. B. Rice, a short distance off a cane brake and raised a crop of corn at a point on east of the present town of LaPorte-on the evening of Buffalo Bayou in what is now Harris County, Texas." April 20th they established camp at a point less than a Below the junction of Buffalo mile from Buffalo Bayou. Bayou and the S a n J a c i n t o Sam Houston's army crossed River, on the East bank, is the Buffalo Bayou on April 18th- town of Lynchburg, while oppo 19th, immediately east of Har site it, on the west bank, was the risburg, at the present site of the town of San Jacinto which was Texas Chemical Company plant. . destroyed in the storm of 1875. The Texas Army established its Lynchburg was established by camp on the morning of April Nathaniel Lynch in 1822. 20th, 1836, on the south bank of In 1837 at the mouth of the stream in a beautiful grove Green's Bayou was plotted a of live oaks. The battle was townsite, "Pokersville", but the fought nearby on the afternoon name probably killed it. At the of April 21st, 1836. The San J a cinto State Park commemorates mouth of Vince's Bayou there this important event. was plotted another town, "Buff alo," but it, too, failed to survive. A Doctor Phelps, his wife, two children, and his mother-in-law, I Iarrisburg, some seven miles C'i/Jtl/(tll f~1Hl OtJ(T(l llow~ c. / 871i Mrs. Wilkin, arc aid to have east of I lou ton, was founded in lived in 1822 in what is now 1826 by Jno. P. I Iarris, and from I Touston. I lou ton wa estab that time on, ocean going vc sci· regularly plied the Jislwd in 1837 hy A. . and John K. Allen and lh 'rC'aftcr water · of Buffalo Bayou. Th' little town was destroyed lighl draft craft and barges regularly navigat •d the by the M ·xic·m Army :-;hortly before daylight on April stream as far as lloustnn, and regular steamboat service 16th, 18 ·36, and was soon rebuilt. In 1858 its population was cstnhlishcd in 18 7 to and from the town of Gal was grc:tler than I Iouston's. veston and other points on Galveston Bay. The first The Mexic~m fon:cs on April 201 h, 183 >. also burned a Stc;tmhoal to :trrivt• :1t I Jouston wns 1hc ((Laura"- 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Channel, 1820-1926 January 22nd, 1837, which came from Columbia, on the Galveston Bay and Harbor a sufficient number of steam Brazos River. ers and barges to meet the demands of Commerce," and Originally what is now known as "Morgan's Point" that it should "be subject in transportation of freight to was Clopper's Point. Col. James Morgan, a prominent the laws applicable to common carriers." The company, early Texan acquired this some time prior to the Battle from January 1st, 1869, to September 30th, 1881, trans- of San Jacinto, and it was better ported through Buffalo Bayou known, after his residence near 1,985,806 bales of cotton. Its in there, as (t Morgan's Point." A corporators in 1866 were C. L. "Mr. Ryder, an Engineer, is said Longcope, P. ]. Willis, ]. H. Ster to have lived alone on the extreme rett, William M. Rice, T. M. end of Morgan's Point in 1822." Bagby, J. R. Morris, S. L. In the year 1846 Engineer Hohenthal, E. H. Schmidt, H. L. Ceo. Stealey made an examina Allen, A. Sessums and L. J. tion and survey of the waterway Latham. Its old wharf on the from Bolivar Roads to I farris north side of the Bayou, and burg and his report to General immediately east of San Jacinto Sidney Sherman closes with the Street, was probably erected in recommendation that the head the early '70's. Capt. William of navigation for steam ocean Christian, still living, served as a going vessel be located at I Iarris Director in the early seventies. burg. This original report is in The City backed the enterprise the possession of the descendants it is said, with a contribution of of Gen. Sherman, among whom Jlfatn, trcct. 1871i $200,000.00, and had the Channel is a grandson, the I Ion. larence surveyed by l Iugh Rice. On Kendall, now Assi stant U. S. April 4th, 1867, a committee was District Attorney. appointed to draw up a memorial asking that I IOListon be On October 9th, 1866, the l Iouston Direct Navigation made a port or delivery, which was granted July 14th, Company was incorporated and was invested with 1870. The Cil Council also appointed, on April 18th, 1867, authority to improve the navigalion of Buffalo Ba you, a commit1ce of six citi;t,cns to recommend a plan for the and by the terms of its charter was obligated to "building of a ship channel." Th · nam' of the citizens "within six months have on the waters of Buffalo Bayou, were: Jos. R. Morris, Wm. A. Van Alstyne, T. E. Cowen/ 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Channel, 1820-1926 Peter W. Gray,jas. T. D. Wilson, and E. W. Cave. The traf Peter Gable, R. 0. Love, W. M. Rice, A. Groesbeck, ] . fic of the Houston Direct Navigation Company had grown R. Morris, H. R. Allen, E. W. Cave, H. E. Perkins, ]. to such an extent that "three-fourths of the freights and C. Tracy, and T. H. Scanlan. products of the interior were borne upon the waters of The first steamboat service between Houston and Gal Buffalo Bayou," and freight was carried direct to and veston was established in 1837, and on another page from the Gulf of Mexico on appears a fac simile of the ad barges, avoiding the charges and vertisement of Houston's first losses incident to handling at steamboat line, as the same ap Galveston, and it was estimated peared in the "Telegraph," pub that the saving amounted to "a lished at Columbia, Texas. From million dollars per annum." then on steamboat service was On january 23rd, 1869, the maintained. The old "Diana" "Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel was one of the most elaborate Company" was organized, the boats of those days. According purpose of its charter being "to to the local papers, in April, construct, own and maintain a 1839, there were five steamboats Ship Channel from any point at plying between Houston and or within the corporate limits of Galveston. In May, 1840, the the City of Houston through owners agreed upon a scale of Buffalo Bayou, deepen in g, freight and passenger rates be straightening and widening the tween Houston and Galveston: same, and through the waters, ''Cabin passage $5.00; Deck connecting the Bayou with the $2.50; Freight 50c per barrel. Gulf at Bolivar Channel." This Foo't of Main Street. 1876 Passenger rates include supper, was authorized at the Constitu- lodging, and breakfast." tional Convention in 1869, and the company was formal In 1866 the following steamboats appca r to have been ly incorporated by the Legislature on july 28th, 1870. in daily service: "T. M. Bagby," "Silver Cloud," "St. This company undertook to "straighten out the Bayou Clair," "Shreveport," "Rob Roy," and "Arizona." Many to Morgan's Point." The Directors were: A. S. Richard other steamboats operated between Galveston and Hous son, W. J. II utchins, T. 1-L Mundine, J no. Shearn, T. ton at other periods, and some were quite palatial. W. 1 louse, S. I Jarpcr, Eugene Pillot, J. W. McDonald. The usual time between Galveston and Houston was, 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Ship Channel, 1820-1926 by rail three hours, and by steamboat seven hours. One of the foremost agencies in promoting commerce "A landing place" at the foot of Main Street was pro then and now, the "Board of Trade and Cotton Ex vided in 1837, and a wharf along the water front from change," was organized in 1874, and its first officers and Main Street to Fannin Street was constructed in 1840. directors were: C. S. Longcope, President; '0/.]. Hutchins, In the early forties the largest warehouse facility was Vice-President; B. A. Shepherd, Vice-President; Geo. W. on the North side of Commerce Kidd, Secretary; B. A. Botts, T. Avenue, between Fannin and San 1acinto Streets. W. House, Ed Milby, Wm. D. Cleveland, A.]. Burke, H. S. Fox, A City Ordinance, dated 1une 8th, 1841, established "The Port I I. D. Taylor, S. K. Mcilhenny, of Houston." The Congress of Fred A. Rice, and Wm. Brady. Texas, 1anuary 29th, 1842, gave The cotton exported from Houston the "right to remove Houston prior to the war be ob tructions from the Bayou and tween the States was in otherwise improve navigation." 1854 39,923 Bales August 15th, 1849, the people 1855 44,050 as cmblcd at the wharf to greet 1856 47,008 the teamboat "Ogden," apt. 1857 46,220 f Iavilanct which wa the first 1858 63,453 team packet to make a voyage 1859 96,726 direct from N w rlcans to 1860 1 l 5, 0 I0 I louston. 1861 70, 54 Th tat of Texas on r:'ebru- The I fou ston hambcr of ary 7th, 185 , appropriat d fltramuoat "Diane~." J!'oot of llfain Str ct. 187G ommcrce was organized April $4,000.00 for the improv ·mc:nt of 4th, 18·10, at arlos' "City "X hufTalo Ba ou. n April 7th, 1857, . Bradbury wa change," and its fir t President wa · 1:. . Perkins. giv·n a ontra ·t f r improving n:tvigation ver Clopp r's l"rom a n ·wspapcr publi~h ·d in April, 1857, al olum Point (Morgan' oint) fot llw Stlllt ol' $22.72?.00. bia, Texas: A joint resoluti n r th rcxas LC'gislalurv, Ma 24111 , 1870, requc stclth· h·dcral C.ovNnmtnt to improv(' 1hc 'Tile hislnr ol San Felipe, V ·Ia sco, Sa n l.uis and Columbia (a ll 011 til· shows that siluation is no guarante• ol Ch:tnnds al (,;tl eslon and othn ·o:tst ports l~iii i.Os l~i vn) fill Ill'(' gH';IIIIl':-" I lw y w ·n· all w(·ll :-itiJatl'd- llwir owners lacked 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Channel, 1820-1926 enterprise. Compare Columbia to Houston! The one situated at the head of tide water on the largest river in the state, the center The foregoing is not without application to us here of the richest planting section of the world-Houston on a shallow past, present and future. Bayou, naturally incapable of navigation to any extent, sur rounded by post oak, pine barrens and boggy prairies-one has all The following quotation from "Texas Siftings", a pub the advantages of situation, the other of an energetic people." lication of the early eighties, reads as if written yesterday: The I Ioustonians are deserving of been With colonel Charter. You I hope will approve if I can effect anything. The It was evidently up hill work convincing the capitalists subscribing by the New Houston City Company (which owned extensive Bayou frontage), or rather by the stockholders of of the merits of the enterprise, for on October 12, 1867 $100,000.00 or the stock of that company for a like amount of Wm. Brady wrote to John T. Brady as follows: stock in the Transportation Company I believe something of this Dear Brother: Washington, D. C. Oct. 12th, lt>67. kind can be affected. After I sound round and find anything Should you find it necessary to use our firm paper in effecting can be done, I will send for Wm B. the purchase of iron and rolling stock (Brady). There is nobody here except for the Texas Transportation Com House (T. W.) and Morris (]. R.) pany, I recommend that you do so worth a damn and the latter is too as it is of great importance, both to narrow minded to do anything. I tell our firm and individual interest, that you this city is sorely in need of men. this road should be completed at the There is no doubt but that she is earliest day possible. You are, there dwindling into a one horse concern. fore, authorized to execute in behalf Write to me as you progress. l of our firm promissory notes to the hope you will excuse any remisness amt. required or endorse the bonds on my part as I only write when l of the company to the amt. sufficient have something to say of a business to effect the purchase as above stated, character. You know everyone hat> the notes to be made payable at such left. N. P. (Turner) and E. P. time as in your judgment we can (II amblen) arc both absent. My conveniently meet them. family have gone and I am certainly !loping that you may soon meet on the town. My best regards to Mrs. with success in making the negotia Brady. I hope you have been pleased tions for our company, I remain, since your departure. Very affectionately, Yellow fever not bad hut spreading Your brother, gradually. You talk or n:construction. WM. BRADY. 110118/1)1/ ])i1'C'I' ( ol'if!Oiion 11 ' ilct?'lJ f',q , /~7(; We will not sec it in five years. The To John T. Brady, Radicals of t hl' State will plit certain ew Yorl<. on tlw 1wgro question. llamilton (Covernor A . .J.) will return to Among Brady's paper is a Jong written argument the State and will carry a majnrity of nt'grocs with convention. I have bet•n told by Simon pure Rads ( l{;Hlicals) that if this is pr sent ing the advantages of making Clinton the shipping the c:1sc tlwy will defeat admission in Congress. It will be tht' point and to dcliVl'f freight from there to the city by case. Nvgroes loV(' office and ]~lck (Cov. I lamilton) knows it rail, som • of which is quite prophetic. and IJ(• will plil.V on 1ha1 string. Yours truly, Col. Brady met wilh some success in raising money w. P. IIAMBLEN . and in an effort to interest home people in the project, 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Channel, 1820-1926 we find the following ad m the Houston Telegraph of Reconstruction. The early advocates and promoters of the October 15, 1867: OFFICE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CO., waterway apparently visioned quite accurately the future, I Iouston, Texas. Oct. I 5, 1S67. but always greatly underestimated the cost in dollars. The Transportation Company solicit subscriptions for Five "During the last hundred and fifty years, the rate of Hundred shares of their Capital Stock, ($50,000), for the purpose progress in man's command over nature has been of opening a Channel on R e d Fish and Clopper's Bars. First in- ten times as fast as in the stallment of ten per cent to be paid period between C a e s a r and on 15th November next. Full par- Napoleon, a hundred times as ticulars given at the office of the fast as in the slow prehistoric Company, Pillot Building, upstairs. Installments to be paid to A. ]. Burke, ages. Tens of thousands of years at his office, N. E. Corner Franklin divided man's first use of fire and Main Streets. from his first application of it to w. P. llAMBLEN, iron. The art of writing preceded Sec. Transportation Co. the printing press by tens of cen The "Clinton Railroad" was turies. In those days, each great completed in 1868 but the steam invention was granted a lease of ships did not come. The di ap many ages in which to foster its pointment and discourag ·mcnts own characteristic civilization of the ensuing years may be before it was submerged by the better imagined than described. next. In our day, in each gener The main obstacles w r c ation a new economic life half Clopper's Bar, Red r:·ish Reef, obliterates a pre icccs or little poverty, a small community, and olcl'r than itself." l!lt?'III'N 1/ouNr, J'rcN•·nt J.'i<'l' Jlold Site. Jll71i Tf,erl' cllltrs upon t!Je slaf.!.e in 1875, a dvmina11l and i111portant cbaracta, /o !be activilit•s of w/;om a separate cbapler may /;e apf>ropriaLI'ly d1't'O/ed, ami wbicb is written by 011e ('eculiarly qualified. Commodore Charles Morgan Father of th e Houston Ship Channel By Hon. Ingham Stephen Roberts Fellow Texas llistorical Society OMMODORE CHARLES MORGAN, founder later to Bra(OS SL. faco. In 1849 Captain Jerry Smith of the Morgan Steamship Line, was a Texas took from Matagorda Bay the first cargo of cattle ever pioneer and the State's best friend in its shipped from Texas. early industrial development through his un In 1857 Commodore Vanderbilt opened a new steam tiring efforts to give Texas her first regular ship route from Morgan City, Louisiana via Berwick Bay, line of Steamships. As early as 1835, while Texas was which was soon acquired by Morgan, and in 1867 Morgan still a part of Mexico, he sent one of his ship , the dredged a channel at Red Fish Reef in Galveston Bay ''Columbia" to Galveston. lie also owned a controlling and across other bars to enable his hips to navigate interest in the "New York" and the " eptune", which Duffalo Bayou a far as Clinton. In the winter of 1874- operated betw en New Orleans and Galv stem in 1841- 1875 the Canal across Morgan' Point was begun-(the 1845. cos t of Morgan's canal was $92,316.85, for which amount In 1847 Morgan and his partner, I larris. obtained Morgan's Estate was reimbursed May 4th, 1892 by th e control of the carrying trade between Texas and New Unikd States (;overnment) - and during the storm of Orlcans hy the purchase of the Stl'amships "Pal me1to", September, 187~, the watl!r broke through the unfinished Capt. Smith, and the ,,Galveston", Capt. Crain. l n 1848 c:1nal so t h~t t small boats thereafter came through, and these steamers Wl~re sent to .Mat:1gorda Ha ' nnd a littl' on Sl!ptemlwr 22nd, 1876, the canal having been com- 136 TllE TRA YEUms> GUIDE. l18i8 ~ ------( ~ ~ ORGAN LINE ! OF STEAl'\t:SHIPS, ~ Between New-Orleans, Galveston, Houston, Indianola, ~, - Rockport, Corpus Christi, and Brazos San- ~ tiago 7 Texas, via Morgan City and ~ Morgan's Lo.. uisiana and ~ Texas Railroad. } ~ Carrying IJasseugers, connecting in New-Orleans with all ~routes ~orth and West. Tickets for New-Vork, ·Pbiladelphill, _~ Baltimore, St. wnls, Chicago, and all points North and \\'est. ~CARRYING MAll, PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT. 1 tonio, F-,;it;,~- S~~-~;;.~ v~d~:it~h:·;;:v:u p:7:t:"· ( ~ FROJM:: lNEw-OHun~ r~n &ALVE~Tot nn Hmrot. i - Passengers take the R&ilroad Ferry-boat, foot of St. Ann ? Street, at 7J9 A.M., reaching MORGAN CITY at, 11.%' A.M., (there connecting with STEAMERS for GALVESTON AND { HOUSTON DIRECT. ) TICKETS AND STATE-ROOMS secured until 5 P.M., daily ( (Sundays excepted), at AGENTS' OFFICE; or at the FERRY < LA:r.t-niNG. on the morning of departure. ~ THROUGH TICKETS will be issued from main office, COR. ) MAGAZINE and NATCHEZ STREETS, N. 0., to points in the ~ Interior of Texas. ? i CHAS. FOWLER, Agent, HENRY SHEPPARD, Agent, < CE!\TRAL WHARF, G.\.LYESTON. ( INDIANOLA. \~ M. J. GOMilA, Agent, Brazos Santiago. ~ C. A. WHI'l'NEY & CO., .Agents, 1COR. MAGAZINE AND NATCHEZ ~TS., -NEW..ORLEA.:!J• .-!dvc1·tiscment of Jiorgan Steamship Line P rintecl in 1878 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Ship Channel, 1820-1926 pleted, the first ocean steamship, the "Clinton", to navi for their new Railroad running from Houston to Clinton, Texas, gate Buffalo Bayou, now the Houston Ship Channel, eight and one-half miles in length. At Clinton all future freight and passengers will be transferred for all interior points in Texas docked at Clinton. The following account of this im instead of Galveston as formerly. portant event is taken from the Houston "Daily Tele Her Wharf Monopoly has thus killed the goose that laid graph" (Sept. 23rd, 1876): the golden egg. Moral: Other close fisted monopolies should Sixty carload of Freight! An ocean steamer comes through take warning and avoid her errors. the Ship Channel loaded down with freight! Chas. Morgan was born in Connecticut April 21st, Galveston's cuttle fi h - It' Wharf Company flanked and checkmated! 1795, and died in New York City May 8th, 1878, and it The Steamship "Clinton", Captain Talbot, from Morgan City, is appropriate to note that the Morgan Steamship Lines Louisiana, with sixty carload of ew York freight for I louston in the year 1926, at the old ite known as "Clinton", on and various point on the Central, International and San An the I Iouston Ship Channel, completed their modern fire tonio Railroads, arrived at linton yesterday morning. The freight was di charged yesterday, and loaded in cars for the points of destination. This ves el brought the T xas freight of the New York ~teamer "Aigier~"- although bu in' via the hip hanncl has not been announced as regularly op •ned the facilities at command at Clinton hav nab! d thi large amount of fr ight to be handled rapidly. In a few days W' I arn that both freight and pass nger business will be commenced. The " linton" brought the true! s for th pas eng r ars now enroute to llouston via I ,ittle l~ock. ixte n carloads of cotton from points on till' C>ntral ro:tcl w nt down to linton y•st 'r day morning. The I louston Depot is not y ·t ·omplet d, hut we IL·arn that NL'W York freight will b deliv ·r d th ·rc this morn ing. 'J his is a pract ic;d result h ·yond quibble and doubt of the success of tlw Ship hanncl, and prove it reality to th und ·r standing of all. 'I h • tnL·r -hnnls who rcL iv• this freight g•t it free of the t'\lortion. of G;!lveston lwtc noir, it hide us Wharf Monopol 1\lr. John II. I~L'.tgt~n's •special pet. The N<:w Orlc:tns "Times" St·pt. 21st, 1H7(>) had th l'ollowing lo say Lnnr 'J ning tlw 'I xa Transportation Compan ' R I ouis & Chilago f•niiJO;td lwo piis ('Jtg(•J <111d O!ll' haggag(· t\tr Mnl (IIIII .~It 11111.~ /li/1 / , fill' 'l'tl'illllllt/s . /!1 'li 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Cbannel, 1820-1926 proof wharves and docks - at a cost of more than HE steamship service established by Commodore $1,000,000.00, exclusive of the value of the land, thus T Morgan appeared to be "and the dream came true", commemorating forty-eight years after the death of its but for a few years only. founder his prophetic vision. The transportation system he had dominated, after his On another page is a fac simile copy of an interesting death soon passed into other hands which, in the nineties, advertisement of the Morgan Line published in Texas papers acquired the "Galveston, LaPorte in 1878. and Houston Railroad", and the The Steamship "A 1 g i e r s" National Government dredged a above mentioned, by an interest deeper channel across the Galves ing coincidence, was one of the ton Bar, thus bringing deeper fleet of vessels which in the year water to the port of Galveston 1915 wa placed in ervice b - where the Morgan Steamship tween Philadelphia and I lou ton terminals were established, and by the outhern Steam hip Com the old Clinton terminal, so far pany, which inaugurated the as ocean going ves els were con concerned, was abandoned. first regular team hip ervice through th I I o u ton hip With these occurrences the Channel, in which service it now trugale for a deeper channel wa ha a fleet or eiaht mod rn cargo renewed, and with what success earners. will be een. There were, how Up lo Septemb r 19th, IR90, cv r, to be many years of dis e v ' r y vessel passing through c uragements and di appoint m 'nt , with powerful oppo ition Morgan' · "Cut" paid toll, and ;1 lfouston ancl Tex as Ccntnd Railroad Yat·cls. 1896 heavy ·hain was sl rei lwei a ross in ome quarter along with an apath tic tupidity in others, th· ·anall to insur· that th toll was paid. where there should hav h en fri ·ndly co-op ration. I NCdiAM 'Jl: Pili: N ROBI: I Congress "authorized the improvement of Red Fish Bar foot channel from Bolivar Roads to the Turning Basin, in Galveston Bay, Texas", and a channel from fourteen to the taxpayers of Harris County would pay one-half of eighteen feet deep across that reef was completed in 1872. the construction cost, and would also provide adequate The project for a channel twenty-five feet deep from publicly owned water terminal facilities. the foot of Main Street in Houston to Bolivar Roads in This novel proposition was promptly accepted by the Galveston Bay was approved by Rivers and Harbors Committee Congress March 3rd, 1899, and of the House and the Commerce amended February 20th, 1900. Committee of the Senate, and in Under this project a channel fulfillment thereof the Legisla was dredged from Bolivar Road ture of Texas enacted necessary to Harrisburg eighteen and one Navigation Di trict laws. half feet deep, with cuts through On June 25th, 1910 Congress Irish, Clinton and Harrisburg made an appropriation to com Bends. plete a twenty-five foot channel, On March 3rd, 1905, Congres at an estimated cost of further modified the project by $2,500,000.00, "local interests to locating the terminus or the head pay one-half thereof", the con at "Long Reach", the present tract for which was let June 1Oth, Turning Basin, w hi c h was 1912. This contract was com dredged to eighteen and one-half pleted September 7th, 1914, at a feet depth in 1906-7. cost of $2,412,595.66, precisely Appropriations were thereafter one-half or which ($1,206,297.83) made by Congress in dribblets for was paid by the I Iarris County the twenty-five foot projcct. Our Ship Channel Navigation Dis- public spirited citizen · Wl'r trict, which, in addition, also aroused to the consequence of an in lcfinite delay, and contributed $200,000.00 towards the · construction cost of r 'alizcd that some t:xt raordinary rea on should be pre two Pipe I .in' Drtdg 'S for m:tintcnance work. SL:nt.cd if 1he proj ·ct was comp lctPd in a reasonabl 1ime. It is ;1ppropria1c to note here 1hal the proposition above Through a delegation of citizens sen t to W:1 hington, mvnt inned w:1s the commcncenwnt or a National policy, I Iarris Count proposed that il' 1h · Nation:tl (~o vcrn and sin c t lwn no new importtmt project ha s be n any ment wonld lvt a continuing contract !'or tlw twent -five will'!\~ :Hioptvd wit bout assurances of loc:d co-opcra1 ion 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Ship Channel, 1820- 1926 menced in May, 1920, and was completed in September, 1925. The total cost of the Ship Channel, construction and maintenance, to June 30th, 1926, was $ 12,029,250.00, of which Harris County contributed $2,77 1,297.83. The City of Houston and Harris County have jointly con tributed also, $7,700,000.00 for the construction of pub licly owned water and rail Terminal facilities whi ch pro vide at publicly owned docks, berthing facilities for sixteen vessels at one time. The voters of Harris County have just ap proved another Bond issue authorizing the P1·aiTie Ave1we a.ul ,<{an Jacinto StT et. 1896 expenditure of $ 1,5 00,000.00 to con- and pro vi ion, approved by 1nited tate · ngineers, truct additional dock insuring aaainst private monopolization of harbor and an d other terminal waterways constructed under the direction of the National facilitie , extension of Government. the grain elevator fa The llarri · County Navigation District wa created by cilitie , and further ex the voters of I Iarris County, Texa, on January lOth, ten ion f the Public 1910, and th' fir t Commis ioncrs w re : Belt Rail road. Privately owned Chas. Dillingham. R. t rling. . J . Pillot. docks and indu tri The vot ·r on June lsi, 1911 , authorized th e fir t Bond r •pre cnt at thi date, for of issue of $ 1 ~2SO, OOO 00 the purpose mee ting on '-half an additional inve t 0 r the ;1 hove COn true[ ion '0 !. m n t 0 r $ 12 5I 00010001 On March 2nd , 1910, ( ongre s authorized th ' ·onstruc whi h includ ' pri tion of llw thirt -fool Channvl, llw work on whi ·h om - C' o11 {JI'r's s :11JC' I11tl' Looki?l tt 7'mo(( nl vately ownl.'d dock~, Mni11 H/1'1'f'/. I X!I.I 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Sbip Cbannel, 1820-1926 \Vith a berthing space for an additional thirty-two vessels, December 19th, 1913, and the following citizens were so that at present forty-eight vessels may be docked at members: one time. Jesse H. Jones R. M. Farrar C. G. Pillot During the year ending June 30th, 1926, 1240 ocean ]. T. Scott Thos. H. Ball vessels navigated the Houston Ship Channel and the J. F. Coleman, Consulting Engineer. value of their cargoes was Wharf No. I was completed in $457,823,882.00, exclusive of August, 1915, and the first cargo local traffic. During the same from Philadelphia a r r i v e d year the Port Terminal Rail August 16th, 1915. road Association, which operates In May, 1922, the City Harbor the Public Belt Railroad, which Board was absorbed by the Navi serves a portion of the water gation District Board (the Port front, handled 84,967loaded cars, Commission), and the member which doe not include the rail ship of the latter at that time movement to and from that por was: tion of the water front which i. E. A. Peden R. S. Sterling served jointly and exclu ively by R. J. ummins .D. S. Cage the South ·rn Paci fie and Mis R. M. Farrar souri Pacific Line . Thos. I I. Ball, Counsel The pictur of the water front ]. I·. Coleman, Consulting En aclivitie, appearing on other gineer page will, perhaps, give 1h B. C. Allin, Port Director reader a m or ·omprehensivc Cha . Crotty, Assistant Port Di idea of the vol umc of bu, ines rector being tran act 'd along th wat r- The distance, by the thread of way 1han the figure quot d, an I, in th i conn tion, it the waterway, fr m the Turning Basin to Bolivar Road is to be rememlwrcd I ha1 prior I 1h terminal ion of 1he -th' hann I into th JLilf of M ·xic - i fifty mile , \V orld \N' a r, Novem b T Ill h, 1c l . 1hen· wa com pat a an l the di hn 'from th Turning I asin to an .Jacinto t iv ~ly li111' b11sin >. s being 1ran:sac1ed al ng the wntcrwny. H iv ·r i:-; , ixte ·n miles, all o[ whi ·h is a land lock 'd harbor Tht' first Ilarhor Board was :tppoint I by 1h~ Mayor ' arc an l s' lin..' from lorm and rioocls. in D'cemb'r, 191 . :111d its firs! mcl'ling wa held on Th I ort aulhoritic I with th' ~lpproval or the United 'Buffalo 'Bayou and Houston Ship Channel, 1820-1926 States Engineers, have established from the Turning Basin Grain Elevator with a capacity of one million bushels. to Green's Bayou, a distance of nine miles, Harbor lines This facility was completed recently and represents the at a Channel width of four hundred feet, within which no latest in engineering skill. It was designed by the John S. improvement may be constructed. Eastwardly from Metcalf Company of Chicago. This is the first season of Green's Bayou the Harbor lines are established at five operation and from July 1st, 1926 to November 15th, hundred feet. Therefore, as the 1926, the grain exported amounts frontage is improved on both to 2, I 06,328 bushels. sides the Channel is increased to For the protection of the water the widths mentioned. front the modern fire boat "Port An important transportation Houston" was recently placed in facility, publicly owned, and to service and it, too, is the latest which reference has already been in water fire fighting machines. made, is the Public Belt Railroad It is of the Desel Engine - which erves the water front, and Iectric Drive type, and was cost $860,000.00. 1t is operated de igned by Messrs. Cox and by the Port Terminal Railroad teven , New York. It cost A sociation, compo eel of a repre $308, 134.22. sentative of each trunk line The Channel at night i lighted carrier ent ring I Iouston, and a from Bolivar Roa I to Lynch member of the Port ommi sion burg, a di lance of thirty-four who is the Chairman of th Ter mile , thus in uring night navi minal Rail r ad As ociation. gation betw en tho e point . It Through the Public Belt Rail will not b I ng until it is lighted road ev ry trunk line arri r n w I'ort lfo1t8ton Fii'C Jlfwt h ·tween Lynchburg and the or h reaft r ·nt•ring llouston i Turning Ba in - a di tance of assured of r ·aching wat ·r front industri' an l fa ilit ies ·ixtc n miles- an I 1h' ntire fifty mile. may then be on equal term and ondit ions with every other carri ·r. safe I navigated h night a w ·II a by clay-and an Thi arrang m nt i quite unusual and of fnr r 'aching important ~tving will th •r by ac ru' 1 v s el -. imp rtanc· to industri ·snow loc;llcd an I which may h •te• Th' Port aut hori1 i' ar • al o urging up n the nit d a ftcr locatt• on or These two Industrial Highways will be of general Houston hip Channel in words and figures which, with economic importance, as well as of great convenience to the accompanying old and new pictures, is a story of existing and future Industries. The cost of these two surpassing interest to those who are interested in indus Highways will be more than $3,500,000.00, including the trial development and growth. It is impossible to tell the 69th St. Bridge, now nearing completion, by which they tory o that an accurate and adequate portrayal may be will be connected as one Belt made on paper. I hope that I 1-1 ighway. have done so with some degree From the foot of Main Street, of accuracy and comprehensive in the center of the City, to the ness. Turning Basin, by the thread of What has a 1 ready been the Waterway, is six and one achieved is largely due to the half miles-air line is four mile assi tance of the National Gov -and this is known a the Upper ernment, coupled w i t h the Channel, suitable for barges and courage, confidence, and co-op other light draft craft. eration of the Community. The On the Upper Channel are a Waterway and the publicly number of large and important owned rail and water terminal cotton compresses and ware facilities arc dedicated to the hou e , which barge their cotton service of commerce, without down to ocean steamers at and which there would be no United below the Turning Basi n. State of America. Congress has recently author Transportation authorities ized the improvement of the have told us that no man can Upper Chann ·I, and the us Rir(' Jlolt•l . 'l'r . l'll .~ , I 1'1' )1111 ' 1111t1 Moi11 S/r('l'/ , /fl:lti foretell the future industrial de- ther of by light draft era ft will velopment along this land locked v ry mat rially increase as a result of the improvement. and saf · and secure wat ·rway, and it is not inappropriate A large amount of tonnage already pa . c ov ·r it-during to close this story with tlw prophecy that the industrial the year ending December 31st, ]<)25 , a tntal of 282.53) development thereof will be only limited by the growth tons was m vcd over the Upper Channel. The value of of Texas, by the character, extent and usefulness of the that tonnage was $10,4J .. L832.00. se rvice render d to commerce, by the extent of the co Thus has been told the story of Buffalo Bavou and tlw npcralion :mel . upport of th people of I larris County, Buffalo ·Bayou and Housto11 Ship Channel, 1820-1926 and by the ability and character of the administration history, and I venture the observation that the faith in of the Port's affairs. the Ship Channel for all the years may, in fact, have de The dividends to date have been large-they will be veloped in the citizenship of today the existing worth larger in the future only if we, as a community, properly while sense of responsibility to the community-"public understand the importance of making our waterway of spiritedness" - which has for three generations been adequate and useful service. characteristic of the community It is apparent, after reading and which, it is to be hoped, will the story, that from 1837 to continue. . 1926, a period of eighty-nine We have doubtless had what, years, the hope and struggle of at times, appeared to be our full this community have constantly share of citizen who have be been for the improvement of it lieved that the community exists waterway. It has worked inces for the citizen, rather than the santly to that end. It has neither reverse. faltered nor waivered at any I Iowever, the e thought are time or place in the long journey. rather for another story at an It seems to me that thi com other time by another writer. munity faith, which ha o un falteringly sustained the hope The author will appreciate ad and vision of the fathers, may ditional data and information re have produced an unpreccdcnt lating to the early history of edly forward looking and encr Buffalo Bayou, and he bopes g tic citizenship. I have often that t!Je circulation of this story been told, by tho e who ought to Main Street. 19 2G may bring to him enough such know, that there arc in !lou- data and information to warrm1f, ton more interc 'ting and out landing ·hara ·tcr·, more at a subs 'que1LI date, a revision of tbe story. m 'n of courage and det rmination, and mor an l b t ter community o-operation than in an oth 'r ommunity Tbe a11tbor is il/(lel>led lo lion /ugbam . PolJerls in the outh. and T. F. Ravell for Lbe pictures of early !I ousLo11 in Thi ma he -;o - 1 do not know- hut it woulu 1 e in tluded i11 !hi~ 1 'Orh . terc ting to tra l' in :1 hi"toriral . tor_\ that ph, l' of ( Ul 'l'h l:.ncl . Privately Owned Terminal and Industrial Facilities on Ship Channel Below Turning Basin American Maid Flour Mills. W. D. Haden Ship Yard. Manchester Terminal & Compress Co. American Petroleum Co. Harrisburg Lumber Co. Morgan Steamship Line Terminal. Armour Fertilizer Works. Harrisburg Machine & Foundry Co. Pay-Tex Oil & Refining Co. Carnegie Steel Company. Horton & Horton Ship Yard. Peden Iron & Steel Co. Channel Fuel Co. !lorton & Horton Shell Plant. Rio B-ravo Oil Co. Clarion Oil Co. llouston Compress Company. Ship Channel Compre s Company. Clinton Compress Co. I Iouston Lighting & Power Co. Sinclair Refining Co. Clinton Ship Yards. l Iouston Oil Terminal Company. Southern Steamship Line Terminal. Crown Oil & Refining Co. I Iouston Poultry Feed & Fertilizer Company. Sun Oil Co. Deepwater Oil Refineries. llouston Terminal Refining Co. Tex-Chemical Company. B. H. Elliott Ship Building Co. I Jumble Oil & Refining Company. Tex-Cuban Molasses Co. Galena Signal Oil Co. Keen & Woolf Refining Co. Texas Portland Cement Co. Gulf Pipe Line Co. La Porte Oil & Refining Co. The Texas Company. Gulf Refining Co. Magnolia Compress & Warehou e Co. Turning Basin Compress Co. W. D. !laden Shell Plant . Magnolia Petroleum Co. .Above Turnz'ng Basin American Chemical Company. llouston Gas & Fuel Co. Prichard Rice Mill. Bayou City Compress. I Jouston Lighting & Power Co. Ship Channel Boat Line. Central Lumber Co. I Jouston Packing Co. Shippers Compress Co. Crystal Ice Factory. I louston Terminal & Cold Storage Warehouse o. Standard Cotton Compre s. Direct avigation Company. I Jou ston & Texas Central Warehouse. The Texas Company. G. C. Griffin and & Shell Co. I rvins Ice Plant. Trinity Portland C ment Co. I Jenry !Ienke Icc & Refrigerating o. W. L. Jones. Wolf Cotton Warehouse Co. I lorton & !lorton. Merchants & Plantt'fs Oil Mill. Th e Port of Houston Nov. 15, 1926 Port Commission Operating P er3onnel (Harris County Navigation and Canal Commission) B. C. ALLIN, Director of the Port. CHARLES CROTTY, Assistant. R. S. STERLING, Chairman E. T. DAvrs, Asst. Chief Engi11eer. D. S. CAGE, Vice ChairmaJI. H. H. RosE, Chief Clerk. H. J. ScoTT, Supt. Wharves. H. ]. CuMM r s. THOS. H. BALL, Counsel. BEN CAMPBELL. H. L. WASHBURN, Auditor. W. T. CARTER, jR. GEo. S. CoLBY, upt. Grain Elevator Dept. U. S. Government Officials in Chllrge of Construction llnd Mainte nance of the Houston Ship Channel MAJOR ]. L. ScHLEY, .VlR. c. Nr:.LSON, Corps of Engineers, District Engi11eer, Galveston. U. S. junior Engineer, in charge of Field Office, 1/ouston. • Po1·t ltou:;ton'lll'ublictv Otvnl'(l/OxJ>ort r1nllll J!J II'Va/m· ( Houston Cham_ber of Commerce Nov. J), 1926 Officers and Directors Advisory Committee R. M. FARRAR, President. j. S. CuLLINAN, Chairman. j. W. NEAL, Vice-President. BEN CAMPBELL. . L. S. ADAMS, Treasurer. w. L. CLAYTON. C. MILBY Dow, Secretary of the Board. joHN A. HuLEN. S. R. BERTON, jR. RoY MILLER. E. L. CRAIN. T. RIEBER. jOI-IN A. EMBRY. A. D. SIMPSON. F. M. LAW. Operating Personnel N. E. MEADOR. R. J. SEAMAN, Acting General Manager. w. A. MITCHELL. G. C. RoussEL, Asst. to Vice-Pres. & Gen. M gr. joHN A. MoBLEY. T. L. EvANS, Mgr., Domestic and Foreign Trade Dept. W. R. ScoTT. C. E. HoLLOMAN, M gr., Transportation Dept. H. M. WILKINS. W. L. STALLINGS, Mgr. Agricultural Dept. joHN R . Y ouNG. BuRT RuLE, Mgr., Publicity Dept. OHIY !YJ A /J of J/;om;ag a////tducJ!ries:, Ra "J - ~ I / r 4-~--4~--~ -t- ----~------~~==·H=- ' ~ ~·"!------11 PK.c,•rD->{ ../OIV -'-'\--!'--!- - - - ~ \ I )I ./ '\ ~ ./ \ /'