Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-04-13


swer to its simplest form, robbed
of all side issues, it is to secure for
Brownsville and the Valley the bene-
fit of a water freight rate; it is to
overcome the burden Of corporate
greed.
But If a corporation is formed
with a capital of $1,000 600, which
would not be more than one-fifth of
the amount necessary TO dredge the
channel, ii would be necessary TO
bond the enterprise for the amount
necessary to complete it, thus plac-
ing the whole proposition in the hands
of a corporation. History repeats
itself. No corporation was ever
formed that the moneyed interests,
in other words the railway interests,
can not find ways to control. How
ever unselfish the motives of those
who organize this corporation, how
ever loyal to Brownsville they may
be, the stock of such a corporation
may pass into other hands, and the
railway interests have the price
and Will find a way to control it.
We have a concrete example of what
might happen, when the st. L. B..
E NJ. Ry., became the owners of the
line to point Isabel. Again. ! say,
history repeats itself.
We are informed that we have a
concrete example" of what should
be done, in Houston. With that
statement, | most heartily agree.
What did Houston do? Just what
is proposed in the second article of
the constitution of the Brownsville
Waterways association. The organ
lied a Navigation district under the
state law enacted for that purpose,
and to keep our waterways forever
free from corporate control. She
did not risk turning this valuable as
set Of the people over to the money
power that would give them no re
lief from railway interests.
railway interests.
When Houston believed in herself
strong eonugh to do this. then the
United States government came to
her help and added an equal amount,
on the principle that government,
like Providence, helps those who
help themselves. And Houston is
fast forging to the proud place Of
being the chief city of Texas.
Do you for a moment think the
government would have given this
help to a corporation? Nay, verify.
on the other hand the government
refuses aid to any project where a
private Corporation is directly or in
directly connected with it. Let a
corporation build this channel, then
goodbye TO all our hopes for deep
water at Brazos Santiago.
Besides the organization of a
Navigation District, on the same
plan as Houston, Beaumont and
others, is the only equitable way to
do this work. All the people will be
benefited. Let aF the people pay
for it in proportion to their hold
ings. 1t is for the future as well
as fer the present. Let those who
come after us and largely reap the
benefits, help bear the burdens. This
can be reached by a bond issue that
Will not be burdensome on any, and
then forever hold it as a sacred trust
for all the people.
| am surely pleased that the
Chamber of Commerce and its sec
rotary are taking interest in this
proposition. For the most part the
members of one body are members
of the other. We are working for
the upbuilding Of Brownsville. Let
us work together, tremendously,
unitedly, but let us work in such
a way as to accomplish the real OBJ
ject of both organizations.
S. X. HALLAM,
President Brownsville Waterways
Association