Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-06-06


Hon. Earl T. Brown,
Major U. s. A., Engineer,
Galveston, Texas.
The people. of Brownsville and Of
the Lower Rio Grande Valley demand
a deep water harbor at Brazos San.
tiago. Brownsville Is the commercial
center. Across the river Is Mexico
and millions of dollars worth Of
commerce gravitate to Brownsville.
The natural development Of the
agricultural land has created a com
merce that must be cared for. The
products Of the land must be shipped
to market and the manufactured
goods brought in, millions of loddars
to be exported in Mexico.
In order 10 successfully gain and
compete in the markets it is nee
esSary to secure low freight rates and
these can only be had by furnishing
water transportation.
The United States army board fol-
the rivers and harbors of the United
States in Washington, d. G., render
ed an adverse report and opinion on
the BraZos of Santiago harbOr fol-
a deep water port on March -, 1912
On March IA, 1912, u gallant
congressman. John y. Garner, ir
Washington began to fight anew fol-
this needed port and harhOr.
The undersigned chairman of the
committee on deep water at Brazos
Santiago of the Brownsville Wa'er-
ways association and its officers, d.
rectors and committees intend TO
perform their civil and constitutional
duty. and understanding the COM
mercial needs of this section of the
state of Texas and United States will
assist and labor with u Congress
man John y. Garner TO create and
provide this needed harbor and port
for our commerce.
Our resources are great our hopes
still greater-and there must be no
doubt that at the next hearing be-
fore the honorable army board u
victory will be 0 The army en-
gineers will recognize the facts
which we will present and u evil
dence will be sufficient to cause the
withdrawal of their adverse opinion.
Kindly read the following tele-
gram, also my remarks which follow,
and / hope you win be converted as
it is my opinion that the board dit
unfortunately make an innocent mis-
calculation.
Washington. ID. c., ). IL, 1912
To The Herald,
Brownsville, Texas.
Regret to advise you river
and harbor board of engineers
has just rendered opinion 'ad-
verse to the improvement of
waterways at Brazos Santiago.
The opinion is voluminous but
In substance says the uncertain
ty of amount Of water that will
be available for irrigation pur-
poses the doubtfulness of ton
mage to be produced and the
general newnes of the country
and experiment being made
make ii advisable not to i'm
prove this waterway at present.
"While this precludes appro-
priation now, We should not be
discouraged. | will try to have
inserted in rivers and harbors
bill an order for survey with
Brazos Island as base. Let us
renew our determination to Sc
cure q water outlet for tonnage
or Brownsville and the Lower
Rio Grande Valley. Please ad-
wise Mr.. Cobolini.
JOHN y. GARNER"
On December II, 1910. Major G..
L. Howell. u. s. army engineer, at
this date our district engineer, at
Galveston. Texas. in his report TO
the rivers and harbors. u. s. A. en-
~ginecrs' board at Washington, ID. C..
says in paragraph Al:
THE minimum flow as measured
by the international 1wa;erl bound
airy commission between the United
states and Mexico Is at Brownsville,
Texas, between 500 and 1000 cubic
feet per second. As the river is on
the boundary. one-half of this
about 500 cubic feet per second l.
ali that can be properly claimed BY
he United States.
Taking the duty OF water at one
second foot per 200 acres tho flow
will irrigate 100 .00a acres"
There is no need for me TO find