Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-02-21
TO SECURE
OLD FORT BROWN
Possession Necessary for Protection
Of City-Proposed to Ask Permis-
sion to Sell Small Part TO Raise
Funds for Protecting Wall.

Yesterday morning az ten o'clock
the members or the city council met
with the members OF Shs Chamber or
Commerce for the purpose OF discus
sing ways and means for obtaining
the Fort Brown reservation for the
city 81 Brownsville.
The meeting was opened by Alder
man Cobolini. who. I'm a few brisf
remarks. acquainted the meeting
with the purpose for which II had
been called MIR. cobolini said that
In his opinion the proper method Of
obtaining the reservation was the
appointing OF a committee Of good.
active young men 10 20 10 Washing
ton and talk 60 the committee. Mr..
Cobollni suggested that a petition be
circulated among the citizens. in or
der that our congressman might
have something 20 present 70 the
congress and that after the petition
had been referred 70 a committee. the
local committee could 20 to Wash
ingt0n and see each OF the members
OF the house committee and try 70
enlist their services.
After thus setting forward his
views. Mr.. robolinl asked Mr.. Scott.
the president OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. to preside.
Mr.. Cobolinl said that In January
cf 1911 he had photographs made on
both the Brownsville and the Mata-
moros banks or the Rio Grande river.
and with some statistics showing
how property IN Brownsville was
ieopardIzed ~ the condition on the
bank. and had sent them Il the dis
trict engineer. Major Howell. who.
IN turn, had informed him that the
photos and papers had been sent to
the United Staset board OF engineers.
Upon taking his seat, MIR. Scott
said that he thought thaa MIR. coboli-
mis- remarks covered the situation
admirably. and that he thought that
everyone In Brownsville understood
the necessity Of getting possession Of
the fort.
Captain Kelly was the next speak
er. lie added his hearty endorse
ment TO the plan suggested BY Mr.
Cobolini. Mr.. Kelly said that Wash
lngton would o pay any attention
to letters, bur that a committee q
young men was what was needed.
5 q Tucker. vice-president Of the
Chamber of Commerce. who had pre-
sided at the last meeting OF the d.
ractors. said that the matter had
come before them and that a com
mittee consisting Of :. l.. Dworman.
r. b. Rentfro. +. A. McGary and NJ.
J. SIat.ery had been appointed 70
confer with the members OF the city
council committee.
The Rev. l.. r. Burress informed
the meeting that he was In receipt
OF a letter from Congressman Cand-
lsr OF Mississippi. In which Mr.Cand-
Ter had stated that the city should
specify for what purpose II intended
10 use the r~eservatino In ease con-
gress sees III 70 give II 10 us. Mr..
Burress suggested that vi ask for
tn land % be used for a park and
also for a public library and hospital
he said tina. Mr. Gambler would have
no difficulty IN interesting Senator
John sharpe Williams OF Mississippi
and Senator Joe Bailey OF Texas In
the enterprise.
Mr. Rentfro asked whether or not.
m the petition were presented 20
congress-. the s<'-pres srvation plea
would be used. a. II IL should he. the
city would have 10 show that not
Only was Nv dDlt w HahN Aht FAtAtN
ton along he bank. but that N was
willing 10 do v. I'm response 20 this
Mr.. Cobolini said that self-preserva-
ton would be thu strongest plea and
that he was 81 tho opinion thai no
right-minded person would object 20
the city selling 100 acres Of the RI
servation In order 70 raise the money
for the building Of a protecting wall.
y. l.. Cain expressed the opinion that
the report OF the governmest engi-
neer. supplemented BY a report from
the city engineer and by a petition
from the citizens. would be suffici-
ent.
DR.. s. X. Hallam said that Ne
doubted n the government would
give the city permission 70 sell any
parts OF the reservation.
W. 5. BIackshear expressed the
opinion that the city should send a
good man 10 Washington. and that
Mr. CobolinI was the man Mr.Black-
shear made a motion that. ~ II was