Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-12-03
LOUIS COBOLiNI SUBMITS EX-
TRACTS OF DOCUMENT TO SHOW
WHY BOARD OF ENGINEERS
WAS UNFANORABLE IN LAST
REPORT
LACK OF RAILROAD
WAS THE PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF
REPORT. SHOWING NO FACILIT-
les WERE AVAILABLE FOR
HANDLING MATERIAL TO
COAST.

LOUIS ooDolllll, chairman Ol the wat
erways Committee of the Brownsville
| Chamber of Commerce, in submitting
argument to the proposition to build a
railroad to the coast, Today dug out
parts of the latest report of the United
States Board of Engineers on the Bra
EOS Santiago harbor project. This re
port was made III August. Standing out
clearly in the report Is the fact as stat
ed by the engineers, that there were
not sufficient railroad facilities to the
coast to permit of the improvement, and
that was Offered aS one of the principal
reasons for an unfavorable report Oh
the project.
In connection with that. Mr.. Cobolini
today issued tn following:
few Of the points why the Brazos
Santiago Harbor project was turned
down by the [. :. 4. Engineer Board in
Washington. in March, 1912
Extracts from Document No. 200, 63rd
Congress; first session, August Is. 1913
Page ;.
AT present there is no means of get
ting this commerce to the harbOr. and be-
fore this could be done there would have
to be a great change in the railroad sit.
uation. The road between Brownsville
and Point Isabel is not in condition to
handle a large traffic. and il does not
seem probable that those controlling it
will voluntarily reconstruct it when 1t
would lead to TIE diversion of large
tonnage that is now subject TO long
haul at high rates over another road
controlled by the same company a4
On page we find the following:
/ Freight rates TO Brownsville are the
highest allowed in the State of Texas
not only has the railroad commission ap-
piled the maximum freight rate to
Brownsville and its adjacent territory,
but in addition has granted the railroad
a dilftrential on all commodities.
"This differential amounted i'm 1908 to
approximately $123.000. which was prac.
tically gift to the railroad. Ii can thus
be seen that this territory il very badly
bampercd and its growth retarded by
the serious conditions existing with ref.
ercncc to rates.
previous 10 the entrance of the st.
Louis. Brownsville x Mexico ralway in
10 this territory goods were carried by
schooner and small steamships from Gal.
weston through BrazoS Santiago. light
cred To Point Isabel and shipped over the
narrow gauge railroad to Brownsville.
On the entrance Of the railroad into
Brownsville the narrow gauge road and
the lighters were bought by the 1t. Louis
Brownsville & Mexico Railway. and the
lighters were Immediately dismantlcd
tied up 10 the wharvcS and allowed to
sink and become absolutely destroyed
For this reason il il therefore practically
III ,4 .hn r..
one to ship by way of Point Isabel using
wafer transportation"
III Is because of the fact that there
is no wafer communication that the rail
road has been able to prevail upon the
70 allow them not only the greatest rate
but diffcrential in addiionr
On page - We find the following:
"Thc cost of the Improvement. although
large, would Dc justified BY the resulting
savings The saving has been shown To
be $500 600 yearly. Offsetting the cost Of
moving the freight from points in the
valley as shown in paragraph 81 BY the
I saving on other articles raised in the val
ley, and the probable trade with Mexico.
this figure. $J65.000. may be used as n
basis TO determine whether the improve
mcnt would be profitable business pro-
position for the United States The pro
I6ct will cost S4.200.000 The interest on
this amount. ut 4 per cent. added to the
$50 GOO charge for mainenancr-is $21S,0OO
which is about onc-half of the assumed
saving. But although ] am of the opinion
that in the near future the natural fer,
filthy Of the valley will cause the san.
guinc hopes of it's Inhabitants to he real
lied, do not think il will take place un
I'll the disputed points mentioned pre-
viously nave been settled"
Inspired by the purcSt motive 7 have
! put forth every effort to correct existing
! evils. Should Brownsville desire to de
stroy her great future by indifference she
and she alone. will be to blame IL Il
clear 10 me that the Federal Government
will not help those who do not help them
selves. However. I sill have confidence
! the people Of Brownsville will do their
, part and vOu may rest assured will not
. give up the fight for Brownsville until
, the people shall nave shown absolutely
s. that they are satisfied with presen CON
ditionS.