Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-19
FRIDAY, JANUARY 70, 1917.
DEVELOPMENT OF TIE VALLEY
HANGS IN THE BALANCE

On the events OF today. the impression
made upon the members Of the board Of
engineers for the river, and harborS by
what the people Of Brownsville and the
Valley believe 10 be the strategic import
ance to the war and navy departments OF
"a harbor al BrazoS Santiago, and on the
decision reached by that body "a a result
81 The hearing to be held tonight by that
body at Pharr, may hinge to 4 large
tonight al Pharr, may hinge 10 a large
degree the future fate Of this section a.
10 whether it shall develop and grow into
one OF the important and ilourishing Sec
tiun> of the South or shall continue TO
drag ont it, painful existence under the
burden "f long haul freight rates by rail
and other evil consequences Of It's geo
graphical isolation.
Til, engineers who are meeting today
t. give u fair hearing To the claims of this
section 81 the coast for deep water are
not setting ont into an UNEMPLOYED and un-
Surveyed field. Engineers of rank and
authority ia the United States war depart
meat nave already passed decidedly fav-
orahly upon the Point Isabel Brazos San
tiago project. Since the mobilization of
troops upon the border new attention has
been called at frequent intervals and in
forcihlc ways 10 what l. believed Ia be
an error ON the part of the government in
dcterr.ng improvements al this point ~
sseh a nature "a 10 make the army in
dependent Of possible railroad Interrupt
fin I,.n. - HI ~ u.- 81
navy a convenient port if il i called upon
to enforce phases OF the Monroe doctrine
or otherwise 10 make use of the Gnlf
waters.
To the people whose interests are in
the Valley, the Importance of water trans
p1rtation 4 a paramount one.
Ii j. within the scope If common in
ielligence 10 appreciate the vast develop
meni possibilities of tins section. once il
is given the required encouragement III
the way of economical shipping advan-
tageS and adequate freight rates. Not
only n section of the country that i prac-
ticaily virgin in it undevelopod and un-
tried agricultural and fruit production re-
sources. but one OF unique and unrivalled
advantages IN soil and climate, the Magic
Valley j. waiting for a chance.
The down hill and rail haul will make
this the natural port of exit for the pro
duets of the river valley 10 points nun
drods OF miles mp the Rio Grandc. Al
the harbor. where the federal government
already maintains an elaborate radio sta
tion that D. 90 be considerably improved
in the near future. and a life saving sta
ton. the government will undoubtedly es-
tabliSh other and more important v.r.
in connection with the national defense. +,
A standard guagcd railroad line will be
constructed from Brownsville 10 the coast
and other improvements will begin to come
in quick order.
The federal government has always
been liberal with it, expenditures when
they were meant To foment the country'S
development along wise lines. All that
the government wants to know. j. there
any wise need for the expenditure and. if
il j. made. will the improvements be used
hv the public! In this case there can be
hat little doubt of the outcome Of the
hearing. Ii seems. now. To the men who
have worked 50 ardcntlv and 20 contin-
uou~ly To bring the engineers here. that
the goal haS been reached.
The Tread of an automobile tire invent