Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-01-25
CONSTRUCTION POINT
ISABEL WHARF BEGINS
COMPLETE IN 80 DAYS

Perhaps the most significant piece of
construction IN the Lower Rio Grande Val
ley since the digging of the first mile of ir-
rigation canal that opened up this section
was started nj the coast town of Point
Isabel, twenty -one miles northeast of this
city, yesterday when crew of workmen
drove the first pilinng in the new wharf. the
proposed construction at which was an
nornced by ID. A. O'Brien, president Of the
Rio Grande railway. some weeks ago. The
wharf i being built for the purpose of
accommodating ships that il j. understood
will touch at BRACES Santiago harhor IN
the near future.
The wharf will he fifteen hundred feet
in length. from the shore line. conStruc-
ted of extra heavily crco~otcd timberS. and
heavy steel rails. 1t will extend over the
route of the old wharf which has been
doing duty since 1870. and which il being
RACED n the new wharf il projected out
into the Laguna Madrc. Ii will accommo-
date trains of the gauge operated over the
Rio Grande railway. but l. being construc-
ted on standard gauge plan for possible
future Standardization Of the Rio Grande
railway.
Beginning of construction was somewhat
delayed on account of the slow arrival Of
the necessary material. due To the war.
and the desire OF the builders not to be-
gin actual construction until there was
sufficient material on hand to carry the
work through to an early completion. This
work will now be rushed, and il l. expect j
ed TO have the wharf ready for use with
IN ninety days. The work j. being done
under the direction of j. W. Byrum. an
experience wharf and bridge builder. who
has with hlm a crew of fifteen men. The
company's pile driver, with a twenty one
hundred pound hammer, Is being used in
the pile driving.
Point isabefs population, almost as a
unit turned ont yesterday to witness the
beginning of construction of q project that
i is confidently predicted will put Point
Isabel strictly on the map To a man.
Point Isabel has been watching the vari
ous events that have led up 10 the under
taking OF this construction, and there was
a furry of smal-to excitement when
the steamed-up pile driver began TO pound
the huge poles deep down into the sands
OF Laguna Madre.
/ While the builders of the wharf are not
making announcements az 10 future un-
ldertakingS in connection with the re-estab-
hshment of wafer communication between
Point Isabel and Gulf of Mexico and At
iantic Coast ports, il j. understood that
the present work j. being undertaken with
q view Of establishing full freight steamer
service between Brazos Santiago harboi
and important coast points on the Gulf
and the Atlantic SeaboaEd.
i The construction Of u deep harhor nj
Brazos Santiago hv the federal govern
ment is matter that j. still Ia reacl
the United States board of engineers. and
work during the war j. uncertain How
hhether the government will undertake this
ever, it j. regarded as certain in sam,
quarters in Brownsville that the use al
Brazos Santiago harbor will he resumed
at an early date on n much larger seal,
than before the connection Of this section
with the outer world by the st. Louis
Brownsville :; Mexico Railway, in 1904
At that time ten foot channel connected
! the wharf at Point Isabel with Brazo:
Santiago pass. This channel has sine,
been filled because Of non-usc.