Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-08-27
'C|TY'S FUTURE
GROW TIL MAY.
BE IN DANGER.
SECRETARY URGES BROWNSVILLE
TO GET BUSY WITH CHANNEL
FUND IF CITY Is TO REMAIN
LARGEST LOWER VALLEY
CITY
MAKES STRONG APPEAL

The following appeal to the citizens Of
Brownsville to get busy TO open the on
portunity that il knocking at their door
I'm other words deep water at Brazos San
uago has been made by Secretary VIM. T.
Burnett Of the Board of City Development: :
"As secretary of the Board Of City De-
velopment an institution created and main
tanned by the taxpayers of the city Of
Brownsville for the purpose, as | under
stand 1t, OF advertising our great national
advantages; inducing outside capital to
and III the development of the city and sur
rounding territory, directing attention to
our superior climate and wonderful fer
tillty OF the soil of the Rio Grande Valley.
deem u my duty to apprise the people
OF dangers which threaten them unless they
become more active and energetic i'm a
matter which should be of paramount i'm
portance TO every man, woman and child
IN Brownsville matter upon which the
future OF Brownsville j. absolutely depend
ent.
Il refer to the Improvement of Brazos
Santiago and the construction of a chan
~ AAO" hiC pass tO Ctiu VI wharf,
Pomtzlsabel.---4his communication was'
prompted by an editorial which appeared
IN the columns Of a Valley paper OF re-
cent date, as follows:
San Benito, we understand is am
bilious to become the county seat of
Cameron county, and Judging from
the vote east at the recent pr maries
tins ambition may soon be ratified.
Then, there is Harlingen, the gateway
Of the Valley pointing out that town
is the logical place ut which TO es-
tabllsh Wholesale houses. because it
has the advantage of cheaper freigh
rates on inbound as well as outbound
traffic. Of course, the railroad from
Point Isabel would have much to do
with the future of either of these
lower Valley towns. Then we have
some ambitious towns in Hidalgo coun-
~, and the one that becomes the
junction point for the line of railroad
10 be built from San Antonio to the
Valley or from the Valley to Point Is
abel will be very much in the race for
commercial supremacy with the adj
vantage of a bridge across the Rio
Grande. Shall it be Mercedes, San
Juan, Pharr, Ebenezer, Donna, Nc
Allen or Missionf Think it over.
The big town must come and isn't it
worth striving for!
after having read the above, / real
lied the necessity for immediate action,
and reached the definite conclusion that
Brownsville must bestir herself if she is
to remain the commercial center of the Rio
Grande country, and nothing short of the
harbor Improvement will settle this
'For the first time in the history of
Brownsville the improvement Of Brazos i
practically assured, provided the citizens
contribute their quota of the small amount
necessary TO construct the inner channel.
it being understood that the government
will do the balance, and although the sub
scription list has been open for more thanl
wed1. less than one-haf of the required
amount has been subscribed
Il am sure this is not due TO indiffer-
ence toward the proposed harbor improve
ment which so much depends. am
rather inclined TO think that we do not
.calize the necessity for immediate action
and that we do not realize the great credit
and prestige that would come to the city
"a a result of voluntary and speedy con-
tribution of the amount required-an in
gnificant sum when We consider the
great benefit to be derived from the har-
bor Improvement The subscription list is
awaiting the signatures Of those who
have not yet subscribed. Remember il will
be at least six months before you are called
on for the first installment and the other
installments will be ninety and one hundred
and eighty days, respectively apart.
"You are going to subscribe sooner or
later. Why not do it now and show the
world that you are progressive and pa
triotic; that you have faith in the future
Of your home town. Don't hold back be-