Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-06-07
WIREPULLNCD DAYS.
over, CORPUSMUST.
DIG, SAYS SPEAKER
With Deep Water Probable at City
of Brownsville, Seaside City is
Warned About Future.
Time IS HERE FOR ACTION
CORPUS Christi Gallery

The deep water issue rs vital factor in
Corpus Christi's development and its rela-
tion to the retention of the wholesale es-
adjustments in this city was put squarely
before the Rotarians at their meeting yes
terday. Frank b. Sechrist did not mince
matters in his presentation of the subject
and his andh is clear-cut exposition of Cor
pus Chriti's position was received with
seriousness for he pointed out the menace
that may be the result of inactivity.
Mr.. Sechrist was the first speaker in a
symposium on "What Can We Do to Make
Corpus Christi Better" and he went right
into the heart of the deep water project
which has been treated with so much apa-
thy.
deep water could be made possible if a
united effort were made" said Mr.. Sc
christ, "but at the rate we have been going
we will never get it. 1t is not only neces-
sary to our future prosperity but is need
ed if we are to retain the commercial po-
sition we now hold. Brownsville has Sc
cured a port at Point Isabel and that means
that il goes out of different territory for
railroad rates. The action denotes pro-
gressive, wide-awake citizenship but for
Corpus Christi it means a possible loss of
wholesale houses. Taking Brownsville out
of the differential means that it will have
the same rates as Corpus Christi now en-
joys. 1t means that not pound of freight
will GO from this city below Kingsville.
The wholesale business will 60 to Browns
ville,"
Mr.. Sechrist gave a case in point to show
the advantages of deep water. He said
that a ear load of beans shipped from the
Pacific coast cost by rail to Corpus Christi
$733 for freight similar load sent to
Galveston from the Pacific cost $500
freight, saving Of $433.
There Is 100000 tons of freight COM
ing into Corpus Christi each year." he said,
''that could come by water The saving, If
we had deep water, would be $4,000 a
year.
I'VE have got to get over the idea that
we can pull wires at Washington. There
are no more wires to be pulled. We could
do as Brownsville did, go down in our
pockets and put up the money. They
raised $125 ZOO. AS an alternate PROPOSE
ton we could conduct an educational cam
paign in the surrounding territory which
would profit by low rates. Another plan
would be to go down to chambers of COM
and show them the saving they could effect
through the establishment of port in Cor
pus Christi.
'There is yet another project, the estab-
lishment of large line which could be
operated with the water we now have But
we must do something and do it quickly. If
we want to hold our jobbing houses we
must act. I would like to see established
a Joint committee from this club and the
Commercial Association which would have
weekly meetings to fight apathy"
David r. Locher said that the difficulty
Corpus Christi now faces is the shortage of
outgoing freight. He said that he had
given up an option or 1000 ton steel
vessel because he realized that there was
little or no outgoing freight. lie explain
ed that the government. had turned back
the Ward line boats ani that thcy were
now running from Galveston to Tampico
and Vera Cruz and had cat the railroad
freight rate for OUTGOING Mexican freight
less than half. The freight that used 70
come out of Mexico a. FL Paso, Eagle
Pass. Laredo and Del Ri) now goes out by
water He said that now IL IS almost impos-
sible to get any Tonnage out Of lower
IeN1S. lie Sdlu TIC Dithitm "RtAR -
to build up an outbound tonnage OF Texas
products to take the place of the Mexican
business.
Edward RI. Allies thought that this prob
lem could be solved and he paid tribute
to the progressiveness of Brownsville and
said that he thought much of the co-opera-
tive community spirit there had been the
Rotary Clubs work He said such spirit
was a possibility here. He said that one
way to help Corpus Christi would be to-
support the Commercial Associations com
ing drive for funds.
1.-The business men take the lead in bet
terment movements" said Mr.. Allies, "but
to succeed they must have the active CO
operation Of public officials. In the last
six or eight years they have had that CO.
operation and il must continue II results
are to be accomplished. Many citizens
have aided but there has not been perfect
co-operation. This has been due to diff
ferences of opinion on methods, never on
things to be accomplished"
I..w.