Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-05-29
WOULD TURN ROAD
BONDS over TO U.
5. FOR HIGH AY
Cameron County Commissioners
Blaze Way for County Partici-
patton in the Project.
IS FIRST COUNTY TO ACT

The board of county commissioners of
Cameron county. through their wire to
Congressman John N. Garner offering TO
turn over TO the federal government the
county's road bond issue of $3o0,000 for
the purpose Of county participation in the
building Of the proposed military highway,
gives Cameron the honor of being the first
border county to propose cooperation with
the government in this $18,000,000 pro-
ject.
This action,-i Is pointed out. will in no
way change the county's project for good
road from Brownsville to the county lire
&C la Feria, but should the government d.
eide to undertake the project of building a
military highway along the border il would
mean a much better road than the county
could hope to build with the funds avail
able. 1t Is said that should the govern
ment do the work planned the road would
be = concrete highway through Cameron
county with probably bitumen top. The
character Of the road throug other counties,
1t Is said, would depend largely upon the
character of soil in those counties and the
extent Of their cooperation.
The county commissioners have had this
idea Of turning over the county bond issue
to the federal government for some time,
but did not make the matter public earlier
because of the possibility that the govern
ment might not entertain the offer. The
county's offer became public in Washing
ton through an announcement by Congress
man Garner
The government war department officials
point out that in view of the fact that the
counties through which the road would pass
will be great bencficiaries, they should
participate in the cost of the work.
A press dispatch from Washington dated
May 27, says
A military road paralleling the Mexican
border and wire fence as mn additional
protection against raids from Mexico have
been recommended by military offials Of
the southern department, and the PROPOSE
tion appears In fair way of receiving the
support Of congress at the regular session
next December. A long conference was held
today b$ Representative John Garner with
members Of the general staff, and while
there was 40 direct statement that the staff
would make the Recommendation. the mat
ter Is under serious consideration. "While
have doubted the feasibility of the project
heretofore" said Mr. Garner tonight, II
now feel encouraged that something can be
accomplished"
AT former sessions Senator Sheppard i'm
troduccd bills for construction of the high
way, and recently Representative Hudspeth
introduced bill dealing with the subject
The cost Of the highway along the border
Of Texas will reach s12.000,000. Repre-
sentative Garner told the war department
officials that there probably was consti-
tputionai inhibition in Texas against state
aid in the project, but that he thought some
of the counties would be willing to join the
government. The county commissioners
Of Cameron county have signifed their will
ingncss to use 100000 bond issue re-
Gently voted to the protection
1t has been estimated that the border
could not be thoroughly protected even
with the use Of 10000 troops whereas the
highway and wire fence, which serves the
same purpose as barbed wire entanglcments
used in Europe, it is thought, will enable
the patrol to be reduced 20 the minimum.
Where wire fencing was used in Arizona,
it is said to have given good results.
According to letter to Mr.. Garner
from General Cabcll of San Antonio, Col
onel George l.. Langhorn, commanding the
Big Bend district, has recommended the
road but not the fence.
ssIn my opinion" says General Cabell to
Representative Garner, 1.-THE two PROPOSE
tions are inseparable. The necessity for
the fence lies in the prevention of small
raids man who knows he has behind
him and between him and his own country,
If pursued, such an obstacle as a strong
wire fence which he must stop to cut or
which he must positively approach at sim
gle point, already cut, will be greatly de.
TERED from engaging in the raid. The road
is necessary In order TO patrol the fence
and keep il in condition. besides the great
er fact that it gives free communication
from one outpost TO another along the bor-
der for the purpose not only Of patrolling
but Of supply and reinforcing points on
the border
s.The first cost of this road and fence
seems very great bat If they were once
built il would not be long before their cost
would be repaid in the economy Of troops
and transportation, without reference to
the benefit that might accrue to the coun-
try through which they might pass"
s,s,----r-~-
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