Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-08-06
final DRIVE TO COMPLETE THE
CHANNEL FUND IS IN PROGRESS
approximately $4,000 of the
$125,OOO Fund Remains to be
Raised in Next FetU Days.

The channel fund must be closed
this week; the government will per-
NIT no further delay in the matter.
This was the gist of the statement IS
sued last night at representative
and enthusiastic meeting Of Browns
vile business men held at the Board
of City Development, by the heads
of the committees which have been
in charge of the work of collecting
the $125,000 fund the Valley is pledg-
ed to raise for the dredging of the in
ner channel at Brazos Santiago.
Figures available up to the present
time indicate that the fund is still
short approximately 1000, and it
will evidently be up to Brownsville to
raise the major portion of this
amount. 1t appeared to be the con-
census of opinion that Brownsville.
which already has nearly $4,000 of
the fund raised, must raise her quota
to $4,000 or sos. 900 if the harbor
project is to materialize. and it was
pointed out at the meeting that this
would be "fifty-fifty" split
Brownsville subscribing one-half of
the fund and the Valley the other
half.
SeveralSof the Valley towns went
over the top with their quotas and
are still working, but the committees
report the amount they will be able
to raise will not be great. Commit
tees were still working at several
points up the Valley last night and
reported they were meeting with some
success. However it is not anticipat-
ed that they will be able to lower the
$4,000 deficit to any great extent.
Tims, H~s Gsns 60 Close Up.
The meeting fully realized the grav-
ity Of the situation. and after a dis
cussion of means for raising the de-
ficit it was decided to appoint a Gen.
tral committee to take charge of the
matter and close up the channel fund.
1t was also decided to present to the
Mayor a request that he proclaim a
half holiday on Friday afternoon, re-
quest all business places to close for
the afternoon and hold a big mass
meeting of citizens as the finale of
the drive. The central committee
was authorized to appoint sub-com-
mittees for the detail work, and from
now on the city of Brownsville will
be combed for subscriptions in an en-
desvor to close up the fund quickly
The central committee met immedi
ately after the meeting and commen-
ced preparing the list for the final
drive for subscriptions. The cam
paign for funds in several of the Val
ley towns will be kept up until the
last moment, but it is evident that the
major portion of the deficit will fall
upon Brownsville.
The enthusiasm displayed at the
meeting was very gratifying to -hose
who have fought so hard and long for
deep water and lower transportation
rates, and it was the concensus of
opinion that Brownsville will not fai
down on this great project which
means so much to this city and th
Valley. The final hour OF. trial IN
come; the money must be raised, and
every citizen of Brownsville and tn
Valley must help to put this project
over One of the speakers at tie
meeting expressed the situation ac-
curately when he stated: 1T would
be a crime for the Valley to Dcrlnit
SIS, 1000 to stand between it and the
great opportunities that deep waite
and cheaper transportation rates will
bring to ALL"
The subscription committee will be
in the field today, and the citizens of
Brownsville should give without res
ervation. The time has passed for
anyone to ''pass the buck" or to
shrug his shoulders and say, "Let
George do it," They have responded
nobly in the past for this project, but
they are going to be asked to do
more, and they should give to the full
extent of their ability Fast work
will be the order during the next two
DAYS, and the people who will be
called upon to subscribe, or VINO vii
be requested to increase their sub
scriptions are well enough acquainte
with the project and what it means t1
Brownsville and the Valley, to realize
that this is proposition which mus
be put over.
Preparations for the mass meetin,
to be held Friday afternoon are al
ready under way. A good program IS
being prepared, speakers secured who
are acquainted with every phase OF