Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-07-01
Chamber of Commerce
Asks Valley Men For
Flood Meeting Opinion

rctary II Was agreed that we should
raise "A fund Of S1O.0OO AT once for the
purpose of carrying on the work. ann
a. assessment committee was appointed
1" apportion this amount of money equit-
ably among the various property inter
est in the Valley The writer addressed
letters to all these people. but 10y this
time the river had dropped and interest
ia the proposition began 10 wanr. Some
communities stated that they would pro-
ceel To- work out their own plans. have
control Of the spending Of their own
money. and IN that way take care of
themselves.
The seasons have come anil gone. ann
We have. during tho present month hal
another very emphatic demonstration Of
the fact that this plan If each ncighbor-
hood in the Valley taking care Of itself
in regard 10 the river overflow Is not
altogether practical. The proper con-
rroI Of flood waters in the Lower RIO
Grande il a NaIlcy-widc proposiiion. and
viii require the Judgment and efforts of
united people for this purpose. The
Brownsville section Of the Valley has
NOT suffered from this recent overflow,
and it appears that il will net
The citizens Of brownsville who have
given any thought a. this matter. how
ever. are conscious of the fact that
crCngh water has spread ont over the
Valley (iucluding both sides of the river'
10 have made five or six rivers the size
"f the ono that is now passing between
i;rrwnsvilIr and Maiamoros. \ rnc,
~ ~.
the river 10 see who can build tho hig-
yest lcvee. each community acting for
Itself. can hrir as nothing hut disaster.
II is our belief that the time il now
opportune ~ take some real intelligent
constructive steps IN the direction IT
working out this problem. This is IL
inauirc what your idea is ia regard to
calling u Nallcv-w m-cting AZ an early
natn fsny Harrington because il j. most
accessible 10 aI pariics concerned for
tie purpose Of discussing this matter.
We would suggest that il such meeting
II to be called. that invitations should
include county officials. Including their
engineers: municipal officials. including
their engineers: representatives "f all
the irrigation districts. including their
engineers and representatives citizens
from nII The Chambers Of Commerce in
tie Valley.
The irrigation districts Of the Valley
hive recently entered into contract
with the Reclamation Service "f the
United States for the purpose of con
ducting Investigations pertaining to the
question ~ cor srrvation of the waters
of the river. their proper distribution.
drainage. etc. and il is possible that
this matter of overflow prevention can
he handled through the association
the irrigation districts. and thus prevent
the formation If So many organizations
IL the Valley: however. If this seem,
wise. il appears 10 us that this enter
prise could and would be very much ex-
nedied hy M least one real Valley meet
ing on the subject.
This letter is being sen; out 1" fiffe"r
or tentv representative men ~ ~" Val
lev. It's onlv purpose u 70 find out
whether cr not fhe real men Of the VAL
lev favar some concert If action at tins
time along the lines suggested. We
would appreciatr re- ,ly from y"u very
much.
Very rcspe .tfullv v"nrs.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
r., e. l.. JessGp. Manager
brownsville. Texas.
June q. 1920