Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-07-15
ISABEL
HICHWAYWORK
TOBESTARTED
Good Grade Road Will be
Built to Valleys Port Re-
gardless of Action on Hard
Surfaced Project


A good grade road will be built to
Point Isabel. regardless Of what action
Is taken in connection with the propo-
sition OF constructing a hard surfaced
road to the Valleys future port, ac-
cording TO a decision reached by the
county commissioner court Saturday
afternoon. The county engineering de-
rartment will start work in few days
laying out the road from. Brownsville
to Point Isabel, the survey to be made
with view of establishing a road
which can be hard snrfaced in the event
the voters Of Camd county approve
the proposal. The BXPreda road to Join
with the Brownsville Point Isabel
highway at Esoes Junction, was sur
veyed several months ago.
Engineers express the opinion that
the most logical route for the highway
will be practically the same rs that
now in use, going out Of Brownsville
on. Fourteenth street. and turning 10
the north about two and u half miles
from the city. Some changes in the
present route will be necessary to
avoid low places, TO secure proper
drainage for d hard surfaced highway
and to shorten the distance. All phases
of the port highway proposition were
discussed at the meeting Of the COM
missioners' court. and II was decided to
start the survey as soon rs possible
with the object fhaving both the
Brownsville and Barreda branches Of
the highway graded by the time the
dredges complete their work at Point
Isabel.
This highway will be graded with
the object Of ultimately making II
hard surfaced road" Judge Dancy
stated. "The people Of Cameron coun-
ty are apparently in favor Of the pro-
posal to build a concrete road to the
Valleys future port. a road which will
serve all parts Of the county. II will
take some time to determine the wishes
Of all sections of the county in regard
10 this proposition, and pending the
completion Of the county's highway
program, II has been deemed advisable
to 20 ahead and construct first class
grade road. following the survey which
would be decided upon BY the engin-
esrs for a hard surfaced highway. The
construction Of this road II absolute
ly necessary. and in the event the prop
osition of hard surfacing the high
way meets with public favor, the grade
can be utilized, and no loss will be
entailed by its construction"
All plans considered by the COM
missioners' court in connection with
this highway project include two
highways, one from Barreda and the
other from Brownsville. connecting near
Esoes Junction on the Rio Grande
Railway. The Barreda branch runs
perfectly straight a distance Of i2
miles. the point where the connection
il made, and rs Barreda II two miles
closer to Point Isabel than Brownsville
is. the necessity Of this highway In or
der to serve the northern part Of Cam
eron county and the upper Valley Is
plainly apparent. members Of the COM
missioners' court state. They take the
view that any plan which would not
give the entire county easy access 20
the port would be discriminatory and
unfair, and would result In the failure
Of the entire plan.
Several engineers have made an in
vestigation of the project since Il was
first broached a few weeks ago, and
they are unanimous I'm expressing the
opinion that no engineering difficult
ties will be encountered, and that the
highway could be constructed ut the
minimum cost. such rs has marked all
highway construction in Cameron
county. They have also been unani-
nous in asserting that II the port Is
worth dredging Ii Is worth building a
highway to. and that the full value Of
the port can never be attained until
All parts Of the Valley are connected
with IL by hard surfaced highway.