San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19
Valleys Dream ofDeep Water
Port on Way to FuLfllment

years past, in promoting harbor de-
velopment, has &C rcluded plans and
made contracts for the erection of the
terminals. which in addition TO the ex-
tension of trackage, will include a new
depot, warehouses, and also loading
platforms along the wharf. The wharf,
which extends into the bay 1000 feet,
was con ple,ed in 1917, and with the
construction of loading platforms ad-
joining the slip, will be ample to ac-
commodate the initial business of the
port. Plans have been made for ad-
ditional wharfage and slips which will
be constructed as the business of the
port increases.
The Rio Grande railway was re-
Gently rebuilt, a new route being utl-
lized. The gauge of this railway is
A. inches, but in rebuilding it was so
arranged that to make it standard
gauge all that will be necessary will
be the replacing of tie rails on one
side. In less than a week the entire
system can be standardized, and this
will be done before the dredging is
completed. An excellent roadbed was
constructed when the line was rebuilt.
and the new route eliminates the miles
of trestle work which formerly ca.-
ried The rails over the lagoons rear
the coast. Only enc bridge was neces
saryson the new route. and these have
been CONSTRUCTED with a view to the
Standardization Of the road and a
heavy traffic.
elimination Of Ambition.
The opening of deep water port
at Point Isabel has been the ambition
of the Lower Rio Grande valley for
40 years, and in all successive cam
paigns and drives which have been
inaugurated to secure the port, the
people of the valley have extended
loyal support. The last campaign,
which resulted in Congress making an
appropriation for the purpose in jan
uary, 1919, was probably the most
intensive. To secure the harbor the
valley subscribed S124 600 to dredge
the inner channel from Brazos de San
tiago pass to the wharf at Point
Isabe.. In the as. q. S. fund drive
$4,000 was subscribed, $10,500 of
this amount going to make up the
channel fund, which was turned over
to the army engineers at Galveston
on November %, 1922. In addition
to these subscriptions, bonds OF the
Rio Grande railway, amounting to
S15S,000 were purchased by valley
people and this amount used in re-
building the railway. Apr ximately
500, 900 of the IS. o. S. fund" was
also utilized in railway and terminal
Improvement.
From Rio Graiiie City to Browns
vile the farmers. business men and
stockmen have subscribed their funds
and worked in the interest of deep
water port, and the arrival Of the
dredge is regarded from one end of
the valley to the other as the begin
ming of the end Of the high transpor-
tation rates which for years have
proved the greatest obstacle the de-
velopment of the lower Rio Grande
valley, Ss well as all CT South Texas
and northern Mexico
As Old Gulf Port.
Point Isabel is one of the Oldest
harbors on the Gulf coast. having been
utilized By the Spanirrds 200 years
ago. according to the legends of the
little port. Fer mary years prior 10
the Texas War of independence Point
Isabel and the mouth of the Rio
Grande were regular ports of call f0r
Mexican and American coastal YES
sells. and Point Isabel was the base al
which supplies were received by Gen
eral Taylor's army in its victorious
....,o;c, oro;pSf Matouaroc and Mon.
terrey in 1876.
At that time there was sufficient
water in the Rio u ande 10 permit
steamboats, to transport Supnlies Ms
far as Roma. approximately 100 miles
above Brownsville. Steamboats, were
still common on tn, Rio Grande In
the early seventies. and during the
Civil War millions of dollars worth u
! cotton, which had been Struggled