San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
Valley Business Men Spend
Two Days With Corpus
Christians-FieId of New
Organization Will Include
San Antonio and Hous-
ton, Promoters Say.

Resolutions favorlng the organization
of a South Texas Chamber of Com.
merce were adopted here Thursday
morning. when a committee appoint
ed the day before made its report
The preliminary work thus far &C
complished is the outgrowth of the
first get-acquainted visit between the
Rio Grande Valley, Inc, and the
citizens of Corpus Christi, a move
ment sponsored by the valley organi-
cation and the commercial branch of
the Port Development Association OF
this city.
Approximately 80 members from
the lower valley arrived here We'd
nesday noon. and remained until
Thursday night. The valley visitors
were headed by J.. II. Daniels. presl-
dent OF Rio Grande Valley. Inc, and
o. s. V. Ross, the secretary. The
delegation was accompanied by the
La Feria band.
The South Texas Chamber of
Commerce, if put on working basis.
and there is every indication that 1t
will be. will rival the fame of the
West Texas Chamber OF Commerce.
1t is not intenled to confine the
field of the new organization TO Cor
pus Christi and the territory south,
but san Antonio and Houston will be
included. it was said by parties ac-
tive in the get-acquainted visit.
The opening meeting Wednesday
was called to order by d. r. Locher
of this city. vino introduced Roy Mil
Ter. active vice-president Of the Cor
pus Christi Port Development AS
ISOLATION. and vice-presidcnt of the
Intracoastal Canal Association of
Texas and Louisiana. Mr.. Miller
made his first trip into the valley
nineteen years ago as advertising
agent for the st. Louis, Brownsville
and Mexico railroad.
Civilization was new in those
days" said Mr.. Miller.
THE valley was a wilderness of
cactus and mesquite. But during the
intervening years great things have
happened, ard today there is no more
fertile and productive land TO be
found anywhere.
Transportation Big Problem.
Transportation is the outstanding
problem of the nation today. and as
such. is an outstanding problem for
the valley and Corpus Christi. Trans
portation is the thing that will make
Corpus Christi a great city and a
deep water harbor at Point Isabel n
success. We can join hands in the
development Of transportation facil-
titles.
There is no more important pro-
ject today than the Intercoastal canal
from New Orleans along the
Texas coast to Corpus Christi. In
order to meet the transportation
problem inland waterways are being
built to supplement the railroads.
There ought to come n movement to
extend the Intercoastal canal to the
Rio Grande valley.
We are in accord with the sug-
ganization Of some sort of an asso-
citation by and through which we can
work together for the solution of a
common problem. We should work
for the upbuilding of this
entire section and ret our personal
benefits out of the sum total of the
beRefits to the whole"
Mr.. Daniels responded to Mr. Mil
ler's address and said that the valley
would Mt the proper time ask Corpus
Christis support in extending the In
tor p1 nj 10 ~ al
He told of the good the Rio Grande
Valley, Inc. had accomplished for the
valley, mentioning the fact that a
0 IL cent decrease had been obtain
ed in the Robstown differential freight
rate. and how organized movement had
"busted" a broom corn growers COM
bine. He said the valley had aspira-
lions of having n state park in that
section. citing wonderful growth
of wild palms, numerous lakes and
other features that have provided a
beauty SPOT of wonder.
Referring 10 the growth Of the val
ley. Mr.. Daniel said the increase for
the entire state since 1910 has been
1871 per cent while the increase for
the valley for the same period had
been SIS per cent. The increase in
production and shipment Of veCe-
tables from 1904 to 1921 was 72S
per cent. Cotton in 1904 was less
than a thousand bales, in 1922 the
production amount to 53.300 bales.
and this rear will be over $4,000
bales, said Mr.. Daniels.
Asks For Cooperation.
He also told of the enormous fruit
production and concluded his talk
with the following: az hope this
visit and one from you in return will
he but the beginning Of mutual eff
forts which will eventually not only
bring us much closer together but
that it NAV result in n close co-opera-
ton of Southwest Texas and the
strengthening Of friendly and bust
ness progress. for cooperation is the
strongest factor in business known
to man."
Other speakers. including G. p.
landell. general manager of the San
Antonio Chamber of Commerce, told
OF the results of cooperation: the
necessity of good roads to develop
territory. and the need of an an
preciation of all Texas for the great
territory north of the Rio Grande.
The committee appointed on the
first of the twO-days meeting will re-
main organized. A plan or organiza
| non will be worked out. and wher
the Corpus Christi business men re-
turn the visit 70 the valley il il
hoped that organization will be com
| pleted.
Wednesday night the valley visitors
We're guests of the local business mer
NJ a barbecue ut the golf and coun