Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-08-17

ing to j. w. Henderson, assistant dis
tion of the port project yesterday.
Donnan and members Of the surveyi
hours investigating conditions in re
determined that no material change
made. and that it would not be nee
Mr.. Henderson returned to Bro'
and will leave this afternoon for ,
charge Of harbor Improvement wor
P,int with the surveying crew. and a
survey Of the outer channel j. now under
way. The object of this survey is -
determine the greatest depth and also
The action ~ the currents which will
have considerable effect on the main
trnance of the channel. Mr. Henderson
expressed the opinion that this work
would be completcA in three or four
days
Captain Jacobson TO Arrive Saturday.
The dredgr Velasco left its berth ut
Texas City early yesterday morning. AM
il fair weather is encountered should be
anchored in the I.aguna Madre by to-
morrow night \ tug i towing the
dredge down the coast. aud under fav-
orable conditions a speed Of five miles
probable that the heavy south winds
which have prevailed may retard the
tow 10 some extent.
Captain John Jacobson. owner Of the
dredge. who was awarded the contract.
for both the inner and outer channels,
left Galveston today by train and will
arrive in Brownsville tomorrow. He
expects 10 BE- al the Point BY the time
the dredge' arrives
The actual work on the channels viii
start as soon aS all equipment is in
readiness. which will probably be week
~ ten days. and the inner channel will
be dredged first. work starting near the
bar. II j. reported that n dredge Of the
hopper" type will probably be used on
the outer channel. this type Of dredge
being designed to carry the sand out 70
sea. dumping il in deep water.
Inner Channel Easy Dredging.
The dredging of the inner channel
will persent no difficulties. according 10
engineers who have made soundings.
With the exception Of short section
near the bar. most Of the inner chnannel
will be through soft sand and silt. which
will dredge out rapidly. Near the bar
AMI through the outer channel the sand
H. packed more firmly. but no serious
difficulties are anticipated.
The Nelasco has been re-equipped
with DIESEL oil engines, operating n Is
inch pump. which j. capable of dredging
5000 cubic Yards per day under fav
orable conditions This dredge II ex-
pected 20 excavate the 1900 feet Of in
ner channel and the turning basin with
great speed.
The Beginning of a Great Port.
Engineer Henderson emphasized the
statement recently made by Congress
man John y. Garner to the effect that
the Valley should work for thirtyfoot
channel 20 the wharf AT Point Isabel.
and the building of jetileS 10 protect il.
He stated that the engineers and con
greSS must first be convinced that the
commerce of this region would justify
the engineers recommending and con-
EreSs appropriating funds for the con-
struction of harbor of this magnitude.
II have never had an opportunity 10
thoroughly inspect the district this
harbor will serve" Mr.. Henderson
stated. ">ut from the reports / have
read and heard am confident that suf-
ficicnt tonnage will be developed 10
Justify further Improvement after these
channels are completed. However.
neither the engineers nor congress can
~ expected 10 take action until the fact
H. demonstrated that the need for a
harbor of this size exists. L would sug
gest that every ton of freight possible
be sent or received through this harbor
a. soon as the channels are completed
and the boats are available"
Mr. Henderson was well impressed
with the port project. stating that the
principal problem would be that of main
tenance. lie expressed approval of the
great interest the Valley has taken IN
securing deep water. and commended
the work II. 4. O'Brien has done in
behalf of water transportation. stating
that il is doubtful if the appropriation
for the dredging would hav7 been avail
able If the completion Of the channel
fund had been delayed much longer.