Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-08-17
lis 1t delta"
---Of---
Is 1t "Valley?"

THE Herald is the object of rather
caustic attack in the most recent
comment on its suggestion that readers
give their views on which word truth
fully describes this section, Delta" or
VALLEY"
As The Herald has already explained
several times, il is carrying on no
flight" TO change the name of this sec
tion from Lower Rio Grande Valley"
TO "Rio Grande Delta" II has merely
offered the suggestion; if the people
say mo" then Of course it's no"
Most people who have given the mat
ter any thought readily admit that
"delta" properly describes that area
from Samfordyce to the coast, but point
out that long usage makes it inadvisable
TO change.
The FL Paso section OF the Rio Gran
de has become a fruit and vegetable
growing secticn Of considerable import
Rnce. Their truck IA grown al a diff
ferent season than that on the lower
reaches Of the border stream However.
magazines Of national circulation ear
ry page advertisements Of the Fl Paso
trucking and fruit growing dist rict. la
beling IL the Rio Grandc Valley" It's
mere 900 miles from Brownsville 10
I'll Paso; the distance insofar as climate
Is concerned is about as much Think
1t over.
Editor Mcdaniel of the McAlen Daily
Press. whose paper we understand not
long ago championed a change Of name
fOr his 81 - p.1 H.. ~,
following to say on The Heralds sug-
Restion:
1T seems that the Brownsville Herald
is persisting in changing the n1me Of
the Rio Grande Valley to the Rio Gran.
ee Delta. The only possible motive in
this they could possibly have is their
passing fancy. or their desire to accom-
rlish something by publicity.
After people have spent thousands
and thousands Of dollars advertising
name, and years In educating the out
side public in the possibilities Of
place, it is the height Of folly to think
of changing the name and diverting the
minds Of the outside public from the
place.
"The Herald cannot do this. This
will be the Rio Grande Valley as long
as time lasts. They have persistcntly
been giving reasons, as they term them,
for this change. One Of these Is that
II resembles the delta of the Nile. The
valley of the Nile was never called the
delta-it was always known as the VAL
ley II the Nile.
This Is not a delta-it i a valley.
The word delta is too limited in its
meaning. It signifies a smaller body
of land. one which has been formed AZ
the mouth Of a river
"The word valley signifies lands
along the course Of and adjacent to the
river. II might be that The Herald
wants to concentrate public thought on
that particular part Of the valley at the
mouth of the river or the BrownSville
section shelter described as the termi-
Brownsville section. but the Brownsville
section is better described as he tcrm-
nation Of the valley. or the end of the
valley. The upper valley or the real
valley will not be led INTO such fatal
mistake as changing the name Of the
Rio Grande Valley"
Ho hum! We're quite afraid well
never. never be able TO convince Editor
Mcdaniel. But wei remain friends,
just the same.
A. +. Martin Of weslaco. "Investments
& Securities. Rio Grande Valley Lands"
(nc charge for the advcrtsemcnt),
writes as follows:
"Apropos the discussion you have
seen fit 10 start relative 20 the long ac-
cepted and well established name Of this
favored piece Of country we all know as
the Rio Grande Valley, kindly allow
me word between the climpscs Of the
egotism alone could in my opinion have
actuated The Herald in seeking 20 foist
upon the people of this Valley a name
they have not chosen and as / see IL DO
not want.
Delta suggests to the average and
intelligent mind a stretch Of mud flats.
swamps. pools and miasmatic regions as
attractive 20 the perceptions as | can
Imagine a disposition like the one you
seem DESTROYS of exhibiting is TO me.
STpercilliousncss has never appealed TO
reasonable people nor do | think you
are advertising to yourself any pcrSpica-
city in or among your later efforts
VALLEY on the other hand. has not
only an attractive sound to the ear nor
does it depress ones imagination with
a symbolic picture Of swamps. malaria
and egotism in editors. The Valley as
has well been remarked by one or more
# your (more) able contributors. is
well known from Alaska to here, and
from here TO California. Where is
your superfluous Delta known. out
side your own self-estecm: Valley is
as symbolic of fertility. wealth and
prosperity as delta is Of those qualities
we like rather see referred TO than have
any. act al experience with.
II trust ! have taken sufficient liz
berty to express myself sufficiently
clear for you to understand my opinion
ms well as my sentiments on the sub
iect IL not | may nnrclN n,entinn That