Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-10-23
Extension of Canal Down
to Mexican Ports Planned
Waterway to be Built to
Brownsville, Corpus
Soon Meet Told
(By the Associated Press.l

PORT ARTHUR, Texas, Oct. 23.-
Tampico and Vera Cruz, Mexico. are
ultimate detectives Of she Intra- coas-
tai Canal association of Louisiana and
Texas, Pres dent c. S. f. Holland of
Houston told more than 100 delegates
to- the twenty-firsH annual convention
Of the organization which convened
here today for a session of two days.
Apparently it was a brand new idea
to the delegates, who came from many
points in Texas and Louisiana. They
had been aoncen' rating on the immedi-
ate project which is federal appro-
priation of approximately $7,000.00C
for completion Of the waterway to Cor
rus Christi with still further project
of completing it to Brownsville in the
offing. Once the Rio Grande is reach
ed, Mr.. Holland asserted efforts will
be made to interest the Mexican gov
eminent round the coast through the
Panuco river.
'Now that Mexico has returned to
the ways Of peace and stability" Mr.
Holland said, there is no question
but that she will look to this country
for its principal markets. The possibil
titles in this connection are tremendous
and there is no way Of telling what
they will amount to-
Mr.. Holland pointed to the fact that
21 years ago he invited P. Diaz
then president Of Mexico, to attend the
first meeting Of the association at
Victoria. Diaz, he said, evidenced hi:
I, interest by sending a delegate to the
meeting.
Movement is Aged
| Turning to the history Of the asso
citation, Mr.. Holland asserted that con-
struction of the canal had beer live
issue for 21 years. 81 do not know,
he said. "of any movement which has
stuck that long and not fizzled out
| This movement has never Jagged.
It dates, he said, from the Republic
Of Texas, extended down to survey
| just prior to the war between the
states and has now gained substantial
recognition in congress.
| There is no pork barrel in it, Il ne
said. Indeed" he added, there il
no pork in any waterway project. The
pork, if there be any, always is in the
method Of spending the appropriation.
| ]. j. Mansfield of Columbus, Texas
/ member Oh COHST0SS, SIIuCh dI halfway
| interests which, he said, had been in
strumential in blocking adequate appro
priation for waterways. For instance
nine-foot channel in the Ohio river
was authorized for completion withir
II years. That period ended three
years ago, he said and the work is no
completed.
To Bring Prosperity
Mr.. Mansfield stressed the point
that the extension of the intra-coasta
canal waterways is a part of the Mis-
sissippi river improvement system anC
it should be so regarded. Ultimately
| he said it will open vast trade fielc
for the cities of the country contigu
Gus to international water transporta
tion. Just now however, he said. ht
could promise that every effort .woult
| be made ia the next session of con
gress "to put through authorization o.
an appropriation for about $7,OO0,OOl
! for completion Of the link from New
Orleans to Morgan City and from Gal
weston Bay to Corpus Christi. 1t woult
| be contingent, he said, upon whether
rivers and harbors bill is authorized.
James O'Connor, representative il
congress from Louisiana, told tn,
meeting that completion of the intra
coastal canal will bring the gulf port
five times as much watert raffic a
they get now"
koy Miller, acting vice-president o
the association in charge of headquar
ters at Houston, reviewed the work o
the year and George J. Palmer 0
Houston, treasurer of the associatiol
made a financial reportl