Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-09-08
IN OUR
VALLEY

IN 1904 the St. Louis, Brownsville &
- Mexico railroad bridge across the
Arroyo Colorado washed out. 1t was
new bridge, but not as strong as that
which replaced it.
Floods which brought record high
waters in the lower Rio Grande and
its natural drainway, the Arroyo Colo-
rado, were from the Salado, the San
Juan and the upper Rio Grande, accord
ing to Sheriff Sam Robertson.
Brownsville was without railroad
service for a period of six weeks.
There have been occasions on which
the Arroyo Colorado has been bankfull,
while the roads leading to the bridge
were dry as dust Meaning to convey
that rains on the watersheds of the
Rio Grande and its tributaries often do
not fall in the lower part of the Valley.
1t is just such contingencies that the
counties of Hidalgo and Cameron are
seeking to make harmless in the voting
of flood control bonds in the amount of
$3,620,00O.
Engir eers for the flood control works
are planning to make the excess flood
waters of the Rio Grande run into arti-
ficially constructed channels.
Before the development of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley it was just as we'll to
let the flood waters take their own
merry course to the sea.
Things now are different. Millions of
dollars have been invested in the devel
opment of agriculture.
These millions must be protected.
Somehow reports have reached some
newspapers in the Valley and San An
tonic to the effect that it was proposed
to establish headquarters of the
Valley Chamber of Commerce in San
Antonio. N
The Herald published an interview
with Porter Whaley, manager of the
West Texas Chamber of Commerce, on
the occasion of his visit here, in which
he expressly stated that the Valley
should manage it's own chamber of COM
merce in the Valley, and that his or
ganization would be glad to cooperate
with it. He said that the Valleys prob
lens were so different from those
of his organization that combination
would be unwise.
However, the incorrect report seems
to have spread, which has brought the
following letter from Ray Leeman,
manager of the West Texas chamber Of
fices in San Antonio, to William T.
Burnett, president of the Valley Cham
Der:
"My attention has been called to
ticles appearing in the Valley papers
regarding the reorganization of the
Valley Chamber Of Commerce. 1t seems
that some Of these articles have given
the impression that it is proposed to
make the Valley Chamber a subsidiary
to the West Texas Chamber of Com
merce.
-. am sure that this is entirely con-
trary to the ideas of our general man
ager, Mr.. Whaley. In conversation with
him he has given me to understand that
the Valley Chamber should operate
solely and wholly as a Valley institu-
tion. He is we'll cognizant of the fact
that Valley problems are individual and
shouli be handled by an organization in
the Valley.
Il am certain that it was his idea to
handle the matter in this way. Of
course, his intention would be to make
the services and machinery of the West
Texas chamber fully available to the
Valley. | am also certain that he had
no other idea whatsoever of making San
Antonio or any other larger city head
quarters for the Valley organization.
81 shall greatly appreciate you giving
this letter publicity in the Valley news
papers since it seems that there is quite
some misunderstanding in the matter"
The average sportsman of this coun-
try has a keen EYE" for the weather.
DR.. B. L. Cole, county health officer
of Cameron county, has fished every
where along this coast
Saturday he and a friend went down
on the Mexican coast to spend the week
end and holiday fishing.
They were camping. Sunday after
noon he decided the weather outlook
was not right" They broke camp and
startsd for home. The. gtlf storm
broke over them. They travelled for
miles through water, keeping to the
road as best they could. They reached
Brownsville at 8 o'clock Sunday night,
none the worse for their experience.
I'VE heard the crash of the seas on
the beach as far as eight miles from the
coast said DR.. Cole.
Other folks who started to their
homes along the concrete highway cid
not fare so we'll as the Cole party who
travelled 80 miles over dirt roads blan-
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