Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-06-08
IN OUR
VALLEY

NJ EWSPAPERS up and down the
- Valley give indications in recent
articles that they are bit discouraged
over the Point Isabel ha1bor PROPOSE
tion.
This is doubtless the result of lack OF
news in connection with the harbor
project.
1t is fact that one dredge, that on
4 the inner channel, has been withdrawn
Dy the contractor Funds became ex-
haui!.ec, she contractor claims $1,000
due him over ani above the $125,0O0
raised by the Valley, and it is estimated
that $4,000 will be required to com
plete the inner channel.
So far the government has spent no
money on the propect General Taylor,
chief of engineers of the United States
army, has written TO various men that
the contractors .dredge intended tpr
use on the outer channel, is not ade-
quate for the work. He has given every
assurance that the government will
dredge the outer channel. A govern
ment dfedge will be used in the work.
whether or not it will be possible to open
a channel across the outer bar, there is
no immediate need for further work on
the inner channel.
Point Isabel harbor is not dead
proposition, by any means. Brownsville
men who have been active in the propo-
sition have been unable to take any
in ha
until something definite is done by the
federal government.
Correspondence continues on the
matter. Work has been promised with
the arrival of favorable weather. The
water over the bar is rough a large
part of the year, and operations are
difficult.
d. A. O'Brien has told the writer
that, in the absence of any organized
activity at home to carry on the project,
he is undertaking to get something
done.
Mr.. O'Brien has gone to Washington.
He will meet United States Senator
Morris Sheppard there. Together they
will visit General Taylor, the chief of
engineers, and other officials and the
entire situation will be laid before them.
Doubtless something concrete on the
matter of Brazos Santiago will result
from this action on the part of the
Senator Sheppard and Mr.. O'Brien.
The Valley cannot be blamed for it's
very apparent impatience in the cir
cumstances. But things have been be-
yond control of those who have been
most active in the harbor project.
Let's have little patience. Perhaps
things will work out satisfactorily yet.
The filing of mechanics lien
against the Rio Grande railway proper
ty by the Sugarland Industries, to pro-
tect the company's claims of some $470,-
900 for money advanced, labor paid for
and materials and equipment furnished,
was not an unexpected development in
nection with the railroads affairs.
Certainly that company expected to
be repaid in some way for its invest
ment in the improvement of the prop
erty.
The Sugarland Industries is not
philanthropic concern. 1t is business
institution, operated for profit. Nor
would Colonel w. T. Etdridge, rSrt
owner of the Sugarland. INDUSTRIES, pre-
tend that he is a plilanthropist.
1t must be admitted, too, that the Rio
Grande railway is not and has never
been, since the building in of the St.
Louis, Brownsville & Mexico railroad,
a paying property. 1t is said that 1T is
now being operated at loss of $4,000
a year.
The only, thing that will make the
Rio Grande railway pay its way, prob
ably, will be the opening of a port at
Brazos Santiago.
When the government agreed to CO.
operate in the opening of port at
Point Isabel, it required, among other
things, that the Rio Grande railroad be
rebuilt and standardized.
The road is now standardized.
II has modern railroad equipment.
The Valley has met every demand OF
the government, including the raising
of sI25,OOO, the estimate Of the cost
Of dredging the inner channel
June apuears to be starting out with
,ho intention of being a fairly wet
nonth-at least in the Valley To him
that hath shall be given, or words to
that effect.