Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-12-14
I'm OUR
VALLEY

FOR A GREAT many years Com
modore Louis Cobalini Of Browns
willie was leader in the efforts TO
develop harbor at BrazoS Santiago.
off Point Isabel.
Sunday. the day before his 1slst
birthday, the commodore was again
actively participating in the move
ment. after, as he expressed it.
doing Rip Van Winkle for ten
years"
He was n member of Colonel
Wooten's party ut Point Isabel and
also on the trip through the Valley.
Our tour Of the Valley was just
as successful. just rs cordial, as
Queen Marie's trip across the conti-
nent." he declared. I'VE were feted
and dined in royal manner IL was
fine trip.
And the Valley has improved
wonderfully in the past ten years.
IL was a revelation 10 me- he con-
cluded.
Some will think that last state
ment strange. coming from tho
commodore. Perhaps il is giving
out no secrets TO announce that Mr.
Cobolini had not been up the Valley
in ten years. His last trip was over
roads that were either dusty or
muddy; over roads that wound
through brush.
It's very different now. the conf
modore admits, "and very delight
full. and I'll have to make the trip
again soon-'
SOUTHERN PACIFIC cross ties
and rails have penetrated to the
city of Edinburg.
Soon, no doubt. the track-laying
machine, the operations Of which
never fail TO attract the attention of
motorists passing along the highway
near the right Of way. will be work
ing in the direction of Harlingcn, on
the east. although il may take the
line to McAllen first.
And little later. doubtless, well
see another set Of rails leaving Har-
lingen toward the east and south.
heading for Brownsville.
WRITING OF THE salt lake in
the northeast part of Hidalgo coun-
~, "Hi Jinks" in Along the Valley"
in the Sun, Pharr, says:
''Saw Hidalgo county's great salt
lake. Hardly rs big as the ono that
Brigham Young made famous, but
lot bigger than ono would imagine.
Drive north of Edinburg to the red
gate. east by the old Tacoma ranch
10 the first cross road. north again
for two miles, turn to the left and
wind through the mesquite until
you reach its shores.
Possibly two miles long and half
as wide. Salt encruSted beach. Husky
sons of Mexico in faded ovcralls ply
ing pick and shovel in water TO
their knees. Digging out pure
crystal salt. Shovelcd into barges. it
is brought ashore and sacked.
Trucks bring il out. Most of il goes
to Mexico. we're told. Work has
been going on since the border was
first settled. and the supply seems
undiminished.
NEN Fsfs - W All ONutF mining
project. Modern methods might make
some one millionaire. Certainly
there appears TO be an unlimited de-
posit which suction pumps and evap-
Grating pans, together with scientif-
ic refining rroceees could turn into
an industrial asset. Up in Kansas
they go doyn thousands Of feet with
their pine lines. force in steam and
pump ort brine, which is refined.
''There il surface deposit but
there must be source Of supply.
There is undoubtedly lot Of salt
in the section. Maybe that's why Hi
dalgo county has so many salty
dogs" II you cont understand the
appelation ask any oldtimcr who
roamed the river in the good old
days when cows reigned supreme
and cowpunchers constituted the
larger part Of the population"
THE SALT LAKE of which Hi
Jinks" writes is known rs "Sal del
Ray" (the Salt of the Kingl, ap-
piled 10 il back in the days whea
the King of Spain owned the whole
country. and the few residents of
the country felt free TO use IL when
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