Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-18
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complete the inner channel and clean
cut that portion dredged In 1925,
which has become badly silted. In
the event the government will not
undertake this work on the inner
channel IL will be necessary for To-
cal interests 20 complete II.
A. j. McCoI read letters from q
New Orleans firm which operates a
number Of coastwise vessels, offering
to make Point Isabel a regular port
Of call as Don as a depth Of IL feet
is assured, and this firm also offer
ed to construct a $500 Q concrete
wharf. Several other steamship COM
panies operating 12-fOot draft boats
are expected 70 utilize the harbor as
soon as that depth Of water - assur-
ed.
Members Of the committee express
ed the view that II would be advis-
able to Immediately complete the
16-foot channel and then proceed
with the 30-foot project. II was
pointed out that the 16-foot project
would in no way interfere with any
plans made for the deeper port.
Will Assure Low Rates
The completion Of q 16-foot chan
mel will assure low rates on many
incoming and outgoing shipments, IT
was stated. The fact was cited that
the completion of the port at Cor
pus Christi had already resulted IN
the saving Of 90 cents per box on
citrus fruit shipped 20 Houston. A
16-foot harbor at Point Isabel would
result in a saving Of $1.l3 per bar
rel on cement, which would amount
to approximately $4,000 per mile on
concrete highways in the Valley.
Lumber, crates, cans, farm imple-
ments. and practically all classes Of
merchandise could be brought into
a I6-foot port with "a saving in
freight rates, and steamship COM
panies have given the assurance they
are prepared 70 supply refrigerated
boats Of ~ to 14-foot draft which
could handle Valley fruit and vege-
table shipments. While the reduction
in rates which would be effected by
n 16-foot harbor would be very ma
terial. ii would not be so great rs
the reduction that would follow the
completion Of n 30-foot harbor.
which would open Point Isabel TO
the large freighters in both the coast
wise and foreign trade, members Of
the committee said.
The Valley met every requirement
imposed by the government in con-
nection. with the harbor project, IL
was pointed out. The Rio Grande
railroad was standardized, a wharf
constructed, and the Valley turned
over 70 the government SIPS. 900 70
dredge the inner channel and turning
basin. This was the sum demanded
and was based upon the estimates Of
the government engineers. The gov
eminent agreed TO construct the
outer channel. and Valley interests
agreed 70 maintain the inner chan
mel for a period Of five years.
Valley interests take the view that
they are not responsible for the fact
that the harbor was not completed.
The government is now completing
the outer channel, which has been
jettied, but this will be valueless
without the inner channel. In view
Of the fact that the Valley met every
requirement, il is believed the GOV
eminent will continue the work and
complete the inner channel, giving
the Valley a completes harbor, such as
was contemplated when the channel
fund of $125,00o was turned over 70
the government. IL will be the OBJ
ject Of the committee 70 call these
facts 20 the attention Of the Board
Of Army Engineers and endeavor to
enlist the aid Of the government in
completing the inner channel i'm
mediately.
Creation Of q navigation district
TO include the counties Of Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy, was dis
cussed briefly, and II IL believed the
initial steps toward organizing a
district win be taken az soon as the
committee returns from Washington.