Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-03
The Intracoastal Canal Meet

The convention Of the Intracoastal Canal Associa-
tion, which viii be held in the Valley next week, viii
be attended BY hundreds Of delegates from various
Gulf coast cities and counties, according 70 informa-
tion received by the officers Of the Valley association.
Interest in the coastal waterway project is intense
throughout the entire Texas Gulf coast section, and the
policies which will be outlined at the Valley convention
will have a very important bearing upon the failure de-
velopment Of the waterway plan. Leaders Of the move
ment realize that plans for the project, 50 far as they
affect the lower Gulf coast country, are now at the
crucial stage. They are cognizant Of the fact that in
order to secure maximum tonnage and to assure the
highest efficiency for the project, the lower Gulf sec
tfon from Corpus Christi to Point Isabel Is essential,
and they are coming prepared to lend all possible aid
toward the naturalization q the waterway plans for
this section.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley has much to gain in
connection with the intracoastal canal project. The
building OF this canal, which would give direct con-
nections with the Mississippi river basin, destined to
become the most important waterway system in the
world, would assure low transportation rates on a
heavy incoming and outgoing tonnage, which. when
ths Valley attains maximum development, will reach
En- extremely high figure. While the canal would prob
ably be OF little Importance so far as affecting the
rates on perishables is concerned, it would materially
reduce the rates On staple commodities and the heavy
tonnage constantly flowing into the Valley in an
cver-inrreasing stream.
Another factor that should Be taken into con
sidcration il that il would connect with the Valleys
port At Point Isabel. supplying q waterway feeder that
would have a tendency to increase the tonnage handled
through that por'. The proposed extension Of the in
tracoastaI canal up the Arroyo Colorado 70 Harlingen
would prove especially beneficial in this respect, pro-
Siding barge connections with the Valley port as we'll
Is with all other ports on the Gulf coast and the Mis-
sissippI basin.
The Herald believes that It Is the duty Of Valley
citizens to extend full cooperation o)both the port
projects. the intracoastal canal and the proposed i'm
rrovcment OF the Arroyo Colorado as q waterway. II
will be impossible for the Valley to secure too many
waterways or port connections. They should he con
sidercd from two angles-as carriers az commerce and
rs facilities which will make the Valley more at
4ractive as . playground for the tourists and sports
men. Either function would be sufficient to justify
their construction. but when they can be made TO serve
Al q dual capacity their value 10 the Valley and their
effect upon future development viii be doubled.
The fact should be taken into consideration that
Valley development is stn in the embryonic stage. and
that action taken now in the development az a Valley
port and waterways will have a tremendous influence
unon future development Next 70 the opening Of a
pors Al Point Isabel. there Is no project now before the
people Of the Valley which viii have a greater bearing
upon future development than the building Of the in
tracoastal canal and the waterways which would con
rect Herewith and serve the Valley public a. avenues