Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-17
A Unified Valley for the Port

Those old residents Of the Lower Rio Grsnde Valley
who have sought for years to secure deep water at
Point Isabel, who have "done their bit" in the success
sive campaigns to finance the Rio Grande railway, to
dredge the inner channel and to provide the necessary
wharfage, fully appreciate the spirit of unity which
prevailed in the meeting at Mercedes Friday when the
entire Valley went on record favoring the organization
of n navigation district TO develop the port project.
From that day, over twenty years ago, when the
first movement was launched 10 secure deep water at
Point Isabel, down to the present time, the port pro-
ject has always been regarded as one of paramount i'm
portance to the entire Lower Rio Grande Valley. Back
in 1918, 10 and 90. when the Valley was far less pros
nervous than it is today, the faith of the people in the
Valleys future and the future Of the Valleys port
was exemplified in the sacrifices they made to raise
the channel fund and rehabilitate the Rio Grande rail-
way. The people of the Valley knew then, as they
know today. that the future Of this section lies in the
development of deep water at Point Isabel. Il was
through their faith, their energy and their sacrifices
that the project was brought to the point where in a
few months it will become Of real service to the Val
ley. Z
But the huge tonnage the Lower Rio Grande Val
ley can develop for the port demands a greater depth
than 16 feet, and a 3O-foot harbor is essential to pro-
vide the outlet and the markets for the production. Of
the fertile acres Of this section. To secure that 80
foot harbor will entail no such sacrifices as were
necessary back in the old days when the various deep
water campaigns were waged and the Valley respond
cd Oenerausly. With the Valley unified IN Its de-
mand. as Il has always been in the past, federal aid
should be Forthcoming despite the adverse report sub
mitted BY the district chief Of the army engineers.
with a navigation district organized to finance the
necessary wharfage and other details, the final soiu-
ton of the Valleys transportation problem should be
achieved.
The stamp of approval placed upon the navigation
district proposition by the Mercedes mass meeting, in
which virtually every community in the Valley was
represented, indicates that the Valley is anxious 70
complete the port project at the earliest possible date
They want action, and as early as possible. Every day
~ DELAY means a loss to the Valley interests, and
every possible effort should be made to carry or"
with all speed.
The Valley is now entering the era of big develop
ment. II IA almost impossible to conceive the immense
davelopment now under way in both the irrigated and
unirrigated sections. Countless thousands of addition
al acres will be planted next season. but these will be
irsiOnificant in comparison with the tremendous acre
age that will become productive when water rates
through the Valleys port are available.
Sneakers at the Mercedes meeting emphasized the
fac. shat the Point Isabel project is one in which every
mart of the Valley from Roma TO the Gulf is interest
"A. They proved eonclusively that their respective
communities virtually unanimous in their desire to
secure deep water, and that the organization of a navi-
cation district, which is the only logical way in which
"a handle \ project Of this character, would receive
almost unanimous endorsement from the people Of
the entire Valley.