Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13

WILL SOON Be
OPENTOBOATS
Dredging Inner Chan
mel at Point Isabel
Is Rapidly Nearing
Completion


plishment of which has been
the Valleys goal for over a
generation, is nearing COM
pletion.
In a few months, prob
ably before the first Of the
year, water borne freights
will be landing at the wharf.
md the naturalization of
The Valleys vision Of water
transportation will have
been achieved.
But the Valley visions still
greater developE.an of the
port. Early in the year
plans for a 30-foot channel
and turning basin began to
take shape, and the Valley
is now making an effort TO
secure federal aid for the
purpose of constructing a
port which would have SUI
flclent depth to handle the
largest vessels.
In the past year tremendous
strides have been made in attaining
the Valleys goal. Jctties have been
constructed from Padre and Brazos
islands 10 protect the channel and
prevent filling. The government
dredge Absecon has dredged the
outer channel to the bar and is now
at work widening the inner channel.
These channels will have a depth Of
~ feet, providing ample water for
all craft engaged in the coastal
trade. The first connection between
the outer and inner channels was
completed in July, when the dredge
Absecon. drawing 0 feet, steamed
over the bar at BRACES Santiago, and
came q anchor off the wharf, the
first boat OF that draft to come over
the bar at low tide in recent years.
Government Takes Over Project
Dredging of both channels and the
construction Of the necessary J~etties
was taken over By the government
after the original work on the inner
channel and turning basin, for
which the Valley had raised the sum
of Si25, 1000. had been suspended. In
the summer OF 1925 work on the
~letties got underway after the har-
Dor plans had beea approved by the
army engineers, and with the COM
pletion Of the jetties dredging OF
the outer channel was started.
Though the inner channel had
been nearly completed by the funds
provided by the Valley, IL had be-
come badly silted during the years
that interviewed and IL was found
necessary 10 remove n large volume
of sand and silt. This Is now being
ACCOMPLISHED. and with the compile
ticn Of this work the Valleys port
will be ready. SO far as water depth
Is concerned to handle a large tom
mage. Approximately half a million
dollars is being spent BY the gov
eminent on this work. and an equal
amount will be spent by private con
Germs In providing wharfage y
terminal facilities.
Was Once Valleys Port
The history Of Point Isabel AID
the harbor project il replete vita
romance. encouragement and tin-l
achievement. Prior TO the building
OF the railroad in 1904 practically
all shipments consigned 70 the Lower
Rio Gran1e Valley and northern
Mexico cane by steamer to Point
Isabel or 5y boat up the Rio GRANGE.
IN the early days boats Of 8 70 10
foot draft occasionally crossed the
bar at Rra1os Santiago, and beats
Of q draft anchored IN the
roAds.ead of :he pass and received
or discharged cargo py means q
lighters.
NTH the advent Of the railroad
the Importance OF the old port began
10 wane, and a few years later she
lighters acre sunk and Point lsabe
ceased to exist as a Gulf harbor.
Rapid development Of the Valleys
agricultural resources ard the rap
idly accommodating evidence that the
Valley could produce almost u1llnlt-
ed revived interest IN tbs
port, and in d few years the Valley
was seeking federal aid in dredging
OF channels ard turning basin.
funds were raised ny the Vale!
for the financing and rehabilitation
Of the Rio Grande railway carnect-
ing Brownsville and Point Isabel
ara later a fund Of $l-o.00u was
subscribed 10 dredge the inner man
mel. The government agreed %
dredge the outer chanrel and provide
the Valley with q l6-foot port. and
when the fund o. Sl25,Ou0 was eN-
hsustec and the inner channel re-
NAMED uncompleted the federal gov
again game 70 the rescue
and agreed TO complete the project
Tonnage the Biz Factor
That the harbor project now
nearing completion will prove a.
great value to the Valley Is gen
orally conceded. but Valley citizens
contend that sufficient tonnage can
be produced 70 warrant a So-foot
channel, sufficient for practically
All ships in either the coastal OF
foreign trades. The survey inaug-
urated By Cameron county with
Louis Cobolin' in charge Will, n
the o~ninion OF those familiar with
Valley pctentiaiities. re saiticient
"a convince the government that
fi,I n to justify the a~ppropri-
ntion for q S0-Goot channel. This
wou5d give the Valley water ccnnec-
tions with the Atlantic IS we'll IS
49, Gulf seaboard. reaching markets
which heretofore have been prac
sirally closed to Valley products (
the long railroad haul ard the hig
rates.
Will Serve Immense Ares
The completion Of = 30-foot harl
AZ Point Isabel will make that y
toric port one Of the chief eommt
einl centers az the Gulf coast. Is n
contention OF those who have beef
identified with the various campaign
undertaken on behalf o. the port
prciect. They point out that the
Valley alone can produce an immense
= Of both staple and perish
able agricultural products. the bulk
o. which could be handled BY water
TRANSPORT, ard that development Of
srsustries in the Valley. which Will
vesnlt from low freight rates, would
IL another prolific aource Of ton