Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-29
PORT DISTRICT

tCentinued from page ons)
underway In the early summer Of
next year"
Special Act Needed
Mr.. Cresger called attention 10 the
fact that under tbs existing lsw q
navigation district cannot include
more than two counties, and that in
order to include the four Valley
counties a special act Of the legisla-
tura will be necessary. The bill will
also provide that the district may
build and own It's own terminals, the
district to be controlled by q board
of directors including one member
from each county, with the fifth
member selected by the board.
The chairman introduced Col. Thos.
Ball, whom he characterized "the
guiding spirit in the Houston port de-
yslopment." Gel. Bal informed the
committee that he was willing to aid
in the organization Of the district.
and that the matter Of retainer could
be fixed BY the committee after the
district is organized. He discussed
the harbors and waterways of the
Texas coast, recoInted his experiences
as a member Of the river and harhor
committee OF the lower house Of rom
gress, and the fight made for deep
water at Galveston. the first OF the
Texas ports. He stated that Gal
weston originally had a 13-fo0t chan
mel. and that every port on the Gulf
coast started with a 3 10 15 foot
channel.
Lauds Work of Committee
Colonel Bali Iauded the work Of the
Valley port committee, stating they
had accomplished in less than six
months what had required nearly
four years for Houston TO accom-
plish when the initial appropriation
for that port was sought.
Relative 20 the Arroyo Colorado
project, Col. Ball, who is also at
torney for the Arroyo Navigation
district. said that the completion Of
n deep water port az Point Isabel is
essential 20 the development OF the
Arroyo waterway: that Point Isabel
would provide the outlet for the
Arroyo channel as well as providing
the southern terminal for the inter
coastal canal. In regard 10 the
100000 bonds vcted BY the Arroyo
Navigation district he stated they
were for a certain specific purpose,
dredging Of the Arroyo channel.
Colonel Ball urged close co-opeYa-
tion between the Valley counties in
working out the harhor project. "The
destinies OF the Valley counties are
welded together" he said. "a port
at Point Isabel will benefit every
section of the Valley and every in
dividual in the Valley"
Unon motion OF John r. Lomax on
San Benito the committee retained
Colonel Ball TO handle the legal
phases of the district organization,
Mr. Lomax paying high tribute TO
Colonel Balls ability in this work.
A. J. McColl Of McAllen called for
q vote Of confidence for the chair
man. expressing the opinion that no
project Of similar magnitude had
been handled more effectively and
sxpeditiously. the committee unani-
mously voieing their approval OF the
chsirman'S efforts in behalf Of the
port project.
Tn thanking the committee for
their vote OF confidence. Mr.. Creager
urged that the Valley beware OF
local discord. The port Is one thing
in which all residents Of the Valley
can combine" he said, land petty
~jealousies should not he permitted "a
interfere with the project"
Mr.. and Mrs. y. r. LentE and sor
~ Harrington are registered At the
Travellers hotel