Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-12

mittees we will have something def
mite on which 10 work" Judge
Yates said, adding that he. believed
the committeeman should make al
thorough canvass OF their respective
communities and ascertain public
sentiment as closely as possible.
The motion carried without a dis
scnting vote, and announcement was
made that the committee reports
would be received at q mass meet
ing n Brownsville Tuesday night,
September 60, the meeting 70 be
in the high school auditorium.
History Of All Harbors
Colonel Thomas H. Ball declared
that history was merely being re-
peated in the Lower Rio Grande VAL
ley, and there is no harbor on the
Texas coast which was not at first
confront with the same opposition
Santiago project.
The place to build a port Is
where q port belongs" Colonel Bali
said. THE place for = Valley port
Is at Brazos Santiago, q project that
has received the unanimous approval
Of the U S. army engineers and the
Recommendation Of the rivers and
harbors committee Of which ] was
a member when in congress. That
is the only government project on
the Texas coast; that they had en-
countered opposition Of selfish IN
tcrests." and that practically every
navigation district had extended aft
err the original organization.
When the public realizes the
berefits OF deep water they are al-
ways ready to aid in Improving the
port and its facilities" Colonel Ball
declared after citing the fact that
practically every navigation district
had expanded after meeting the
government requirements.
Urges Port First
Don't talk about ship channels
now" was Colonel Balls advice.
Meet the governments require
ments at Brazos Santiago; dredge
your harbor, and then II ship chan
nels are deemed necessary, build
tLem."
He asserted he is confident that
in view Of the excellent highway
ard railroad connections the Brazos
Santiago port will have it will serve
the entire Valley, stating that the
day Of the OK cart ard barge for
short hauls has passed, and that
trucks and trains can deliver short
haul tonnage far more cheaply and
ex~peditiously.
II know every port on the Texas
coast" Colonel Ball said, "and /
wish to say that the Lower Rio
Grande Valley has greater possibili-
ties than any part Of the United
States. Deep water will give this
section a decided advantage over
California; it will give you lower
freight rates, an opportunity to mar
ket your products at minimum cost
| predict that Harlingen will, even
tually. come into the Rrax0s San
tiago project, the only project that
has received the approval Of the
army engineers and for which an APP
preparation hes been recommended.
All towns will get the benefit OF
the rates the port will establish;
and every section OF the Valley will
share equally in the benefits"
Colonel Ball also emphasized the
fact that the rivers and karbors bill
carries a recommendation Of $780,
900 annually for maintenance, stat
ing this item was Of greater Import
ance than the s1,0a0,000 construc-
ton appropriation. He declared that
every Texas port had found main
tenance expensive, and that several
ports would have ceased to exist II
It had not been for government
maintenance during their first
years. The maintenance item for
the Brazos Santiago port, he point
cd out. is permanent.
Want Valley 10 Participate
II was the consensus OF Browns
vile speakers that rs the entire VAL
lev will benefit equally with BROWNS
vile, the port should be a Valley
wide project, but that in the event
the rest Of the Valley, through a
misunderstanding Of the situation,
should refuse to join, Brownsville
should 60 ahead with the project,
vote the necessary bonds and con-
struct a channel from Brownsville
to Brazos Santiago.
Captain G. r. Tyrrell. head Of the
Port Isabel Co. stated that "if
Brownsville desires to become a
Houston. Point Isabel Il willing 20
be a Galveston. and there will be no
controversy on that feature"
Colonel Ball suggested tina.
Brownsville instead Of building a
channel to the city build the city
TO the port "Brazos Santiago Is the
natural location for the Valleys
deep water port" he said. "and 4
port there will serve every need OF
the entire Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Plan Mass Meetings
Representatives from San Benito
and La Feria stated they proposed
to hold a series OF mass meetings in
their respective communities. and
definitely a-certain public opinion.
"San Benito has never Jagged on
a Valley project" Frank Robertson,
manager of the San Benito water
district. said. Personally. I an IN
favor If San Benito going into the
district. ] believe the benefits
would be far in excess Of such tax
as may be imposed. but I cannot
speak for the entire community"
Similar orinions were EXPRESSED
BY j. r. Bell. secretary Of the San
Renito Chamber of Commerce and
Judge y. Q. Louthar. AL Parker was
the only representative from La
Fc-ia present.
Belief that there IS still a nossi-
hility Of "-cdeeminrr H~arlirren
was expressed by Mr.. Robertson.
who urged that a committee he APP
roirted 70 confer with Harlirren
leaders to ascertain definitely their
st.rd uron the Valley p~roject-
All plans If connection with the
Valley port will be discussed in the
community maSs meetings. and the
taxpayers If the respective COM
munities given the opportunity 70
express their opinions. At the
meeting IN Brownsville the bour-
daries Of the district will be def
nitelv fixed ard organization OF the
| district pushed with all possible