Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-17
The Harbor Approximation

Some apprehension was expressed ny q Few Naley
residents when the report was received from Washing
ton on Nav ! that the board Of T.. S. army engineers
had decided to reduce the appropriation for construction
Of the Point Isabel harbor from 100000. recommended
by the district engineer. to S%l.0Oo,0O0, but az the same
time increased the recommendation for maintenance
from slOO.O 900 annually to Sl50,00o, indefinitely.
The detailed report and recommendations Of the
board Of army engineers. received Tuesday, indicate that
the board is confident the appropriation recommended,
with $4,000 to be contributed by Valley interests, will
be ample to construct the project.
The district engineer recommended that the ietties
he extended to the 2O-foot depth. which would entail the
construction Of 400 feet Of jetty in addition to the
slOO feet already constructed. Tie district engineer
also recommended that the entrance channel be dredged
70 a width Of 400 feet. The board Of engineers held the
view that a 300-foot outer channel would be ample, and
that the construction Of $500 TO 5000 feet Of jetty,
n~ohsblv "a the IS or 1e-foot depth would be sufficient
~ nrotect the channel against filling by the shifting
sands. In order 70 assure that the lS-foot depth OF
channel will be maintained, they added Sl50OOO annual
" for maintenance, this additional appropriation being
the form OF insurance that in the event their theory IN
regard to the jetty proves unsound there will be ample
funds 10 maintain the channel. As the government en-
sinners estimate appropriations for such projects upon
: . cent basis, the board is merely what might he
termed placing in escrow the additional Sl,OO0,OoO TO
dsfray the cost Of maintenance instead Of using that
amount in the construction Of Jetties. In the event te
additional ietties prove sufficient TO prevent the shit
-, of-sand into the channel and thereby eliminate the
dredvinr for which the board has made provision the
government can save that amount in the construction
cost.
Ie;tirs have always been more or less a puzzle TO
80. and barbor engineers. VI Is virtually impossible
~ forecast their effect upon currents under various
vin5 ard weather conditions. In the construction OF
numerous harbors the fact has been aScertained that
;s,tiss extending to a depth Of 10 or Is feet are ample
- rro,ect a channel of far greater depth and practically
eliminate maintenance dredging. In other harbors K
h,s basn found necessary 10 construct the letties 70
.h,.r.l aopth or to expend the equivalent in mainte-
49, The most experienced engineer cannot predict
ui,b any degree Of accuracy the effect Of wind and cur
r.,, ard this can only he sscertained over a period Of
years.
One ~ the most significant features of the report IS
,hs fact that the board takes cognizancr Of the rapid de-
x.lonment Of the Valley and the poteatial tonnage OF
ror.bern Mexico. which eventually will pass through the
v.uov,x mort. The board signifies it is confident the
Hus will come when a greater depth oil channel will be
necessary to handle the commerce Of this section
~Tbe further development Of the territory, the move
rsr. ~ water OF its commerce, and the Improvement OF
80 harbor must 20 hand in hand General Herbert
na.Lvre assistant chief Of engineers. says in his re-
.ort aThe board does not believe thst deeper channels
,h.r those provided for BY the existing project can be
;,.,;f;ed az this time. Completion Of the existing pro-
80. dsrtbs. and a trial Of the project for = period q
sa,rs should be assured now, leaving the question OF
attaining or modifying the improvement 70 he deter
rirsd nv the development Of commerce.
Another significant fact brought out by General
n..r,re i that the Valley interests must give the port
en- co-operation il additional depth is TO be secured.
rorYentinc on this phase, he says: The provision oil
sL.rrels alone will not build up the port. Local inter
-. must direct their efforts toward securing service.
procer terminal facilities must be provided and the ad-
;nrc.s az q coastwise port built up"