Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-05

re- Rrsvrsvaie HersH lat rraar ra-sed Hr
prtieae setting forth the eemnaratiur f-ee wasn rn
rgsrus Fruit and ~fntsr veresahles f-ar Les AnFsles
.rd Hs-liurer e. eirht treal uarEet ronts I'M &c
North ard Esst.
These rases shuu cuaeusivrl~ that e. Ecwrr ne
ersuae Vslsy is receiving pwcdcally rc s5rar.are
from the faet chat ft is clase- to the iarrr ma-Eet rem
tiers thar California. and that Nalcv growers g fruit
un5 vegetables 80 beag penalize6 bg rates (Which
offset for the California growers the dissdvsrtaEs Ell
ths Longer hauL
There is "a reason fcr thcre aprareatir eisrrin-
iratorv rates in favor ot TIRE California E~cvers-ard
that reason Is watsr transportation from les angeles,
The California ports ne cren = ths fruit ard
~~eHetable growers Ct California. They can ship Fart
Of their production through tire Panama canal 90 the
eastern markets in the event Tire raiI rates prove ter
high. L IS a long haul from Les Angeles through ire
Panama canal &c the Atlantic ~seahoard, but California
growers several years aEo demonstrated they could
utilize water transportation unless they were granted
mere reasonable freight rstcs-and they cot the
freight rates.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley does not occupy the
favorable position California has attained IL respect
60 water transportation, and the only reassH IL does
not occupy that position Is due to the fact the Valley
has failed 60 develop its port The water haul from
the Valley 70 the eastern Eeahoard markets would be
approximately e per cent O. that from Los Angeles,
and 10 Is reasonable to presume the cost Of such trans
~portsticn would not exceed so or 40 per cent or the
Los Angeles haul.
Rates By rail from Les Angeles e New York On
both citrus fruit and potatoes are lower than On the
same commodities from the Lower Rio Grande Valley,
and the refrigeration charges from the California city
are SIS per car less. The distance from Los Angeles
70 New York Is s,i9s miles rs compared with 2y214
miles from Harlingen. Figured upon q ton mile basis
the California rates 70 the eight typical markets in
eluded in the survey averaged from IS 20 SO per cent
below the Valley rates.
The Lower Rio Gran6e Valley is coming into big
production. Within . few years the counties of Cam
eron, Hidalgo and Willacy could be producing almost
as much agricultural tonnage as the state Of Florida.
and could be californias nearest competitor in tonnage
production. That production will be attained If the
Valley can secure the freight rates TO which II is en-
titled by reason Of its proximity to the large distrib-
uting eenters, but those rates cannot be obtained IN
til water transportation is provided.
California growers have clearly demonstrated the
advantages that viii accrue when water transportation
and low water rates are available. California lacks the
advantage the Valley possesses or proximity BY water
to the large market eenters. and it is logical 70 pre-
sumo this will be N advantage that will have con-
siderable effect upon the rates the Valley viii secure
when q port is opened at Point Isabel.
Cameron and Hidaigo counties are spending over
SIp.oo0,0o0 on their highway programs. Every effort
Is being made to bring the entire Valley region under
intensive development, and the first move in this d.
recton should Be the completion OF q harbor az
Point Isabel and the establishments Of rail and water
rates which will assure profitable returns upon the
immense acreage that could be made productive. "