Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-14
A New Angle to the Port Project

Fer over a quarter Of a century Valley leaders have
visiOned q Valley port at BrazOs Santiago, . port that
would open the markets Of the world for the immense
tonnage the Valley can produce.
Delegation after delegation has gone TO Washing
ton with this objective in view; and after overcoming
handicaps almost insurmountable the Valley finally
secured the necessary approval Of the army engineers
and the recommendation Of the rivers and harbors
committee for a port that will msterialize the Valleys
ambition TO secure deep water transportation.
throughout the years all sections Of Hidalgc, Cam
sron. wiilacy and Starr counties have worked in per-
feet accord for that objective. Valley leaders knew
the dav would come when the justice Of the Valleys
claims would be recognized. and they worked u~ntiringly
20 hasten that day.
When the BRACES Santiago project finally received
fhe approval Of the army engineers and the recommen-
dations Of the rivers and harbor committee the en-
tire Valley was elated. Leaders held the view that the
crucial point had been passed; that there would be no
unnecessary delay in meeting the conditions Of the
government.
However. in formulating plans for the organization
of a district to meet the requirements laid down by the
army engineers il was discovered that in the organisa-
ton Of a two-county district, the heavy burden would
be placed upon Hidalgo county.
The original plan for q two or four-county dis
trict was to prorate the cost, Cameron county, the
nearer to the port, to bear the major Part Of the bur-
den. Under the state law this cannot be done, and
there il a general sentiment in Hidalgo county that the
division Of the burden would be unfair, notwithstand-
ing the fact many leaders realize that the benefits
would be greatly in excess Of the cost. Several Lead
es have indicated Hidalgo would consider the propc-
tition Of organizing a second district to cooperate in
port development after Cameron county has organized
and met the requirements Of the government, thereby
squalizing the cost upon a more equitable basis
As the project now stands, apparently il MI il up 70
Cameron county to finance the harbor. The Arroyo
navigation district. including the Harrington section,
while Il has not formally announced non-participation
in the Brazos Santiago project, has indicated 1t Is in
terested oaiy in its own PROTECT Reports also indicate
that opposition TO a countrywide district would be en-
countered in the western section Of the county not in
cluded in the Arroyo district. Whether this oppOsi-
tion IL sufficiently serious to prevent inclusion in the
district remains to be determined. ( may be said in
all sincerity that il vii not be the policy Of the lead
es in the port movement TO include any considerable
territory in which there is we'll defined opposition, as
st. is not, and never has been, the intention Of the port
committee 10 force the harbor project upon any county
or community. However, the fact that every city,
town. community and individual in the Valley will par
ticipate equally in the reduced freight rates and nu-
merous advantages deep water al Brazos Santiago will
bring, makes II in all essentials a Valley project.
And The Herald believes that a. such Brazos Santiago
should have the active cooperation OF the entire Val
ley. This, Of course. is a matter upon which individ-
uals and sections are entitled to their own views. II
they feel that in justice TO themselves and the Valley
they should enter the district, they will be welcomed:
If they do not hold this view. that is their prerogative,
In this connection attention should be called to the
fact that the burden will not be heavy upon any sec
ton. Between 100000 and S~l.20O,O00 will be re-
auired to meet the conditions of the army engineers.
II this burden is spread over a large area i will oe
almost negligible to the individual taxpayer; il local
izsd, 1t will Of course. be a heavier burden upon the
individual. but there will be no general protest against
assuming il.
At the meeting Tuesday night every phase Of the
port situation was discussed frankly, and there was
no doubt left in the minds Of these present that the
government conditions will be met, either by organ
hing two county districts, a district comprising parts
OF Cameron county not included in the Arroyo dis
trict, or organization Of a Brownsville district. Final
decision will be reached At a mass meeting called for
September 25, and when that decision is reached there
will be no further delay in completing the foundation
fer . deep water port.