Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-19
The Battle for Deep Water

The Brownsville navigation districts snip channel
and port project is the first deep water move in the
Valley that has assumed what might be termed def
rite form and which proposes a comprehensive and
we'll financed program for port development.
For over half a century the Lower Rio Crande Val
ley has fought r. deep water. Leader has succeeded
leader; plan after plan has been proposed, and every
known means Of financing such projects. with the ex-
oeption Of organizing a navigation district and voting
the necessary bonds, has been tried.
Thousands Of Valley residents have q distinct rec6l-.
lection Of the channel fund campaign. the s. 3. S. drive
Of several years ago; the movements ~ finance rel
Mobilization or the Rio Grande railway and constru.-
tiOn Of a pier. They will also recollect the heart.
breaking efforts to collect by public subscription the
funds with which to carry on the battle, the innumer-
able committees organized, the strenuous efforts OF
those who visioned the future of the Valley with water
transportation providing an outlet for the almost IN
limited tonnage this section can produce.
Brownsville and contiguous territory. after years of
effort, has proposed the only logical method of secur.
ing a port. and it is now the only proposition before
the Valley which assures meeting the requirements of
the federal government and providing sufficient funds
to construct a ship channel and port. The proposal 70
issue bonds in the amount Of 100000 is the first con-
crete and comprehensive proposition advanced through
out all the years Of strenuous endeavor to secure
water transportation and its attendant benefits. Here
bfore port efforts have been through the medium &c
committees OF publicspirited citizens who sought to
raise funds by public subscription, and though they
meet . generous response the effort proved unproduc-
tive other than 70 educate the Valley to the need Or
water transportation.
Brownsville has vigorously supported every por.
project preached in the past half ceAtury. Residents
of the city and contiguous territory have given freely
of their money and time to advance the cause of deep
water. They assumed leadership in the effort to organ
izs the Valley, and when the crucial point arrived and
/. became evident that upon the territory included III
the Brownsville district rested tine responsibility Of
meeting the government requirements and providing
the Necessary funds. thai responsibility was accepted
by the leaders.
That the voters Of the Brownsville navigation dis
trict will ratify at the election next Saturday the plans
presented BY those who accepted leadership IN the ef-
fort to secure for Brownsville and the entire Valley
a deep water port is practically assured. The voters are
cognizsnt Of the fsct that at last a definite program
has been prepared and presented; that upon them
rests the responsibility Of putting over" the port
project, and they can be depended upon % cooperate
as visorouslv and efficiently IS they have IN the past
vhneve- a project Of vital importance 3, the city, the
county or the Valley has been submitted to them.
The only question is the size Of the majority, and
!. should Be 50 overwhelming that there can he no
ousstion a. 10 the interest of the voters and the intent
II lie district to carry on until the ship channel and
mort ara completed and opened to provide cheap trans
pcrtation rates 70 all Of South Texas