Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-18
Says CUTOFF
SURVEY MADE
County Engineer Goes
On Stand I'm Trial
Boca Chica Case

The shortest practicable route
from the Boea Chica road TO PoinH
Isabel Is by way OF the Iona Alta
road connecting with the Barreda-
Point Isabel road at the "Y", w. q.
Washington, county engineer, tests
fled in the trial of the Boca Chicm
road case in civil district court Fri-
day morning.
The county engineer stated that
tentative surveys had been made for
cutoff road from the Boca Chica
road near the big bend OF the Ris
Grande 90 Point Isabel, and that for
nearly half the distance a highwaS
constructed on that route would ba
exposed to Gulf storms and tide.
He also stated that he considered ths
last six miles of the Boca Chica
road extremely hazardous" from an
engineering standpoint.
The intervenors brought out tho
fact that Mrs. Nellie Esperson Stew
art, owner of the major portion of
the land traversed by the Boca Chica
road had stopped work on flood con-
troll levees on her land. This evil
dence was barred by the court on
the objection Of plaintiffs that 10
was immaterial, would only serve To
prejudice the jury. and that th0
county could have exercised the right
or eminent domain and condemned
such lands as we're deemed neces-
sary for flood control levees.
Frank Brown, testifying for thu
intervenors, said that the Southmos5
road was virtually impossible in wcs
weather and that construction Of a
paved highway would greatly enhance
land values and production. He
stated that a survey or the lower riv-
CIR country two years ago indicated
that the average annual value Of tho
crops IN that section IN about $780,
GOO.
| II. ID. Seago. county clerk. testified
that he had examined the county rec
ords and had failed TO find any dedi-
cation Of the Bora Chiea road bv
the owners Of the property
Several clashes occurred between
opposing counsel during the morning
session, and in reply 70 a statement
the county desired to show that Mrs.
Stewart had been responsible for
such delay as had occurred i'm start-
ing work on the Boca Chica road,
Judge Taylor asserted that the mat
Il hGN VI was uNA bNA0AG -
court; and the road had been
designated for prior construction.
and that the plaintiffs insisted upon
such priority.
Claims Route Practicable
"A. ". Anderson. Brownsville civil
engineer. was the first witness on
the stand Thursday afternoon ft-
plaintiffs. MIR. Anderson stated -
had made a survey Of a proposed
cutoff road from the Boca ChicI
road to Point Isabel, leaving the Be-
ca Chica road about 13 miles below
Brownsville near the big bend in ths
Rio Grzndc.
II consider that route practicable
Mr.. Anderson said.
The route surveyed followed trs
/ ridges from the Big Bend 20 ths
Barreda-Point Isabel road, inters
secting the latter at n point abous
a mile and half above Point lss-
bel. The elevation would avcrags
from sea level 20 80 feet above.
About 500 feet would be AZ sei
level. across the lagoon into whi-h
the drainage bitches discharge, AMI
. between 40 and so per cent would
run on the ridges Approximately
% TO 80 per cent of the road would
bc exposed 10 gulf storms or abnor-
NAL tides. Mr.. Anderson said. Moss
u Continued on page tuOl