Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-19
HARLINCEN

before the present Development IA the
Rio Grarde Valley assumed AM
form. Il never occurred to the people
Of the Valley that the Arroyo Colo
| RADIO could be used as a ship channel
or that there were any other posi-.
bility OF a port in this territory, ez-
cept in the neighborhood Of braLos
pass. This, therefore, accounts TO.
the attitude Of the people for many
years toward the development OF
BRACES Pass and a harbor for that To-
cality. The representations made to
the committee that the people OF tie
Valley wanted a port near Point
Isabel. and thought that the govern
ment owed them assistance IN the dis
charge of a moral obligation, we are
convinced was made in good faith,
but with reference to the attitude OF
the people of the Valley as IL existed
prior to the organization Of this dis
trict. The Arroyo Colorado Naviga-
ton District was organized and start
Il work and investigation while the
agitation for a Valley port was at its
warmest. At TIE time the Rivers
and Harbors committee indicated
that II would recommend to congress
81. OoO. 900 toward a Valley port. it had
no knowledge of the development
taking place here in connection WIN
our project, because we had NOT pro-
ceeded far enough with our inves,i-
cations to be in a position TO MAKE
any positive representations 70 TIE
committee. Also because u prog
ress was interrupted ty . law SUIT
seeking to invalidate the district ana
the bonds voted. Matters were de-
layed until this litigation was fought
cut, which resulted favorably for our
district. We employed General Beach
~ advise US on the possibilities OF
the Arroyo, and q copy Of his report
IL submitted in connection with this
letter. There had been much intor-
nation given in reference to the pcs
yibilities of the Arroyo prior to the
time General Beach made his report,
and on the publication of this re-
port sentiment here in the valley
r~rvstallized in favor of the port on
the Arroyo.
As n positive proof of the correct
neess Of the foregoing statement, we
neg TO call your attention TO the
frct that when it was reported here
N the Valley that the government
wculd appropriate sl,oOo,ooo towaro
the Point Isabel project, provided
certain local Requirements were
made, an attempt was made: ~
TO organize Starr, Hidalgo. Willscy
and Cameron counties into q nsSlgs-
ton district, which district was 10
meet the government requirements.
This proposition met with so Euch
cpposition, the the effort was
abandoned. (2) An effort was made
10 organize Camsron ard Hieslgo
counties into a navigation district
10 raise the money 10 meet the gov
eminent requirements. and this pro-
rosal failed: and, go Effort was
made to organize Cameron county
into a navigation district to meet the
government requirements, and this
proposal also failed. The reason q
The failure Of these efforts, we as
sure you, was on account Of the Tact
that the people Of the Valley were
convinced of the prscticability and
feasibility of a port on the Arroyo,
and that same would be of much
greater service to the Valley. This
conclusion was reached on account Of
the central location for the proposed
port and a land-locked harbor. II
necessary, we could submit to the
committee positive and uncontro-
veritable proof Of what we claim is
attitude Of the entire Valley, except
the locality Of Brownsville. When
these proposals proved Intellectual.
then the people Of Brownsville un-
dertook, and are now In the process
Of organizing a navigation district,
comprised Of Brownsville and loose
contiguous territory. Now, we can
at this time, think of no more posi-
tive proof of the correctness of our
statement, than the report made TO
Major Fox, in connection with the
hearing on the extension of a chan
mel to a point near Brownsville. Tex
as. In this statement IL is shown
that the people of Brownsville and n
small portion of Cameron county
we're seeking this extension Of this
channel down to a point "a
Brownsville, for which they expected
10 pay, because the rest Of the VAL
ley had refused TO co-opeate finan-
cially in meeting the requirements
because il carried the channel TO the
bottom Of the United States.
It is, therefore. clear that the pee
pie Of Brownsville concluded IL was
necessary to make IL a Brownsville
project and are now seeking TO oh
tain a government appropriation in
aid of that project on the ground
that il Is in discharge OF a moral OBJ
legation 10 the people OF the Valley,
This district represents to your cor-
mittee that IL the government IA
willing TO appropriate funds in aid
Of a Valley port, that the sentimen,
Of the Valley now is in favor Of the
expenditure Of that money on the
Arroyo Colorado. and we ask the
consideration of your committee on
this point.
C3l. The Arroyc Colorado Nsviga-
ton District has now on hand $780,
10000 in cash, the proceeds of 4
bond issue, and is being to carry out
the objects for which the district
was created. We hsrsby represent
thst the people Of this district will
meet any further requirements nee
estary for the successful carrying
out of the purposes of this distric..
We have applied to the war depart
ment for the privilege to make q
cut through Padre Island nearly due
east Of the mouth Of the Arrovo. In