Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-28
Navigation District Necessary

Though the report and recommendations Of Col. j.
L. Schley. district engineer at Galveston. regarding the
Valleys port at Point Isabel. have not been made public
in detail. Colonel Schley has indicated he will recon-
mend a 100000 project, toward which the Lower Rio
Grande Valley interests will be requested to contribute
100000. the government to bear the cost Of maintain
ance which is estimated at 100000 per year. There il
every reason to believe that this Is in substance the
recommendation to be placed before the board Of army
engineers and that IL will meet the approval Of that
board as well as the river and harbors committee OF
the house and be incorporated in the rivers and harbors
appropriations during the present session.
To the people Of the Valley, who have for years
been handicapped BY the burden Of high freight rates,
the intimation that recommendation Of this nature
will be incorporated in the rivers and harbors bill
comes as a distinct relief. It is very apparent that
the army engineers are taking into consideration the
Valleys struggle for a deep water port; the financial
sacrifices the Valley has made, and are determined at
this time to put over a project that will assure water
transportation for the Valley.
There l. but one way for the Valley to provide the
funds the federal government will require for the
Valleys part in the financing OF the project. and thar
Is by the organization Of a navigation district. Under
the existing law only two counties can be included in
> navigation district; but this could be overcome by
special act Of the legislature providing for the orrani-
zation Of a district to include the four Valley counties
Of Cameron, Hidalgo. Willaey and Starr. Every resi-
cent o. each OF these counties would be a direct bene-
fciary q the port, and the attitude Of the leaders iudi-
Gates that AT four counties desire 10 participate in q
project Of such vital Importance to the entire Valley.
No action in connection with organization of a dis
trlct Will be undertaken until congress has passed the
necessary measure and set forth in detail the require
ments the Valley must meet. But the Waller counties
should be prepared to inaugurate the movement for
organization as soon as congress takes action. thereby
assuring as little dela- as possible in completing the
port 50 far as the details Of the proposed NAVIGATION
district are concerned 'hese must be worked ont upon
an equitable basis, assuring a fair distribution Of the
burden upon a basis Of benefits to be received.
In addition to meeting the requirements Of the vov-
eminent In regard 70 cooperation BY local interests IN
financing the jetties and channels, the navigation ds.
trict should own and control at least part Of the
wharves and terminals. The announcement OF tbc
Port Isabel Company that lands they have acouired
would be turned over to the district for terminals ana
wharves at the nominal cost for wheih they we're ae.
7uired assures the district will have no difficulty in thn.
respect. Cameron county also has an option On the ella
government radio site which can be secured at 4 vers
reasonable price, the county having secured the option
with . view Of turning it over TO q navigation district
when the time arrived. Due 70 the far-siRhted policy
Of tn county and the Port Isabel Company the navira.
ticn district of the future will be well protected IN this
respect and will not be obliged to pay s~xorbitsnt wiees