Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-24


own turning basin and terminal IA
~ciiities Rt or near Point Isabel.
In the event the decision OF the
engineers was against the change as
proposed by Brownsville. and the in
ncr channel was left where planned,
under the existing project, or shift
ed slightly 10 the south. in accord
ance with the plan above outlined,
then and in such event the two dis
tricts were to join in raising the
funds necessary to meet the govern
mental requirements; the two dis
tricts to contribute the total neces-
sary in proportion &c the assessed
property valuation in the two dis
tricts; Brownsville to be privileged
should she so desire, to connect with
the proposed turning basin at her
expense.
The foregoing was certainly the
| clear impression | had Of the under
standing and the intention OF both
the Brownsville and the San Benito-
Point Isabel leaders with whom /
conferred.
The Court Resolution
The commissioners court of Cam
eron county on Dec. 81, passed a
rather remarkable resolution, to the
following effect;
Third: That in no event shall
any of the moneys derived from the
sale of said bond issue Of the
Brownsville district be used for any
purpose whatsoever II the main
channel leading from Brazos San
tiago pass through the bay be con-
structed by way OF Point Isabel, onr
unless adequate maintenance funds
he provided by the United States
Government TO be used for the main
tcnance OF such Brownsville chan
mel through the Laguna Madrc bay"
Or course a commissioners court
can not lie restrained from adopting
and publishing such resolutions as IL
may see fit. In the present instance,
the action OF the commissioners rom
Stitutod simply an empty gesture as
the court II utterly without authori-
ty to directly or indirectly bind the
navigation district by such resolu-
ton. This fact was recognized BY
the two lawyers on the court, and Il
is to be noted that both refrained
from voting upon the resolution.
Petition states Purposes
The purposes for which this
Brownsville Navigation district was
created and 81. 000. 600 In bonds auth
orized, are stated in the petition
filed in the commissioners court. Ths
authority and the power of the nav
igation district now that il is created
are defined by statute. The commits
s~ioners court Of Cameron county is
without power or authority to
change in one iota these purposes,
this authority or this power. Neither
the petition nor the law Of this state
imposes the restrictions upon the
navigation district sought to be inn
posed in the resolution.
1t is my firm conviction that the
people of Brownsville and San BENZ
10 alike are determined that we shall
have a Valley port, and If the de-
cision Of the army engineers is that
the inner channel and turning basin
shall remain substantially as locat-
cd in the already approved project,
! am convinced that the great ma
Jority OF the people Of both Browns
Vile and proposed San Benito-Point
Isabel districts will favor the meet
ing Of the governmental require
mcnts through joint action Of the
two districts, the amount necessary
being contributed in proportion to
the assessed valuations OF the two
districts, which ~ certainly the most
equitable method Of apportioning
this expense.
In other words, II the matter mar
rows down to the proposition that
we must either have the Brazos San
t~iago-Point Isabel project or none
Mt all, IL is to me inc0nceivable that
the people Of Brownsville and San
Benito would be 50 short-siyhted
and SO neglected. Of their own best
interests as to refuse to meet the
comparatively small expense neces-
sary to secure a Valley harbor.
Urges United Action
IL Is true that other sections OF
the Valley. which will be benefited,
will not ne contributing toward the
expense as they should, but this is
a minor consideration and should
not influence the action Of Browns
vile and San Benito. The amount
If expense involved is SO small as
compared with the enormous bene-
fits TO accrue TO these two cities and
surrounding territory that the fact
that other large areas will benefit
without having contributed toward
the expense should be d~isregarded
Of the engineers viii b~ex-theEceo
We do rot know what the decision
Of the engineers will be. but should
y be 70 retain the turning basin as
Or near Point Isabel. Brownsville
will still have the right Of connect
ing with this turning basin at any
time she may 80 desire.
Ships must pass Galveston TO
reach Houston. Houston has devel-
oped into one OF the great eaports
Of the United States. The decision
Of the army engineers will undoubt-
eddy be known before many weeks
have passed. Whatever this decis-
ion may be, We should agree in adj
vance 20 be bounnd BY II and TO do
/ that which IL ppraExary - 49,