Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-03
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Representative,
The Valley Needs Deep Water

The Brownsville Herald last Friday carried an
article setting forth the comparative freight rates on
citrus fruit and winter vegetables from Los Angeles
and Harrington to eight typical market points in the
North and East.
These rates show eonelusively that the Lower Rio
Grande Valley is receiving practically no advantage
from the fact that it is closer to the large market CEN
ters than California, and that Valley growers Of fruit
and vegetables are being penalized by rates which
offset for the California growers the disadvantage Of
the longer haul.
There is a reason for those apparently discrim-
inatory rates in favor of the California growers-and
that reason Is water transportation from Los Angeles.
The California ports are open TO the fruit and
vegetable growers of California. They can ship part
Of their production through the Panama canal to the
eastern markets in the event the rail rates prove too
high. It is a long haul from Los Angeles through the
Panama canal to the Atlantic seaboard, but California
growers several years ago demonstrated they could
utilize water transportation unless they were granted
more reasonable freight rates-and they got the
freight rates.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley does not occupy the
favorable position California has attained in respect
70 water transportation, and the only reason it does
not occupy that position 10 due to the fact the Valley
has failed to develop its port. The water haul from
the Valley to the eastern seaboard markets would be
approximately 25 per cent Of that from Los Angeles,
and it Is reasonable to presume the cost Of such trans
portation would not exceed so or 40 per cent Of the
Los Angeles haul.
Rates by rail from Los Angeles to New York on
both citrus fruit and potatoes are lower than on the
same commodities from the Lower Rio Grande Valley,
and the refrigeration charges from the California city
are SIS per car less. The distance from Los Angeles
to New York is 5,1s5 miles as compared with 2,214
miles from Harlingen. Figured upon a ton mile basis
the California rates to the eight typical markets in
cluded in the survey averaged from IS to so per cent
below the Valley rates.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is coming into big
production. Within a few years the counties Of Cam
eron, Hidalgo and Willaey could be producing almost
as much agricultural tonnage as the state OF Florida,
and could be CALIFORNIA; nearest competitor in tonnage
production. That production will be attained if the
Valley can secure the freight rates to which it is en-
titled by reason Of its proximity to the large distrib-
uting centers, but those rates cannot be obtained IN
til water transportation is provided.
California growers have clearly demonstrated the
advantages that will accrue when water transportation
and low water rates are available. California lacks the
advantage the Valley possesses Of proximity by water
to the large market centers, and it is logical TO pre-
sumo this will be an advantage that will have con-
siderable effect upon the rates the Valley will secure
when a port is opened at Point Isabel.
Cameron and Hidalgo counties are spending over
] 100000 on their highway programs. Every effort
Is being made to bring the entire Valley region under
intensive development, and the first move in this d.
rection should be the completion of a harbor at
Point Isabel and the establishment Of rail and water
rates which will assure profitable returns upon the
immense acreage that could be made productive.