Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-05
Editorial from The Brownsville Herald,
Oct. 81, 1927
Navigation District Necessary

That the Valleys vision Of a thirty-foct harbor at
Point Isabel cannot Be materialized without the organ
ization Of a navigation district is now generally con-
coded by Valley residents. For almost twenty years
leaders in the deep water movement have tried other
avenues to secure a port. As a result Of their efforts
the I6-foot channel is now nearing completion, and will
doubtless prove Of great value to the Valley. but the
real gcal-z thiTty-foot channel-vill not Re achieved
until : navigation district j. organized and functoning.
There is a growing belief among farmers. business
men and developers that further extensive develop
nent OF the Valleys natural resources is virtually in
possible without lower freight rates which a deep
water pert at Point Isabel would assure. The Valley l.
fully cognizant Of the fact that along the Atlantic
seaboard are immense markets for Valley production,
markets which could consume all the fruit and vege-
ables the million and more fertile acres OF the Valley
could produce. There Is but one way TO gain access to
those markets upon a basis that would assure profits
TO the Valley growers and that is through water trans
portation and the low rates vater-borns freights
would assure.
California citrus fruit Is now practically dominat-
ing the eastern markets, due to the fact that water
competition has reduced the rate to the point where
fruit from California can be delivered in New York
at 80 cents per box less than the Valley fruit grower
IS forced to pay. That so cents per box represents the
growers profit, q profit which would assure prosperi-
ty for every citrus fruit grower in the Lower Rio
Grsrds Valley. The Valley now has approximately
100000 citrus fruit trees. all CT which will come into
bearing within four years. Valley citrus fruit ship
usnts will in a few years rival those Of either Cali
fornia or Florida. Millions of dollars have been in
vested in these orchards, and II they are to return the
maximum profits to the growers, profits which will
assure the prosperity OF the industry. rates must Be
secured which will at least give the Valley fruit the
opportunity to compete with that OF California and
Florida in the big markets Of the East.
The truck grower, the cotton grower are interested rs
much in the development Of . deep water port at Point
Isabel as the fruit grower. There i hardly q com
modify produced in the Lower Rio Grande Valley that
would not benefit through the establishment Of water
transportation, and the benefits that would accrue 70
the Valley as q whole are almost incalculable.
Millions Of dollars are being expended IN the con-
struction az highways; additional millions are going
into new business structure, homes, schools ana
churches Why should not tire Valley put a few thous-
ands into a deep water port, a project that would as
sure big returns upon the investments already made
and would virtually assure maximum development. q
the entire lower border area:
The deep water port It Point Isabel = the most
important proposition before the people Of the Valley
today. There is but one way TO solve the various
problems connected with the project, and that Is BY
the organization OF q navigation district The VALLEY
this year will lose millions OF dollars b. not having
tire deep water port available to handle its production,
and every possible effort should be mace to Organize
and eOnplsts the port without unnecessary delay.