Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-09
BROWNSVILLE
WORKING OUT
OLD PROJECT
to Cut Through
Lowlands to City
Were Discussed
Prior to Civil War

80 81 HNWEAF VI
the Lower Rio Grande Valley and
northern Mexico havs yisioned a port
At Brownsville. a port which would
provide markets for a region fahu-
IOusly rich in natural resources.
The proposal TO construct a ship
channel from BrazOs Santiago TO
Brownsville, as projected by the
Brownsville navigation district, re-
Gently organized, - not an inn0ya-
tion. For over three-fourths OF n
century this plan has occasionally
been brought up and discussed, but
heretofore has met financial or other
obstacles which prevented material
izatIon Of the visions Of the earliest
pioneers who knew the potcntiaiitirs
Of the area the port would serve.
A. far back ~ the summer WI 1916.
when General Zachary Iaylors
troops were marching from Mata-
moros 10 Monterrey, with Point
Isabel. Brownsville and Camargo aS
the supply bases, a naval officer sta
toned at Fort Polk, Point lsahrll.
in CORRESPONDENCE with General Taylor
commented upon tn feasibility w a
channel from Brazos Santiago a.
Brownsville, though the crude drcdr-
ing machinery OF that period would
have made the work extremely diff
cult. Part Of the supplies for lay
lor's army were brought overland by
ORLEANS from Point Isabel and tran
shipped to river boats for shipment
to Camargo. But the heavier sun
plies were brought up the river BY
boat from Point Isabel. River boats
were dispatched by the navy depart
ment 10 the Rio Grande, arriving
shortly after the capture of Mats-
moros, General Taylor, in his official
and personal letters. paid frequent
tribute 10 the efficiency OF the river
e and boats which kept his bases
supplied.
Planned nv StilImans
James Stillman and his associates.
original owners Of the Brownsville
townsite, frequently discussed n
channel connecting with Bra1os San
tiago, and IL b. understood that n
tentative survey was made in 1852.
though there il no record. The
American Flag. n weekly publication
devoted Ia the interests of the Still
mans and development w The
Brownsville tounsitc. lin 1855 com
mcnted editoriallv upon the project.
pointing out that IA ship channel
which would assure adequate proter-
tion for shipping would make Browns
vile the key to AN Of northeastern
Mexico.
Again in 1866 the attention " the
navy department was called ~ the
feasibility Of the channel project.
The United States government st
that time was primarily interested IN
forcing Macmillan from Mexico. and
Brazos Santiago was used as the base
OF operations. General Phil Sheridan
was sent 20 the border and construct
ed a railroad from Brazos Santiago
10 Palmito, about twelve miles below
Brownsville. The only object OF the
railroad was 10 move troops and sup
plies from Brazos Santiago to tho Rio
Grande in the event the United
States should deem 10 necessary 20
out Macmillan by force Of arms.
With this railroad Sheridan could
place his troops at strategic points
in the minimum time and could es-
tablish a well protected supply base.
The same point could have been
reached by river boats by making the
roundabout trip from BRACES Santi-
ago over the bar AZ the mouth ~ the
Rio Grande ard up the tortuour
windings Of that stream The fall If
the Macmillan empire resulted IN
abandonment of the railroad which
was intended merely ~ "A military
threat, but did not result III abandon
ment M the channel project which
throughout the years has been con
sidercd of prime Importance IN the
economic development Of the Rio
Grando Valley and northern Mexico.
association Formed
The reconstruction years and rcvo-
lutions IN Mexico impoverished the
border country. when the Rio Grands
railway was built in 1870 ID was sdr-
quate to handle the small volume Of
commerce coming into Brazos Ssnti-
ago. As the years pasesd with few
changes on the border the ship chan
mel project was gradually relegated
to the Oblivion of the roscate dreams
Of the earliest pioneers.
Construction Of the st. l.. r. & VI.
railroad into the Valley in 1904
brought a sudden change in condi-
tions. Apathy was replaced with en-
ergy. and development on the north
side Of the Rio Grandc proceeded ~
a pace never anticipated. Within a
INV AAAAn 81 NfAIAANL 1NA4AAM W #fN
ley leaders that water transportation
was essential 70 maximum develop
mcnt OF the of the Valley
country. Irrigation had proved that
the Valley soil. under proper Guilt
walton. would produce prolifically-
and that the volume of production
was merely n question XXX securing
markets.
In 1913 tho Brownsville Water
ways association wa formed with
the objective or securing deep water
AZ Brazos Santiago and construction
III a ship channel ~ Brownsville.
The officers VI the association were
s. X. Hallam. president: Benjamin
Kowalski, first vice president; C. IT.
Rarrcda. second vice president: ~
n. McDavitt. secretary and ". VI.
Scott. Three Of these o.
ficers. s. X. Hallam. q. r. Barreda
and J.. r. Scott. are still residents
OF Brownsville and ardent advocates
Of the ship channel. or the other
two. Benjamin Kowslski died sew
eral years ago. and K. II. MacDavitt
resides in Idaho.
The board Of directors consisted
Of Louis Cobolini, Capt. VIM. Kelly,
James II. Wells, s. l.. D~worman, X. r.
Creager, w. \. Pearson. ". +. Haw-
kins. Jose Celaya. j. G.. Fernandez,
J. r. Scott, X. II. McDavitt and :. \.
Hallam. The Brazos Santiago deer
water committee consisted Of T.
Cobolini. chairman: James X. Wells
Capt. VIM. Kelly. A. A. Browne and
II. u. Creagcr. The Brownsville ship
channel committee was composed M
>. III Tucker. chairman: RI. W.. Sea
bury, r.. r. Rcntfro. VI. r. McDavitt,
Col. ~ r. Gay. M. u. Slattery. II. III
Il frm-A