Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-06

stacles to carrying out this plan.
One is legal and the other prac-
teal.
Il took UP both Of these obstacles
on my recent trip TO Austin. Judge
Whitehurst, assistant attorney gen.
eral, is OF the opinion that under
present laws this can't be done and
I agree with him. It Is generally
understood that there win be an
other session Of the legislature In
January, at which time the legal
problem can in my opinion be
worked out.
The Practical Side
"Once bonds are sold and out on
the open market. we may have great
difficulty and also be held up for
premiums in getting hold of them,
especially when they may be In the
hands Of hundreds Of investors.
We have had an experience here
with which illustrates this. In 1918
a refunding road warrant issue was
sold. For some three years we have
had the money to pay off these war
rants but there is a block of two
thousand, which the holder will not
consider any reasonable proposition
to sell so we have invested the
money which we have on hand. In
our own bonds ana don't expect to
get hold of these warrants until
maturity which fortunately Is next
April.
"If we could sell the bonds to the
state board Of education this OBJ
stacle could be overcome. / took
this up with Mr.. Rogers in the state
superintendent office. who handles
the bond department and while he
did not. and for that matter could
not. promise. / have hopes that we
might sell the same to the state as
any bond issue will be well within
the 2 per cent so the state can
legally buy. In case of sale to the
state they would be where he could
get our hands on them. We must
not hold out too much hopes to our
people but If this can be done 1t
would make the district plan prac-
tical and I have hopes that we might
not lose any interest at all.
"I have prepared forms for road
district and obtained the approval
Of our marketing bond attorneys
and II the deadlock can't be broken
I favor the district way and viii
be ready to go.
Valuations Increase
I'VE now have about $325,00 Of
bonding capacity based on calcu-
lations from the 1929 valuations of
the Harrington water district and the
1923 county valuations. This viii be
increased when we ascertain the
1929 county valuations. Also on Oc-
tober 1st the Harlingen water dis
trict will pay off a bunch OF bonds,
all Of which will increase the bond
ing capacity.
II advise that right now we pro-
coed to settle the drag lines fills
and work out the right OF way,
bridge, ETC., problems and that we
not start any district petitions,
hearing, etc, until these matters are
worked out.
ITO my mind 1t Is unthinkable
for us to create q road district and
pave the Boca Chica road without
also at the same time closing the AZ
mile La Paloma gap on the military
road. It Is my opinion that after
we get the 1929 valuations, ETC., that
the county wide bonding capacity
will be such that not over $S5O.OOO
in district bonds will have to be is
sued. This for both the Boca Chica
road ard the La Paloma gap.
IF a district is created 1t should
take in the whole of the Brownsville
precinct and that part Of the Point
Isabel precinct at the Boca Chica
and including all Of Brazos island.
Then there should also be a strip OF
the San Benito precinct from the
end Of the Brownsville precinct TO
La Paloma. This must not be con-
strued as suggesting q change in the
commissioners precinct lines. to
which I am opposed but a road dis
trict can take in whole or parts OF
any precinct. In fact a road district
could be created taking IL parts Of
all four precincts that would go
around the San Benito and Har-
lingen water districts and put La
Feria and Brownsville in the same
road precinct and close both gaps
on the Military road but I hardly
think this Is advisable or practic-
able.
Capital Interested
Saturday. 7 stopped over in San
Antonio and it is indeed a pleasure
to see the interest taken there in
the prospect Of an Ocean Beach,
which can be reached on the main
land without taking boats to reach
the beach and 1t Is my opinion that
once we have assured paving that 1t
will not be sixty days before San An
tonic capital gets busy on hotel and
other Improvements.