Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-25
I'm OUR
VALl.EY

A DECISION on location Of the
I Valleys deep water port is to be
announced July by United States
army engineers, say those return
ing from the recent hearing in
Washington.
That is just IS days away. and a
much earlier date for a decision
than had been expected.
All those who attended the hear
ing from Brownsville are very opti-
mistic over the outlook and seem
to think Brownsville should begin
preparations immeditely to let con-
tract for the channel.
Even a favorable decision from
the engineers viii not mean that
government work is TO be started
Immediately. Congress must then
pass an appropriation for the por-
ton Of the work that is to be done
by the army engineers.
II the decision Is unfavorable
that, Of course. will not mean the
end OF the fight for a harbor near
Brownsville. Few worthwhile bat
ties are won in the first skirmish.
1t may even be necessary for
Brownsville to build the channel TO
connect with one through Brazos
Santiago Pass TO Point Isabel.
This is what Houston did.
The government refused aid TO
the Bayou city because "the addi-
ttonal expense" overweighted the
advantages Of a harbor located So
miles inland on a winding muddy
bayou.
Galveston in those days laughed
1t Eoustons ambition to become a
eaport.
But Houston. without govern
nent aid, spent about S5.0O0.O00 to
cut the first channel. And after
many months a small coastwise
steamer finally was induced to haz-
zard a journey up to the very in
adequate docks.
Houston newspapers carried g.
column banners to the effect that
SFirst Ship is in Harbor."
Galveston papers took due note of
the incident too by poking fun 1t
the "tug" which with much diff
Guilty" had negotiated the social d
ship channel to Houston.
Then after three weeks in tie
Houston port that same ship left
nd made a declaration at the Gall
Eton customs house Of one case
OF chewing tobacco That was
comical to Galveston citizens and
the newspapers had a lot of fun.
But Houston finally did prove TO
the government the necessity for a
harbor near that city-ani the de-
termination Of citizens 10 build one.
Y Then United States army engi-
neers and congress came 10 the
trescue. Millions were spent IN
STRENGTHENING and deepening the
watercourse to the sea. Today
Houston boasts one of the finest
fharbors in the land and Galveston
citizens and newspapers no longer
| see it as huge joke.
VISITORS to Mexico continue to
attempt to smuggle mangoes and
other forbidden fruit into the Unit
ed States and federal inspectors
continue to find seized fruits in
tested with maggots Of the Morelos
fruit fly.
r. 3. baltimore. United States
department of commerce inspector
on the international bridge. Satur-
day took a mango away from an
upstate visitor and found IS mag
gots in IL.
Monday he took a mango away
from an upstate visitor and found
it infested with maggots.
Signs which are to be placed at
the bridge by service clubs warn
ing visitors Of the danger Of snug
Cling in fruit would do a great deal
Of good, baltimore thinks.
He hopes these signs. to be fl
RANGED by Kiwanis and Rotary, will
be placed in the next day or two.
THE HERALD'S Harlingen cor
respondent unearths a new kind or
battle, one between cotton growers
and pickers.
Farmers already have met In
several localities and decided they
will pay 81 per 100 pounds at the
opening OF the season, the pickers
TO purchase their own sacks.
Now the aforesaid Harlingen cor
respondent finds that the poten-
tial pickers are dissatisfied with
this arrangement and will insist on
sf25 to S1.50 per hundred as a
starting price.
Probably the pickers imagine de-
IN tation Of several hundred work
in the past few months have
sced them in position to dictate
tY wages they shall receive.
art farmers and ginners say the
x,pply Of labor is plentiful to be-
cir with and there is little Ikeli-
bood of a labor shortage.
At any rate it appears the bat
lie" may prove rather uninterest-
- - f{kelv the cotton all will ha