Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
Gateway To
S., Central America
Important To Area
BY w. L.

-N Al bC iOASCSI dI-1dll AOOhup III me WOrlQ ana
terminal for three air mail, passenger and freight lines, the
brownsville municipal airport is one Of the most famous
landing fields in the United States and Of great economic i'm
portance to the entire Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Although only a little more than six months old, a large
part of the famous pilots of the world have visited the port,
and Colonel Charles A. ~Lindbergh, ace of them all, has been a
guest on several occasions. The field was opened officially
on March 8, 1929, when the Lone Eagle landed a trimotored
Ford plane he had flown here from Mexico City inaugurating
mall and passenger service between the United States bor-
der and the capital of the southern republic.
The airport, described by every pilot and aviation expert
VINO visits it as one of the best in the country, is destined to
play an even more important part in the future Of Browns
vile and the Valley than it is playing today.
Port Is Busy Place
AS new air lines into Central and South American coun-
tries are inaugurated aerial traffic through this interna-
tional port will increase in volume, until one day the greatest
International aerial business on the American continent will
pass through Brownsville, in the opinion Of aviation experts.
Already ships leave the port daily on lines which extend
north to New York City with connections to all parts Of the
United States, south to Guatemala City and west to the
Mexican Pacific coast at Mazatlan. Connections are made
with lines south and west of Brownsville which extend back
into the United States to points in Arizona and to Los An
geles. Calf, to Cuba and Miami on the east.
The airport site was purchased with part Of the proceeds
of a 100000 bond issue voted by citizens of Brownsville.
The site covers an area of 4s acres and was purchased
from several owners. These included Mrs. Alice Langford,
Frank Rabb, Mrs. Mabel o. Shoemaker, E. L. Hunt. Harbert
0ofChFoAty NAhtOH NSots ~. ~ ChACl dW1 ~. RODtTI 1N6Fl
son. The site cost approximately $4,000, or one-half Of the
bond issue.
Citizens Support Field
Voting CT the bonds and purchase of the site followed a
CAMPAIGN of several months, during which a strong public
sentiment for the move was developed. This sentiment was
expressed in one large public meeting held in the federal
court room over the ~postoffice, at which practically every
leading citizen was present.
A number of smaller meetings were held and the move
was endorsed by the chamber of commerce, civic and lunch
con clubs and other public service bodies.
Following purchase of the site the field was surveyed,
levelled and contract was let for erection Of the municipal
building, one hangar and a residence for the field manager
Contract also was let for purchase of modern fueing equip
ment, erection of a fuel house, purchase of a fire truck and
an ambulance. The most modern lighting equipment availa-
BILE at that time was bought and contract was let for its in
stalation.
The city decided to construct two runways Of caliche and
work was started on this project.
All of this was not accomplished without setbacks or dis
appointments but throughout the period preceding realiza-
ton of Brownsville s dream of one of the finest airports in
the land the city commission worked tremendously and pub
lie sentiment continued a unit to spur them on.
Laredo Gets Route First
The remaining portion Of the bond money after the site
had been purchased was hardly sufficient to start the build
ing operations and the remainder of the project was financed
with municipal warrants. The total sum spent by the city
was about S265,000.
The first blow to the airport dream was landed a short
time after the bond election. There had been talk for many
mO0InS q IL ESTABLISHING dI ID lSeINiCS DCtNt6H - 0llyl
and the United States. Brownsville and Laredo both We're
working for the international port. San Antonio threw her
support to Laredo, but Houston and other Texas cities
pledged their aid to Brownsville.
Just a few weeks after the election was to be held an
nouncement was made in Washington that the Mexican air
mail would be routed through Laredo. This in spite Of the
fact that Lindbergh had chosen the route through Browns
vile for his nonstop flight from Washington to Mexico City,
and all aviation experts had agreed the route from Browns
vile, in addition to being about 200 miles shorter, was much
less hazardous on account of the low altitude at which it
could be flown. The Laredo route was mostly over mountains
The election was held on Saturday, March 3, 1928, and
the bonds were voted 200 to II. The city commission, COM
posed of Mayor A. B. Cole and Commissioners Burt Z. Hink-
lev. Sr, j. G. Starck, J. A. Cobolini and A. G. Hipp, on March
so passed an ordinance calling for issuance of the bonds in
accord with the mandate of the election. The bonds were
sold on April 20, bringing par, accrued interest and a
premium of $1,000.
Brownsville Wins Out
Announcement that air mail was to 60 to Laredo came as
q bic surprise to local enthusiasts and somewhat dampened
the ardor of local enthusiasts.
Shortly after the bonds had been voted and the site pur-
chased. Irving w. Glover, first assistant postmaster general
of the United States, came to Brownsville and conferred with
s.