Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-01

Four years ago sAis month the Texas legislature
visited Cameron county. Every member who could
get away from his desk at Austin was brought to the
county On a special train. The legislators were shown
the entire section subject to floods from the Rio
Grande, and were urged to pass the tax remission bill
TO finance food control works
Addressing the legislators ut the Stuart Club house,
County Judge O. c. Dancy stated: Cameron county Is
not asking the state Of Texas for a gift; we are ask
Ing the state r. make an Investment"
Veteran legislators smiled and expressed their
skepticism, stating that they considered it their duty
to prevent raids OF the state treasury, engineered un-
der the guise Of Investments" One Of the veterans
remarked: u will vote for tax remission, and will
bt well satisfied if we get a return in twenty years "
The legislature passed the bin renting u cents
os the state tax TO finance the bonds for flood control
Within two years the valuations of Cameron county,
as a direct result Of the flood control program, had
increased TO the point where the state was receiving
approximately the same revenue from the county as
in 1924. This year the state will receive over $50 ooa
more in revenue than in 1924. Had the legislature
refused the aid for which Cameron county appealed
1t is probable that several years would have elapsed
before valuations would have increased to the point
where the state would receive what It now derives
from this county.
Cameron county takes considerable pride in tie fact
that tax remission proved a profitable investment for
the state Of Texas. Within a few months after an.
nouncement was made that the flood control program
had been financed, development to q degree unknown
prior tc that time was underway. Thousands Of sores
which had been menaced By the floods Of the Rio
Grande, were developed, and are new adding to the
total wealth production Of Cameron county. There
has been no perpendicular inerease of valuations. Il
has been the normal increase-the result Of flood con-
troll, highway extensions and building operations, all
Of which have been enhanced by the flood control
program.
Stree 1924, tie year prior to enactment Of the tx
REMISSION bill, Cameron county valuations increased
from s~25,290,0is 70 s~44,4s5sts3 in 1923, and It Is safe
70 predict that the ratio OF increase will continue for
ut least a decade, with probable acceleration in the
event the Brownsville seaport project Is approved
This increase has been due to development Of new
lands, extension Of highways and building operations
but the fact should be borne In mind that II the flood
problem Of the county had not been solved through
state tax remission, much Of this development would
have been delayed until the county had attained a
financial status which would have made financing Of
the work possible.
The state OF Texas came 10 the aid Of Cameron
county in the hour Of need, and both the state AMI
county have p%rOfited. When those legislators &ho
voted for Cameron county tax remission scan the state
tax returns from this county they can take a very
pardonable pride IN the fact that they had the vision
to grasp the potentialities az this section. and that the
Investment they made for the state ~ returning diyi-
dends which viii increase each year rs the county de-
velops its rich natural resources which no longer are
menaeed BY the periodic floods of the Rio Grands.