Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-19
HEARING
Continued on page H.

tribute toward tleSe requirements
upon a pro rata basis.
The report submitted by the dis
trict engineer recommended that q
channel So miles in length be
dredged from Brazos Santiago pass
to a point near Point Isabel. This
was the basis for the objections
raised by the Brownsville district,
which proposed to finance all re-
quirements Of the government and
construct a channel from a point
near Brownsville a distance Of IL
miles TO a connection with the
government channel through the
Laguna Madre.
The Brownsville advocates assert
ed that their city with its large
valuations and proximity TO Mex
leo would be the logical point for
the harbor. that the city Is a ra2-
road and highway center and that
q large volume Of Mexican tonnage
as well as the tonnage generated In
the Valley would flow through the
port.
Advocates for the Point Isabel
site asserted that the location
would have no effect on the vol
ume Of tonnage. and that Point
Isabel. three miles from deep wa
ter. is strategicaily located to serve
the entire Valley and northern
Mexico. Major Putnam. engineer
for the Point Isabel district. said
that such additional facilities as
the Brownsville site might ofser
would be more than offset by the
additional cost Of construction and
maintenance.
To this Brownsville replied that
their district is willing to bear Au
the cost OF the inner channel TO
the proposed Brownsville turning
basin, and stated the difference In
cost would In no way affect the
government. They also stated they
would meet the government with a
25-fout channel at Brazos Santiago
II sufficient assurance Is given that
the government will construct the
outer channel and ~jetties to pro-
vide that depth.
No action Is expected to be
taken by the board for several
weeks. the Point Isabel-San Benito
district having been granted such
time as necessary 10 examine the
statements and exhibits Of the
Brownsville district and to file
briefs.
Replying to a question as to
whether Brownsville interests would
be satisfied II the Board OF Engineers
/ overruled Major Fox and merely
provided that the government dreose
and maintain an entrance channel.
John Gregg. Brownsville banker. said
they would. and Cummins ADDED
that Brownsville was ready 70 start
digging 100 feet wide on the bottom
ana a depth OF 35 feet at once on
the terms suggested by the question.
Town Lots Sold
r. B. Creager. speaking for Point
Isabel. which he represented as an
attorney for the Townsite Company
told how the enterprisinC ToWnslte
Company had sold more than $1,000
600 worth Of town lots to persons IN
all parts Of the country. on the
promise that the Rio Grande port
Is to be lc.ated there.
Think Of the embarrassment 70
my company II the ORIGINAL ruling OF
the Board Is changed" CreaGer said.
AN the VALLEY was originally united
and Brownsville hailed the fact
when a port vas given 20 the VAL
lev. I don't see how any one OF the
Valley cities can back up on 2
proposition ne were all for whsn II
was a question OF q port being To-
Gated for the Valley.
The Brownsville argument. on me
other hand. was that as Brownsville
would have to bear the major por-
ton of the cost anyway. and as u
had a city and surrounding terri
tory to support 1t. the port should
be located at Brownsville.
Cumming told the Board that
Brownsville was an average OF q
miles nearer shipping points in the
Valley than Point Isabel and that
there was every reason why Browns
Vile should be designated the VAL
ley's port. A saving to shippers n
the fact that Brownsville has never
been inundated. while Point Isaoel
IS subject TO calirnitous overflow,
Br~ovnsville's rail facilities as COM
pared with one priyately-owned
road to Point Isabel: Brovnsville's
strong financial conditions as
against no banks al Point Isabel,
unlimited facilities for port expan-
sion: highways to both Texas and
Mexico. and airmaile route. we're
some Of the things cited bv Cum
Minis in favor of Brownsville.
Brownsville to Pay
Cummins submitted figures on
POSSIBLE tonnage and saving IN
freight rates as between the two
points. He itemized the cost OF Q
right OF way. dredging. turning
basin and other facilities at a total
of 81. $4,000. every cent Of which he
said Brownsville was willing TO take
out Of its own pocket. The distance
Of the channel from the pass TO
Brownsville he said was IL miles and
from the pass to Point Isabel three
and from six-tenths miles.
1--WE want a 25-foot channel"
Cummins said. IF this board de-
cides to establish the port at
Brownsville and decides on a IS
foot depth, we are going to ask YOU
to allow US to complete II to IS feet
at our own cost"
Creager in reply said that the
Shortline railroad running to Point
Isabel has recently come under the
jurisdiction Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission for rate-making
purposes. Creager said that the
Missouri Pacific Is now within seven
miles of Point Isabel and the South
ern Pacific within IL miles.
Point Isabel. he said. can and will
meet every requirement imposed
upon ii by the Board Of Army En-