Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-24
VALLEY ASKED
PORT SUPPORT
Chambers of Commerce Sent
Wires Asking Aid
To City

Following the receipt OF informa-
ton here today to the effect that
the Harrington Chamber OF Com
merce would seek the active sup
port Of Valley chambers OF CON-
merce in favor OF Harlingen as
the port site for the Valley, rep
resentatives OF the Port Isabel
Brownsville San Benito project FRI
day met at the Brownsville Cham
Der OF Commerce and asked cham
bers Of commerce OF the Valley to
give the matter serious considera-
ton before taking a stand.
It was asked q full study Of the
economic features for the Valley
as a whole be made before any
action is taken.
Action Regretted
An interview TO The Brownsville
Herald on the subject and a teleg-
ram sent to the 10 Valley chambers
follows:
AFTER many years OF intensive
work for a deep water port for the
Valley and just al a time when
everything looks rosy in the way OF
real deep water transportation for
the Valley and when the board OF
army engineers and the rivers and
harbors committee are favoring. as
never before such a deep water
port, which will mean a 25-foot
harbor, the Harlingen Chamber OF
Commerce has stepped IN with a
proposed project which can only
tend to muddy the waters and de-
feat the purpose OF q real port for
the Valley.
"They have organized a naviga-
ton district, voted and sold $780,
600 worth Of bonds. based on the
theory OF cutting a pass through
Padre Island across the bay OPP
posite the mouth OF the Arroyo
Colorado, constructing jetties, dred-
girg across the bay. dredging the
Arroyo Colorado and constructing
a turning basin at q point near
Harrington. The project they are
advocating Is only Q nine foot chan
mel which can be Of no value com.
mercially to the Valley and experts
advise that even the nine foot pro-
feet which they advocate can not
be built for the 100000. they have
provided.
Millions Money voted Here
The Brownsville Navigation Dis
trict has almost unanimously voted
a 81. 1000. 900. bond issue. The san
Benito-Point Isabel navigation dis
trict almost unanimously voted a
$500. 900 bond issue. These two dis
tricts have consolidated their ef-
forts for a real port for the Valley.
Their port commissioners, attorneys
and engineers are now IN Wasnlng-
ton and II Is apparent that tney
will be able to work out within
next few days a 25-foot project
that will be satisfactory TO al con-
cerned that will give the Valley
what It has been fighting Tor ior
years.
The Harrington port commission
IS basing its project solely on a nine
foot channel. Many OF the people
in the Valley may not be cogniz-
ant of the fact that several years
ago the government army engineers
placed a dredge at Point Isabel 1or
the urpos OF dredging a l6-ioot
channel across the bar at Brazos
Santiago Pass and bring this chan
mel to the turning basin at Folnt
Isabel.
One Failure Shown
This proved to be a distinct
failure recognized by the Army
engineers but at all times since the
dredging was done there has been
az Brazos Santiago Pass more than
a nine-foot channel which has
proved Of absolutely no commercial
value and OF benefit only TO a rev
isolated fishing vessels.
With these facts III view II Is
not to be assumed that the present
nine-foot project which the Har-
lingen navigation district Is adj
yocating could be Of commercial
value. The Harrington navigation
district some time ago asked 2
army engineers for permission 70
make a cut through Padre Island
directly across the bay from the
mouth OF the Arroyo Colorado. This
was turned down principally be-
cause in the opinion OF the army
engineers such a channel would az
feet the ebb and flow Of the TIDE
and might do serious damage 10
Brazos Santiago Pass as well as
Arkansas Pass.
Telegram Sent
The telegram follows:
Before complying with Harlin-
yen's request TO wire Washington
advocating the Harrington nine foot
port project ask YOU 10 give serious
consideration to the present twenty
five foot project upon which San
Benito- Point Isabel Brownsville are
now united and which the army
engineers are strongly considering
at this time. H~arlingen's nine foot
project has been turned down BY
the army engineers and their pres
ent request will only tend to mud
DIV the waters and prevent the Vail
ley from securing q real twenty
five foot channel watch viii be the
VS. salvation. The Harlin-
e. ne foot project II completed
' ,e OF no commercial value
[ Valley. Please delay action
u 1u are fully informed OF the
p.- II status OF both p~rojects."
Signed
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE