Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29
CAN ship OUT
FRUIT, TRUCK
Lowering Of Freight Rates
Another Advantage To
Be Derived

This empire which IS called the
Lower Rio Grande Valley is expect
I'd to reach its maximum develop
ment through the construction Of a
deep water port which viii not only
have its effect in handling more
cheaply the fruits and vegetables
grown IN this section but which also
will make II possible 10 bring build
ing materials and other finished
products to this territory at a lower
rate than now prevails.
Not only will the Valley have the
direct advantage Of being able TO
ship by water but also the indirect
advantage resulting from lower
freight rates by railroads which will
be compelled to meet the compe-
tition offered by a port.
Because az its location the VAL
ley has been az some rate dlsad-
vantage over other winter growing
sections Of the nation but a port
is expected to place II on a parity
with Florida and California in the
matter Of freight rates. Some point
out that water transportation will
give the Valley an edge over some
OF these sections.
Planning Car ferries
Since the Feasibility OF car ferry
transportation has been demon
strated likelihood Of the Valleys
benefiting from a port are even
greater than before. Car ferries. be
II understood, are able 70 take entire
trainloads Of refrigerator cars
aboard and transport them 20 an
other port where they may again be
placed on the rails for rolling to
interior points. Heavy traffic Of
this type is foreseen between the
Valley and New Orleans. and the
East. Several lines stand ready 10
furnish such service as soo as
proper port facilities are offered.
Some shipments IN all probability
also will be made directly by steam
err to the eastern seaboard. result
ing In an immense saving 70 the
Valley. This saving Is calculated by
traffic experts 10 amount 10 many
millions Of dollars or much in excess
OF the cost M port faci' les.
The Valley viii benefit from low
rates on ircoming products as wei.
particularly on building materials.
That this is no guess IS shown by
the fact that some freight destined
for the Valley Is being received NJ
Corpus Christi. previously the near
est harbor 10 the Valley. With a
mort right in the Valley the volume
such incoming WaterbOrne frei-'lt
" expected to increase immensely.
The Valley will not be the only
section to benefit from its port:
northern Mexico being seen as a
source Of much tonnage. BY ship
ping in bond It will be possible for
parts OF Mexico to utilize the Val
ley's port facilities.
Point Used Lons Ago
Point Isabel Is one OF the Oldest
harbors on the Gulf coast. having
been utilized by the S~paniards 300
years ago. according TO legends Of
the little village.
For many years prior 70 the Texas
war Of independence. Point IsaNcl
and the mouth Of the Rio Grande
were regular ports Of call for Ameri-
can and Mexican coastwise vessels
and Point Isabel was the base at
which supplies were received y
General Taylor's army in the vic
49, -.~s~.. an14sank N~aAa eNnn~nr
and Monterrey in 1916.
At that time there was sufficient
water in the Rio Grande 70 permit
steamboats, to transport supplies -s
far as Roma. over 100 miles above
Brownsville by land and much more
than that by river. Steamboats,
were still common on the Rio
Grande in the seventies. and dur
ing the Civil war millions Of dol
lars worth Of cotton struggled across
to Matamoros by Texas planters
found its way 70 the EnEl.-h mar
kets. Millions Of dollars worth Of
supplies for The Confederate forces
were smuggled into Texas the same
way.
Shipping Founded Fortunes
Steamboats, on the Rio Grande
we're the foundations az the Miflin
Kennedy and Captain King fortunes.
these men, after the cessation Of
steamboat traffic. retiring 10 their
huge ranches which today comprise
more land than IS included in the
boundaries Of the state Of Rhode
Island.
Shortly after the Civil war the
shoaling Of the Rio Grande. caused.
It Is believed, by the agricultural
development OF the region ii ira
verses. made its navigation impos-
sible for any boats except those o
very light draft.
The Rio Grande railway was BIZ
between Point Isabel and Bro
vile and during its early days il 4
an immense business. II was one
the most lucrative railroads ir
the United States and its income
during the early days amounted a
more than $4,000 a year which.
considering the fact that the road
was only % miles long. meant big
dividends.
On the completion Of the s..
louis. Brownsville and Mexico rail-
road 70 Brownsville the business Of
the Rio Grande railroad and the
Point Isabel harbor rapidly declined.
Railroads met the water rates but
when the harbor al Point Isabel no
longer offered competition he ates
a.a.af I'm again. Water rates 10 COM