, 1935-08-11
Monument to Mercedes Family
Killed in Port Cam paign in 10
Suggested by Charles L. Jessup

he. together with his two children
were instantly killed. and the moth
er 20 injured she died a few weeks
later. ! have never heard their
names mentioned since the day OF
their funeral. A family gave their
lives, martyrs to the cause, the frui-
ton Of which we celebrate today
This Valley Is derilect In its duty
II q suitable tablet In memory OF this
tragedy Is not placed on the walls
Of the transit shed. and, IL others
feel as I do about it, I would like
to start the list with q substantial
subscription.
Road Rebuilding Promised
I was authorized to, and did tell
every community Ia the Valley that
Just as soon as the one-hundred
twenty-five thousand dollar Chan
mel Fund was ready, the then own
er Of the Rio Grande Railway would
start rebuilding the road. But II
did not start. It was June OF the
next year before we were appraised
Of the fact. that the only way to get
funds TO rebuild the road was to
induce the same folks we had fooled
the year before, to buy one hundred
ninety-one thousand dollars worth
OF second mortgage bonds on that
streak OF rust running from Browns
vile to Point Isabel, and, believe II
or not. the people wanted q harbor
so badly, they over-subscribed the is
sue.
Il was my misfortune to lead that
campaign. Subscribing and paying
are not synonymous terms, hence
another drive - spring Of 1921 - to
make the collections.
At a meeting In Harrington, May Is,
We turned over to MI. O'Brien one
hundred thirty-five thousand dollah
cash and notes and other chattels
to the amount Of one hundred nine
ty-one thousand dollars. This cash
item was finally augmented to over
one hundred seventy-six thousand
dollars.
Over 100000 Spent
The work Of the re-habilitating
this road seems to have impressed
some rs being the philanthropy Of
one individual. Bear in mind the
Browne contribution Of twenty-five
thousand dollars cash. and men With
red blood IN their veins from Point
Isabel to Rio Grande City contrib
uted over one hundred seventy-sIx
thousand dollars more. It was VAL
ley-wide sacrifice, and I don't mean
maybe. that rebuilt that road.
After spending over three hun
dred thousand dollars, we did not
have much road and only a channel
part Of the way across the bay. 1t
looked ike our money had been
wasted. But it had not. There is
abundant evidence in the govern
ment records that the sacrifices we
made to raise that money in 1919.
1920 and 1921 tied the government
to the project. thus paving the way
for the splendid development we now
celebrate.
Charles Champions Contribution
Let me speak the name Of Charlie
Champion, seldom mentioned. but
a respected citizen Of this town fol-
many years, who made the largest
personal contribution ever made 70
the port project, excepting the
Brownies.
And now 70 the commissioners
and citizens Of this navigation dis
trict. you have done well, far better
than some hoped you would do. Per-
sonally. ! wish for you better things
yet. Do not forget that you have
builded o q foundation that cost
the citizens Of the four counties. al
an early day, over three hundred
thousand dollars, and to these citi-
zens permit me to say, begin col
lecting interest on your investment
by using this harbor.
In the personal efforts I have
mentioned, ! wish to say that il
every community I found loyal ano
sacrificing helpers. Some yet live
others who have dropped their an
chors In the haven Of rest. Time
forbids mention Of names. MAJ
this port be the means Of creating
and perpetuating q more fraternal
feeling among men, from the sane
hills to the Rio Grande, and Roma
II the sea