The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1908-10-07
Observation-Disclosures .9a5g
8 Mercedes Miscellany !:
To The Herald:

10 Inc f10Td1Q-
Mercedes, Texas, Oct. 6.-Develop-
ment projects of all kinds at Mer-
cedeS seem to have received a new
impetus with the coming of fall
weather. Many who are associatedwitb
various enterprises here or in this
vicinity have returned lately from
their summer vacation trips, and are
devoting their energies again to the
work of developing their respective
interests.
Among those lately returned is S.
P. Silver of the American Rio Grande
Canal Company, who spent the sum-
mer north with Mrs. Silver and their
little daughter, Mary Ellen. Mr.. Sill
yer is building handsome new brick
residence, which will be finished with
stucco, and will make quite a nota-
BILE addition to the residences of this
coming city. Mr.. Scobey has also re-
turned from the north and is having
some extensive work done on his res
idence in the way of remodeling,
which will be quite an improvement
Capt W. A. Fitch, who has been
appointed right of way agent for the
ew San Antonio and Rio Grande rail-
road, is absent from town great
deal of late, being engaged on that
enterprise, in which he is also inter
sted financially. Capt Fitch informs
your correspondent that work is now
being pushed steadily On the road
bed of the new line, about nine or
ten miles of the grade being nearly
completed, and the road will soon be
built as far as the new town of
Chaplin, which is planned to be an
up to date city.
The work of laying the water mains
for the water-works is progressing
without any hitch. and it is expected
that the system will soon be finished
and ready to furnish water to the
residents of the town.
1t is understood that steps will be
taken very shortly by some of our en-
terprising citizens to organize and
equip a fire company, now that We ex-
pect TO have water, so as to be pre-
pared to protect Mercedes against
possible fires.
Among other new residences near
ing completion is the cottage of Mr..
and Mrs. A. E. Chapman, who will
have one of the most attractive
homes here.
W. S. Decker, representing theAm-
erican Type Founders of Dallas, was
here this week, to superintend the
setting up of the machinery for the
Mercedes Enterprise, the new weekly
paper which will make its initial ap-
pearance in few days, under the ed
itorship of l. Moritz, who was for
merly employed on The Herald at
Brownsville The new paper will be
a seven column folio, all home print.
Dr. w. s. Chaplin, president of the
American Rio Grande Canal Com
pany, and J. NJ. Johnson, president of
the Hidalgo County Bank of Mer-
cedes, went to Brownsville Saturday
to attend the meeting of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley Commercial club.
They returned home Sunday morn
ing
The Mercedes Commercial Club is
exerting itself for the up-building of
Mercedes in a most commendable
way. A very handsome folder COM
prising number of views of houses
and enterprises of the town and sur
rounding country has been issued by
the club, which are sent to seekers
after information relative to this
section The club is exerting itself
to push the development of town and
country, and will no doubt succeed
in accomplishing substantial results
before long.
Great interest is felt here in the
election that is to be held Saturday
for the removal of the county seat
from Hidalgo TO the new town site
of Chaplin. Sentiment is divided on
this question here. Some say that
as the county seat will have to be
moved eventually, it may as well be
done now, and, as Mercedes cannot
hope to be the county seat, being too
far removed from the center of popu-
lation of the the county, it does not
matter much to people here whether
a county seat be made to order" or
not Others, however, in view of the
fact that a debt CT half a million
dollars has already been saddled upon
the county by the recent bond issue
for building levees, declare it is not
wise to force the county to make
another bond issue now for the cree
ton of court house and jail, which
it is estimated will add perhaps an
other 100000 to the county's bur
den of debt The fact that most
of the new corners, who are investing
their money in the development of
this county will be prevented from
having a voice in the election by
reason of their not having resided
here long enough. is felt by some to
be taking an unfair advantage. 1t is
believed, however, that the election
will be carried in favor of moving the
county government to Chaplin.