The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-11-04
TO PUSH WORK ON
RIO GRANDE BRIDGE
OBJECT OF DIRECTOR PERKINS
OF BROWNSVILLE ROAD.
Here to Inspect PrOgress-WiIl OPP
crate Through Trains New Orleans
to Mexico. Shortest International
Line


Anxious to learn what progress has
been made on the International
bridge since his visit to Brownsville
in August, and to hustle its construc-
ton as much as possible, Managing
Director Alfred T. Perkins of the
Brownsville road of St Louis, ar
rived last night on his private car
number 200, accompanied by Gen
eral Manager c. B. Rodgers.
Mr.. Perkins returned two weeks
ago from a trip across the Atlantic,
taken simply for the sea-yoyage, and
has made his way to this end of the
country as fast as business permitted
not even stopping of at the Kings
vile offices.
His chief desire now, he said this
morning, is to push the erection of
the bridge The steel work for the
structure is all ready, but on account
of the delays due to the high water,
the piers are not completed AS he
had not been over the ground yet,
Mr.. Perkins could not say this morn
ing when they would be ready
When the bridge is finished, Mr.
Perkins said, the Brownsville road
viii put on a through service between
New Orleans and Mexico City with
first class, up to date equipment,
which viii then make this road the
shortest operating between those two
points.
Asked about the resumption of the
night train Mr. Perkins said that it
would surely be put on before the
end of this year, but as he had had
not vet had the chance to go into the
matter with Mr.. Rodgers or Mr.. Do
herty, he could not talk about dates
at present. When it does resume,
however. it viii be with entirely new
equipment that is being secured at
cost of 10000
The matter of local mail service
on the night train, he said, has been
taken up with Superintendent Gaines
of the railway mail service and with
the postal authorities at Washington,
and although no definite reply has
yet been given, there is no doubt in
his mind that the request will be
granted sometime during the winter
Another interesting announcement
is that the north end of the road is
to be ballasted at once, and that. as
soon as conditions permit. the pres
ent attenuated schedule Will be short
ened as much 2s possible Just he
fore the storm at Galveston last sum
mer, Mr.. Perkins said, arrangements
had been made with a contractor t.
supply gravel for that part OF the
line. Two loaded barges that bad
arrived at Galveston were sunk dur
ing the storm, and the contractor is
Just now recovering from the blow
In regard to the through service
between San Antonio and Browns
vile, Mr. Perkins said that if the peo-
Dle of these two towns could show
that such service would be of benefit
both to the travelling public and the
railroad. the latter would put on both
sIeepers and chair cars. though he,
personally did not favor the chair
cars.
While here, Nh Perkins intends
comforting with the local stockhold-
ers in the Rio Grande railroad in re-
gard to the contemplated improve
ments on that road.
Nothing definite has yet been done
towards securing any new equipment.
but he does not doubt that the roll
ing stock Will be reiuvenata1 in ;he
near future.
Mr.. Perkins said that he knew
nothing about any of the roany new
lines that are supposed to be con-
templating inclrsions into TINS ter
r.tovy While ii is true thas Nj
Yoalum has taken an interes- in the
Chaplin Improvement Co the browns
Vile road is not operating the ChaFin
line. although the management Of the
latter did open negotiation some
time ago with that end in view, and
on his last trip to the VALLEY, he went
over the track from San Juan to
Chaplin TO see what was there
While at Dallas, last week. Mr.
Perkins met Nh Yoakum and tried
to persuade him to make his prom
ised trip to the Valley now, but an
engagement IN New York wrecked
hiatt program Mr. Yoakum said,
however. that he expected to come
down here in December
Mr.. Perkins told OF gathering to-
gether several friends in Dallas and
going out to the Fair especially to
show them the exhibit from the Rio
Grande Valley, but the exhibit could
not be found. mainly because it
wasn't there As soon as he reaches
Kingsville, he said, he means to take