The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-13
BIG RAILROAD
 STRUGGLE IS ON Hartman and Hill Fight for . Canal Business THROUGH OLD MEXICO Harriman's Recent Trip to Texas Is Thought to Have Been More for Business Than HeaIth-Got
 Minute Reports.
THROUGH OLD MEXICO

San Antonio, Tex, June 12..- (speciaD- Evidences are not wanting to prove that gigantic struggle has been going on under the surface between Edward II. Hartman on the one hand and B. r. Yoakum and James J. Hill on the other. | for the control of new trans-eontinental railroad system which will handle the bulk of the traffic between the United States. | the Republic of Mexico, and ultimately reach the Panama canal.
 A group of Southern Pacific engineers have been in the field between this city and Brownsville. and it is understood that complete survey with maps and profiles has been made E. B. Cushing. engineer of maintenance of way, is in the city and has held several conferences with the business men on the subject of the pro- posed railroad. He has declined to state positively that the Hartman lines would undertake the building of the road, but has freely discussed the various noutes and frankly sought information
 group of land owners in the territory have formed coalition and have had right of way agents working in the field
 
 have secured a million dollars in bonuses in the Rio Grande valley, and it is be- lieved that they have been backed by the Hartman interests
 It has leaked out that while Hartman was in camp near this city in February for several weeks. ostensibly for his health, that his agents furnished him com plete reports on the territory to be cover ed by the projected railroad. It is cur rently believed that this was the reason for his trip to San Antonio.
 On the other hand, party of engineers have been in the field surveying a route from San Antonio to San Angelo and Brownwood in the northwest. These men are supposed to represent the Yoakum- Hill interests, which have long been the chief rival of Hartman for the control of the traffic of southwest Texas.
 Men supposed to represent the Yoakum- Hill combination have outlined to the business men of San Antonio a railroad reaching from San Angelo through San Antonio to Kingsville on the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico railroad on the gulf coast.
 It is authoritatively stated that Yoakum and Hill have secured a concession from the Mexican government for an inter- national Drldge at BrOWnSNllle. It IS also a fact that surveys have been made for a railroad from Matamoras opposite Brownsville, to Tampco in Mexico, and a road is just being completed from Tampico to the City of Mexico. This system if constructed, will give the Yoakum-T5il1 combination a direct route from St. Louis to the City of Mexico some ten hours shorter than any now existing.
 On the other hand, the route said to be projected by Hartman crossing the Rio Grande at Rio Grande City, about 100 miles above Brownsville. and going straight south to the City of Mexico, 1t is claimed will make a still shorter route for travel than the YoalSum-TTil line.
 San Antonio and southwest Texas ex- poets to reap a golden harvest from the building of these new lines and is looking on at the struggle between the magnates, which, in the phrase of Sir Lucius O. Trigger. is, "a very pretty quarrel