The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-09-28

stint ONH mo .Uf&HNt aOHStfuc-
ton Co
Within the next thirty days.
daily passenger service wil2 be in
operation on the nine mile stretch
of the San Antonio and Rio Grande
Railroad, between San Juan and
Chaplin, connecting with the St
Louis, Brownsville and Mexico rail-
road at San Juan
Whether the road will be operat-
ed as part of the St. Louis, Browns
vile and Mexico system, is not an
nOunced The fact that Mr. YOakum
is a large stakeholder in the latter
line. and that it is expected TO be-
come part of the Frisco system. in
licates that it possibly may be OpeT-
ated by the Brownsville line, but
the owners have not taken the out
side world into their confidence on
the subject as yet 1t is certain,
however. that one of the engines
belonging to the Brownsville road is
now at the shops in Kingsville be
iI.g fitted up for use on the Chaplin
road.
The ultimate destiny of this frag-
ment of railroad is as yet unknown
only to the present owners and the
select few who may be in their con-
fidence
Mr. Yoakum'S motive in acquiring
control of the line is also a matter
of conjecture to the mere outsider.
That he has acquired large inter
ests near Chaplin and also in the
town site OF Chaplin is reported on
reliable authority. This il itself cOH-
stitutes sufficient reason fer the pur-
chase AS an adjunct to the develop
ment of the Chaplin property and VI
cinity. it is ar important holding. II
is rumored, however, that the Cha
pin road is to be extended north
ward. probably by way of FalfuTrias,
to connect ultimately with road
10 San Antonio. probably the eX-
tension which the Frisco people are
now building to San Antonio from
Brady, thus providing the long want
ed connection for San Antonio with
Brownsville Another rumOE says
that Mr.. YOakum has bought the
new road to prevent its extension
to Falfurrias. which The Herald
does not regard as nkelE-
The San Antonio and Rio Grande
so-called. is a queer little piece OF
railroad property Unless it has been
transferred already to the YOakum
interests. il belongs as yet to the
Rio Grande Construction company,
or. in other words. to Sam Robert
son of San Benito, its builder. The
Rio Grande and San Antonio Rail-
road compay, its reputed owner has
never been Incorporated and the
property has never been turned over
10 it The line is not and never has
been in regular operation It's rolling
stock comprises the engine which was
used in its construction. two or
three box cars and as many Ia cars
This equipment is rsed to make up
a mixed freight and passenger train
which runs about two or three times
wee,. or whenever there is any
freight 10 he transported to the new
county seat town which is the pre-
sent terminus Of the road.
H. c. Huston who operated this
train. may be described as the en-
gineer ard conductor. He is also in
a sense general manager, superIn-
tendent. roadmaster. ansf in fact,
everything else on the road, except
fireman and paymaster. Mr.. Huston
himself does rot kT4)w who OWNS the
road. hut he receives his pay each
month. and that is all that he need
concern himself with any way.
/ Messrs. John Closner ami W F.
Sprague have been footing The bills
The road has no station as yet at
Chaplin. though it has one st San
Juan 1t has no round house. no
shops. or even water tanks Its one
engine is supplied with water from
weTt at San Juan. the water being
pumped into the boiler directly from
the we'll.
This small beginning. however, in
the hands of 3 F. Yoakum and his
I associates may become part of an
important trunk line some of these
days