Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-12-28

ABOUT, and 10 thlS emo we asked Mr.
Hewitt to tell US of the work that II
required. Mr.. Hewitt is good at report
ing results, but seldom has much to
say about details, and it was with
much hesitation that we secured his
account. He said:
You know that the building of this
railroad has been one of the most i'm
portant matters that has demanded
the attention Of the Commercial Club
for the last two years Many of us
have all along been in favor of build
ing direct from Bryan, and feasible
plan has engaged much of our thought
Discouraging features have developed,
but our railroad committee and our
directors, and especially our presi-
dent, have never wavered from the
one purpose, to build the road When
I finally became convinced that the
Glddings cutoff would not be built
into Bryan, | began planning for the
next best thing, a connection at Stone
City. / made two or three trips down
there about four months ago, or just
the last Of August. During September
made a trip down the river from
Stone City with view to securing
more data / studied the situation at
Stone City and discovered that a con-
nection was not only feasible but that
a joint bridge crossing was perfectly
feasible, eliminating the great ex-
pense OF building bridge, the inter-
est on the expenditure of which has
always been one of the discouraging
features. / then took an engineer over
the ground with me and received his
verdict that the plan was not only
feasible but practical | then asked
Mr.. Gammill to go with me and re-
ceived his encouragement. | then had
an interview with Mr.. Scott, president
of the Sunset Central lines. This was
about the middle of October laid
my plan before him. Our interview
was most pleasant, and Mr.. Scott
asked me to put my plan in writing.
We then had a survey made to Stone
City in order to correct the surveys
already on hand. a new map made
showing the new route, and the entire
proposition was forwarded. Our next
encouragement came in the shape of
a return of the original map with the
information that blue prints had been
taken off and that the matter was
being carefully considered. Some fur
ther correspondence followed, and
later a meeting was arranged at which
some of the members of the railroad
committee planned to accompany us,
but the rush season had arrived with
unexpected activity, and at the last
moment they were prevented. How
ever, as is already known, the meeting
took place which lasted long enough
to go over the entire program. At that
meeting we we're able to say how
many bales of cotton were ginned by
each gin on the route, where the cot
ton goes to, and every feature of ex-
pected tonnage.
1T developed that the plan is mu-
tualy advantageous one. 1t will bring
business to Bryan and to the railroad.
1t will help make of Bryan a great
city, and in so doing increase trans
portation The best railroad men to-
day are those who recognize the ad-
vantages in developing their roads
traffic territory and are willing to as
sist in the development. These are
the advantages that have assisted us
in bringing about this much coveted
facility"
when will work be begun?' was
asked.
mr. Gammill has already ordered
his big construction outfit shipped
from Louisiana and active work will
be started as soon as the definite
route is decided out of Bryan. A right
of-way has got to be secured at nom-
inal price. There are no funds pro-
vided for right-of-way, this having to
be entirely arranged here. but nearly
all on the route planned have rem
dered valiant assistance in this line,
and we anticipate no delay However,
a very fiattering offer has been re-
ceived from those along what is
known as the north route to put the
road through their territory. This be-
ing interurban service as to passen-
gers and express, it is OF great advan-
tage to every farmer and greatly en-
hances the value Of his products. 1t
is expected that we will be able to
operate as far as Stone City by the
first of May, II no obstacle is put in
our way in the right-of-way question
The line will be completed for traffic
from the lower Brazos bottom by
August l."