Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-06-04
FRANCHISEFRAMED
FOR RAIL Line TO
SERVEFORT BROWN
Resolution Read at Commission
Meeting Tuesday-Will Be
Passed Today.


A franchise permitting the United States
government to build standard gauge rail-
way track from the belt line at the Rio
Grande station south on Harrison street to
Fort Brown and permitting the Rio Grande
Railroad to operate trains over it, was read
at meeting of the city commission Tues
day night. Today, at a new meeting, it
will be passed, conforming to the clause in
the charter which says that franchise res
olution shall be read at one meeting and
passed upon at the next This speedy ac-
tion is being taken to enable the quarter
master to lay the track without delay, since
the war department wants switching facili-
ties at the post at once.
The resolution will have to be published
once a week for three weeks before the
franchise can be granted. If ten per cent
of the voters call for a referendum cleo
tion. such an election will have to be held
at least thirty days later, and the will of
the peorie determined. Thus does Browns
vfles city charter throw safeguards around
the granting of the franchise.
However, there is no fear felt in the
commission that the government will be en-
barrasssed by any such delay No objection
to the grantrg OF the franchise is fore
seen, as IL is to the public interest and is
riuch desired | Y the VAR department. More
ever II will sase mt ch extensive wear and
tear on Brownsville streets when the heavy
trucking that the army now does between
the freight yards and Fort Brown is OBJ
waited. and will lessen the danger from hea-
Wy army trucks bowling through the streets,
commissioners point out.
There is one interesting feature Of the
franchise IL one looks into the future. II
gives the right Of way jointly to the gov
ernment and the Rio Grande Railway, and
gives the railway company the right to use
it for any purpose, If, in the future, a Sec
ond bridge is thrown across the Rio
Grande river the only logical place to put
it is east of Fort Brown near the end of the
new spur right-of-way, according to expert
opinion The Rio Grande Railway would
thus have a right-of-way and main line
track nearly to such bridge. Moreover il
can use the new spur for switching or yard
purposes, subject, of course, to the needs
Of government traffic.
The franchise is for a term of 80 years
1t cedes right-of-way in Harrison street
from 18th street, at the Rio Grande station
to the northern limits of the "Combe
tract" some 300 feet south of 10th and
Harrison.
This spur will enable the quartermaster
to bring freight and troop trains over the
West Brownsville belt line standard gauge
track and on over the new track right into
the post for loading and unloading. Mo
tive power will be furnished by the Ric
Grande Railroad, whose tracks and rolling
stock are soon to be converted to stand
ard gauge.
The quartermaster department is already
clearing a right-of way through the brusf
on the 40-acre tract recently bought for !
yard and warehouse site from the Combs
estate, adjoining the Fort Brown reserva
ton on the east. Ties and rails are OF
hand ready to go down at once.