Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-03-19
BICSHORTACEOF
REFRIGERATOR
CARS is FEARED
Local Influence Joined With
Valley in Effort to Have
Cars Sent to G. E. l..

In an effort to avert a possible
shortage of refrigerator cars for han.
ding the Valley truck crops, Mayor
A. B. Cole, joined by the presidents
of the three banks and the board of
city development, are busy with every
availaf> agency in an effort to secure
sufficient cars to handle the crop
Wednesday Mayor Cole sent the fol
lowing telegram to Congressman John
N. Garner at Washington:
"On yesterday the st. Louis,
Brownsville & Mexico railroad ad-
vised shippers of truck throughout
this Valley of probable inability to
furnish sufficient refrigerator cars to
move the present truck crops Prac-
tically all crops growing in the Valley
are truck crops representing millions
of dollars to the growers and can not
be shipped except in refrigerator cars.
The minimum requirement for the
Valley is six thousand cars, and urge
that you use every possible effort to
have sufficient cars furnished US"
Thursday Mayor Cole was joined
by John Gregg, president of the Mer-
chants National Bank; X. y. Creager,
president of the First National Bank
j. b. Scott, president of the State
Bank and Trust Company, and c. l..
Jessup, chairman of the board of city
development, in the following tele-
gram addressed to w. C. Kendell,
chairman of the car service commits
sion, the United States r>.'way admin
istration, the state railway commits
sion and Congressman Garner:
"The Gulf Coast Lines are unable
to secure sufficient supply of re
frigerator cars TO move the present
truck crops IN the Rio Grande Valley.
There are truck crops in the Valley
now being harvested of the value Of
several million dollars at the present
prices These crops can be shipped
only in refrigerator cars and must be
shipped quickly else a total loss will
follow. 1t is urgently neces' 4 v that
immediate relief be had. Three thou
sand cars will be needed within the
next thirty days. We urge that you
take immediate steps to relieve the
situation"
The telegram to Congressman Gar
ner contained the following additional
clause:
"Have the chairman Of the car
service commission Immediately issre
a general order by wire to all lines in
this southwestern region to send all
empty refrigerator cars to the Gulf
Coast Lines"
Mayor Coles action was taken in
line with an effort being put forth
by the chambers of commerce in every
Valley town to prevent a car shortage.
A somewhat similar action was taken
Monday night by the farmers confer
ence committee of Cameron and Hi
dalgo counties in sending DIR. III. III.
Harrington to Houston to confer with
President J. S. Pyeatt Of the Gulf
Coast Lines relative TO relieving the
situation.
An unofficial report in Mexican
military circles has it that General
Colunga will arrive from Monterey
within the next few days to assume
command of the Matamoros district,
stretching from the mouth Of the Rio
Grande nearly to Zapata General
Colunga is a close friend to General
Alfredo Ricaut, commander of the
forces in Northern Mexico, and has
been with him at Monterey for some
time.
Just how soon General Colunga will
arrive is not known, as the informa-
tion as to. the transfer has been con-
tanned in unofficial communications
only. Colonel Limo Alvarado, accord
ing to this information, will remain in
Natamoros as commanding officer of
the garrison.