San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-12
BROWNSVILLE
T0LOOK INTO
RAIL MERGER
"Warm Debate" Arises
When Both Sides APP
pear at Meeting.
GO TO HARLINGEN
Yandell Says Direct Line to
Valley Is Already
Financed.
GO TO HARLING EN-

Brownsville. Tex. March l2.-That
the Gulf Coast Lines with wage a
vigorous fight in the Lower Rio
Grandc Valley To prevent valley wide
action in opposition 10 the proposed
merger with the lrternationat-Great
Northern. WAS evidenced here last
night when e. Il. Nandell. general
manager of the San Antonio Chamber
of Commerce addressed body Of rep
rcsentative business men at tie Board
of City Development setting fOcth rea-
sons Why San Antonio and the valley
should make common cause in oppos-
ing the merger. W. G. Choatc, general
manager. and {. W. Strain. general
passenger agent. for the Gulf Coast
Lines, appeared in behalf OF their
company, and the meeting resolved it.
self into warm debate revolving the
merits and dcmerits of the proposed
merger as it would affect the valley.
No definite action was taken, but q
committee consisting of ). {. Tucker
J. L. BlantOn and ii. NJ. SHELTON was
appointed 10 thoroughly INVESTIGATES the
proposed merger and report at Il meet
ing to be held this week.
Valley Line Financed.
Pointing out that The valley had
for years been appealing to San Anto-
Mo for direct rail connections. Mr..
Yandcll asserted that the merger would
efiectually prevent another road from
entering this territory and that the
valley would be forced TO depend en-
tircly upon the ability of the Gulf
Coast to handle the traffic.
San Antonio is making common
cause with the people of the valley
70 prevent this" he stated. A line
10 the valley has been financed. dcfin-
tie announcement Of which Will be
made within few days. but the mer-
ger would operate to prevent the build
ing of this railroad. \ line which
would give the valley what its people
have desired for the past ten years -
competitive rascS and compcti;iveS
markets"
In his opening remarks. Mr.. Yam
dell called attention To the statement
made by President Pyeatt of the Gulf
Coast Lines TO the effect that he would
vigorously pursue the same policy
adopted by that road in regard to the
San Antonio Southern 10 prevent the
building OF another railroad into the
valley. e. W. Strain and W. q. Choate
each substantiatcd President Pyeatt :
statement TO that effect. adding that
the acquisition of the international
Great Northern would make the Gulf
Coast Lines one of the most important
systems in the South, and thdt il
would be enabled to handle any busi-
ness the valley might generate.
Leave for Other Towns.
In regard to the Mexican business.
the Gulf Coast Lines executives stated
that the merger would give them two
ports. Brownsville and Laredo, and
that the choice would lie with the ship
per.
Mayor 4. L. Cole. called upon for
an expression Of opinion. stated that
Brownsville people had given the pro-
posed merger very little consideration
and suggested that action be deferred
pending n thorough investigation. He
stated that Brownsville. in common
with every valley point. desired rail
connections with San Antonio. and
that il an investigation proved that
the merger would he inimical to valley
interests or would prevent another
railway building to this section IT
should be opposed.
Accompanied b. o. 8. V. Ross. see
rotary OF the Valley Chamber Of Com
merce and several Brownsville par
ties. Mr.. Yandell left this morning
for Uarlingen and addressed meet
ing of Harlingen. San Benito. Rio
HonGo and La Fcria representatives.
As n result of the Yandell meeting
last night. petitions are today being
circulated among the business men
OF tho city setting forth BrOwnsville's
opnosition to the merger plan OF the
Gulf Coast Lines. Many signatures
had been secured I'M TO noon.