San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-28
New Evidence Gained in
New Orleans Chamber
Resolution. r
THEY FAVOR 1T
Say Merger Would Open
South Texas to Their
Business Houses.

One hundred and fifteen members
of the Manufacturers Association Fri
day morning filed with Col. Claude
". Birkhead, attorney in charge OF
San Antonio's contest against the pur-
chase cf the I.-G. n. railway by the
Gulf Coast Lines, their written pro-
test against the merger, with the an
nouncement that the signers OF the
protest have gone on record as OPP
posed to the action of the manufac-
turers' association that recently en-
dorsed the sale.
The effect of the petition, according
to Colonel Birkhead, removes the last
obstacle toward presenting united
front on the part of San Antomo's
civic and commercial organizations in
opposition to the merger, in that the
list containing a majority of the mem.
bers included in the certified list OF
the manufacturers association Will
operate to repudiate and nullify the
previous action taken by the board
of directors of the association, endors-
ing the merger.
San Antonio business men Thurs
day had their attention called to an
article which appeared in the official
bulletin of the New Orleans Assvca-
ton of Commerce, which referred to
the merger as opening Texas terri
tory TO New Orleans industry, under
the title of purchase of I.-G. n. by
Gulf Coast System Means Much to
This City,"
Would Divert Business.
The article. which is self-eXplana-
tory, is considered by c. Il. Iandell,
general manager of the San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce, as another link
in the chain of evidence that is al
legged to prove that the Gulf Coast
will continue TO divert business from
Texas and from San Antonio, with the
purchase of the International Great
Northern.
Included in the list of signatures on
the protest against the merger are
names of many prominent San An
tonic manufacturers, including Arthur
Storms. past president of the manu-
facturers' association, and several di
rectors of the association who either
were not present at the meeting il
which the manufacturers ASSOCIATION
endorsed the sale, or who have since
changed their minds in regard to thu
sale. having been convinced by this
citys evidence in preparation of hel
fight that the purchase of the I.-G. \
BY the Gulf Coast would prove uisus
trous TO San, AntOnio's commercial and
manufacturing interests. The protest
which is dated March is. follows:
Oppose Valley Road.
ave. the undersigned members o
the manufacturers association of Sar
Antonio and the San Antonio Chamber
of Commerce, do hereby respectfully
protest against the purchase of the In
ternational-Grea Northern railway by
the Gulf Coast Lines, on the GROUND
that such a merger in its practica
operation will tend to restrict rather
than to develop the trade and agricul
tural interests of Southwest Texas
particularly in view of the franh 40
nouncement on the part of the presi
dent of the Gulf Coast Lines that IL
the event the merger is approved h
will oppose the construction or an
other railroad into the Rio Grand
valley. a facility that we regard al
vital to the development of that terri
tory"
The story in the official bulletii
of the New Orleans Association o
Commerce. which states that New Or
leans would have access TO the "ricl
field" in southern Texas through tn,
Gulf Coasts purchase of the I.-G. n.
is considered as an admission on TIL
part of the Gulf Coast Lines tina
Texas business would be diverted {,
the benefit of New Orleans, with tn
acquisition of the I.-G. N. according
to Colonel Birkhead. The story fol
lows:
~Direct access to the rich field il
southern Texas is TO be given New
Orleans business houses as the result
Of the purchase by the Gulf Coas
Lines of the I.-G. n. railway, run
hing from Lopgview to Laredo. Tex
70 further this development resolu
hons petitioning the Interstate Com
merce Commission to approve the nur
lCor4;nuaI an DoUo =