Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-09-16
IN OUR
VALLEY

VALLEY pioneers" Sceall their first
rip on the st. Louis. Brownsville e.
Mexico railroad across the "sands."
All were agreed on the one point that IL
was indeed disagreeable voyage, par
ticuiarly during the hot. dry summer
days when no particle cf sand knew "A
home-it blew everywhere and for no
reason.
II was a desert in fact
The railroad was put TO constant ex-
pense in keeping gangs Of laborers in
the sands who did nothing but shovel
sand off the tracks ahead Of the trains.
This continued from 1904 TO alcng in
1912 or 1913.
Then someone-we believe il was DIR.
H. Harrington. then agricultural
agent for the road. for he directed the
~ork-conceived an idea. II was that
II the sands along the railroad were
fertilized things would grow. especially
weeds and other rank growth. forming
an obstacle to the movement of sand
The idea proved out satisfactorily.
Today there IL plenty of green growth
IN the sands along the railroad. Travel
across the "desert" is made disagree
able no longer. Usually there is COM
paratively little dust.
All of which brings up the fact that
travel across the sands Is to be made
even more comforts 4 by another inn
provement.
The Gulf Coast Lines est Louis.
Brownsville & Mexico) is laying 20
miles Of sO-pound steel through the
sands. with gravel ballast to sustain il.
This steaf te
steel with which the railroad was ori-
gianlly built. II il being laid at the
rate of 1900 feet day.
This is only part of the program for
heavier steel on most of the road be-
tween Houston and Brownsville and be.
tween Harlingen and Sam Fordvcc. The
new track will include 75 and s0-pound
steel. a certain amount of which the
road has on hand. and which weights
will no longer be bought. according 70
the plans Of the company. After that
has been used up. additional steel will
be s5-pound and possibly 90.
All of which promises the Lower Rio
Grande Valley faster train service be-
tween this section and Houston. prob
ably within the next IL or IS months
perhaps less.
Brownsville seems 70 be certain of a
new terminal station to cost. according
TO President J. s. Pyeatt's announce
ment. about $4,000. The improvement
has been approved by the directors If
the road. Doubtless another year will
see this station completed, or az least
well under way.
New stations have recently been com
pleted at McAllen. Mission and Mer-
cedes. Brownsville seems TO be next in
the list. and indications are il will be
one Of the finest in the state.
Clusters Of pecans on a branch from a
pecan tree at the home Of n. r. Kendall
of Brownsville on exhibition in the dis
play windows Of the whitman Phar
macy. have been attracting considerable
attention.
The tree Il remarkable, according 70
Mrs. Kendall. because Of the fact that
il is producing pecans in prolific man
ner at five years.
The nuts are Of the paper shell va
riety. and the meat is perfect in shape
and sweet in taste.
The 9O-year old pecan tree which grew
in the rear Of the store building az
1904 Elizabeth street. and which had 70
be cut down a few months ago. was con
sidered proof of pecan possibilities in
this section
Why not more pecan trees:
The Bureau Of the Census. Depart
ment Of Commerce. reports that 25.o3l
bales Of cotton were ginncd in Cameron
county from the 1924 cotton crop prior
TO September I. This compared with
5.266 bales ginned TO September ].
1928. Despite the pCssimism that fol
lowed the 1924 cotton crop. due 70 late
planting and June rains, the 1924 crop
seems but little behind that of 1923.
which was considered the banner crop IN
the history Of the Valley.
And cotton Il still coming in the Val
lev. though the price is around ten
cents pound lower than what was
paid for nearly rs per cent Of the
crop. Between Harlingen and San Ben
ito there are many fields that are IN
fairly heavy bloom. II seems Valley
ginncrs still have considerable work 70
do. IL this top crop materializes.
Rrownsyille's street flusher has been
,snainted. Looks much better. indeed
Now IL the city traffic department VIII
appeal to the street department to oo-
serve the law as TO lamps on the flush
er there will be nothing TO complain
ahout. since Clyde Burke has rectified
the trouble with the street cars head
light when it's southbound.
IN reporting the sale o. l25OO acres
~ land in Cameron county few days
COO The Herald quoted report that
the sale involved an amount Of around
$500 900. The amount was not announ-
go Il Is authoritatively stated by those
connected with the deal. but 1t was less
than that reported.