San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
|DELAY ACTION
|. ON RAILROAD
AMALCAMAT| 0N
J. S. Pyeatt to Address
Manufacturers Asso-
citation.
LAREDO ASKS VIEWS
Border City Says L-G. N.
Merger Would
Help 1t.

]. S.. Pyeatt. president Of the Gulf
Coast Lines, has accepted an invita-
ton to be the guest of the San An
tonic Manufacturers Association at
their regular meeting Tuesday, March
4, at noon, in the office of the asso-
citation in the Gunter hotel. On ac-
count of numerous requests which have
been received FOR invitations 10 the
luncheon it has been decided to strictly
limit the attendance to the directors
of the association.
Mr.. pyeatt was recently in San An
tonic, at which time he conferred with
the officials OF the Chamber of Com
merce, at the time that organization
announced its opposition to the pro-
posed amalgamation of the l.-G. n.
railroad with the Gulf Coast Lines.
Since that time the San Antonio
Manufacturers Association. at Il meet
ing OF its board of directors held
Tuesday, FEBRUARY 20, unanimously
passed a resolution favoring the ANAL
gamation. The meeting Tuesday next
will be the first opportunity the di-
rectors of the Manufacturers Associa-
ton have had of meeting Mr.. Pyeatt.
G.. y. railroad, recently held a confer
ence with the manufacturers in their
office, at which time he refused to eX-
press his views or to commit bimseit
regarding the amalgamation, though he
outlined the future policy of his rail
road for the development of this en-
tire territory, which news was accept
cd by those present as being very salts
factory.
Laredo Asks Information.
Laredo has written the Manufac-
turcrs Association requesting to know
on what grounds. and asking for speci-
fic reasons for San Antonio's opposi-
ton TO the amalgamation. Sam Mackin
chairman of the railway committee of
that organization, in his letter to
President ]. NJ. McIlhenny of the
Manufacturers Association, stated that
the business interests of Laredo had
from the very first been unable to I'M
derstand where either San Antonio's
or Laredo's interests would suffer. On
the other hand it appeared to the citi-
zens of Laredo that the amalgamation
would work to Larcdo's advantage.
President Mcllhenny replied that the
directors Of the Manufacturers Asso-
citation. which represented one hun
dred and fifty factory owners Operat-
ing industries in this city, after thor
oughly discussing the matter, land
after hearing expert opinion, could see
no disadvantages to the amalgamation
but believed that the whole transpor-
tation system of this territory would
be greatly benefited. and had therefore
unanimously endorsed the proposition.
No Official Meeting.
Secretary &. c. Leal of the San
Antonio Manufacturers Association
states that an act OF Congress. passed
in 1920, authorized the consolidat ton
Of the railroads into limited number
Of systems, and ordered the Interstate
Commerce Commission TO prepare and
ADOPT such a plan. The proposed con-
solidation of the two Texas lines is
the outcome of this act. Mr.. Lcel
stated Saturday night that in spite of
rumors to the contrary, there had been
no official meeting Saturday. or at
any other time between the directors
of the Manufacturer Association and
any other organization. at which the
matter had been discussed. The direct
ors Of the association. he said. had an.
animously announced their approval
Of the proposed consolidation, and
there remained nothing more for them
to say or TO discuss.
They Meet Informally.
At an informal meeting between
certain manufacturers and members
of the Greater San Anto - committee
Saturday afternoon, it was decided to
delay action in the matter. They will
await further information from the
Gulf Coast Lines.
1t is understood that members Of
the two railroads will meet in New
York Monday to close the deal that
would virtually sell the I.-G. y. lines
10 the Gulf Coast Lines.
Following the settlement. applica-
ton will be filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission for permission
to complete the sale. c. Il. Yandcll
general manager Of the San Antonio
chamber. and Albert Stoves ST.. presi
dent Of the chamber. were empowered
by the committee to make all neces
sary prcpa rations for presenting their
side at the Interstate Commerce Com
mission hearing.