San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
.YANDELL TAKES
+ MERGER FIGHT
TO THE VALLEY
Will Fight "Places and
Factions" Favcring
Sale.
HEARING ADVANCED
Chamber Manager Here
Will Visit Towns
in Valley. .

At the request of the Gulf Coast
Railway, the hearing on its applica-
ton TO purchase the, International
Great Northern Lines has been ad-
vanced by the State Railway Commits
sion from April 10 to March 81. ac-
cording to adyices received from Aus
tin late Saturday afternoon. and the
change of date has been approved by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
in Washington. for whom the state
commission is hearing the case.
Following this message, G. B. YAM
dell. general manager of the San An
tonic Chamber of Commerce. an
nOunced that he would leave this city
on Tuesday. March IL, to appear be-
fore the chambers of commerce of
every Rio Grande valley town, for the
purpose of securing the cooperation
and endorsement of these communities
in the fight on the proposed merger.
and meetings have been arranged with
Brownsville. Harlingen. McAllen and
other Rio Grande valley towns.
1t is the purpose of San Antonio
TO fight those places and factions fav-
oring the sale, according TO decision
reached by San Antonio business men
on Saturday.
Other Roads Join in Fight.
There will be general consolida-
ton of these places and factions OPP
posing the merger, so that the fight
may assume the proportions Of an am
selfish struggle. Col. Claude Y. Bir&.
head, acting chairmnp of the Greater
san Antonio Committee, announced
Saturday.
The endorsement of all railroads
not owned or influenced by the Gulf
Coast Lines has been virtually as
sured. and every road willing TO enter
the fight with us will be drawn in.
I'm addition to this. we will line
up the towns in our trade belt. assur-
ing ourselves of the position that each
will take, and we will fight any town
opposed to our battle on the ground
that this community has announced its
fight TO include every one and every
place endorsing the SALE
Regarding his trip into the valley.
Mr.. Nandell stated that it was not for
the purpose Of spreading propaganda
or because of the desire to force any
community OIL San Antonio's side, but
simply to line up the towns that will
endorse this city's fight to secure for
the Rio Grandc valley the transporta-
ton privileges for which it has been
asking for at least ten years.
Repeat Pyeatt's Statement.
81 will appear before every cham
Der of commerce in the valley of the
Rio Grande,' Mr.. Yandell said. land
/ will base my talks to the business
men of that section on the assertion
made by Mr.. Pyeatt that he will op-
pose the, construction of another rail
road into their territory. ] will at
tempt TO show them that San Anto-
MOS fight is their fight. for the pur-
pose of improving freight conditions
in the richest truck belt of Texas. Be-
ginning at Brownsville. | will include
every town in the Rio Grande Valley
coast district. through Corpus Christi
to Weslaco. where ! will address the
federated chambers Of commerce of the
lower valley towns. Mr.. Ross, general
secretary of that federation. told me
that only 20 per cent of the valleys
trade is being handled today compared
with the quantity of freight that will
result in that section with the devel-
opment of five more years. i will
ask the valley merchant how. when
only 20 per cent of his possible bust
ness is not handled efficiently now.
the enormous business expected in the
valley ut the end of five years time
will be handled by one company with
its present discriminating policies"
Plan Finish Fight.
At a meeting of the Greater San
Antonio Committee OH Saturday. thir-
teen organizations of this city endorsed
a fight to the finish on the merger.
A Subcommittee of which A. III.
Half is chairman was appointed to
prepare San Antonio's case for the
hearing before the State Railroad Com
mission in Austin. The membership
Of this committee includes: A. II. |
Half, chairman; William Ochse, l.. ].
Hart. and j. III. Halle. The case as
prepared by this committee will be SUBJ |
mitted to the general committee at a |
called meeting during the coming week. |
The filing of an application for the !
of the date of the hearing |
was made by the Gulf Coast Lines, |
and because of the Importance Of the !
ease, the I-.G. n. approved the change. |
San Antonio's case will also be heard |
1t this time, and the facts as the State |
Commission sees them will be for |
warded TO the Interstate Commerce !
Commission in Washington for final !