San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
VALLEY NEEDS
RAILROAD FOR
DEVELOPMENT
Business Men There Almost
Unanimous in Opposing
Rail Merger.
JUDGE DANCY TALKS
Says Valley to Grow Rap
idly and They Don't
Want a Monopoly.
JUDGE DANCY TALKS

u3f III oplSSiIIoH 10 lnc proposed Iner-
ger OF the I-G. n. railway with the
Gulf Coast Lines, according to Judge
Oscar Darcy. of Brownsville, Judge
Dancy, wro is one of the directors of
the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of
Commerce. stated during his visit in
San Antonio on Friday that valley
business men realize the need OF an
other railroad to handle the tonnage
that IS scheduled to increase in the
future in their section more rapidly
than It has increased in the past. not
withstand,n the fact that development
in the valley at present is only 20 per
cent or less.
Personally. / am opposed 90 the
merger. cnd | believe that | reflect
the senti? emit of the entire valley"
Judge Darcy stated. I'VE cannot in
fairness &c the Gulf Coast Lines say
that :he Gulf Coast has not made an
effort, especially during the last two
years. to handle our freight in as
| satisfactory a manner as possible: but
when sny road attempts to form n
monopoly, and when the heads of that
road dec.are that they will oppose the
construction of a competitive road into
the va.j6y region, after the I.-G. y.
is acquired, then we who can visualize
the future development of our Sec
ton know that such condition would
blnd us firmly around with belt of
steel, preventing the normal growth
of cnm try that is only in its in
FAINT Stage of Development
Crops Are Finer.
Speaking of possibilities of the val
ley, Judge Dancy stated that crops
in the entire valley region had never
been finer. and prospects for a ban
ner truck year never better, than thcy
are now; and he said that hOmeseek-
ers have never been more numerous.
or more anxious to buy land. than
those Vie are visiting in the Rio
GrGRde region now. The winter and
the entire twelve months past has
been productive of more bonafide home
seekers ;han in any period since the
valleys first boom subsidized, Judge
Dancy stated, and che price of land
has not decreased, but is holding its
own with a ready market for its dis
plsal to people who are not only
scientific in their farming, but pro-
grcs;iye in their ideas and beliefs.
1T is an inspirat ton to live in a
section as wide awake as the valley
is" Judge Dancy said, mot only in
the larger towns, but in every scat
tered community as well. The excel
lent class of homes that have sprung
up like mushrooms in the valley dur
ing the last few years are typical of
the kind of people who built them. 1t
is hard to find house that is flimsy
or out of date; the modern aspect of
the little farm home perhaps has no
equal in any other sectio of the
United States. The people who have
built these places are laying a firm,
solid foundation of progressive civili-
cation throughout their little country,
70 that not only the native re-
sources but the quality Of the popu-
lation as well, guarantees for the Rio
Grande Valley future that normally
will develop into veritable gold mine
OF prosperity and opportunity"
AS Near as Possible,
With the acquisition of the I.-G. n.
BY the Gulf Coast Lines, marking the
elimination Of competition in so far as
transportation in heavy tonnage
capacities is concerned, the develop
Gnent of farming, citrus fruit growing
and many other valley industries will
face the problem Of inadequate trans
portation facilities, with the normal
Development of that section during the
next five years. according to Judge
Dancy. The need for another road in
the near future-"as near as posi-
ble," is fact that is becoming i'm
perative, Judge Dancy said.
Another feature Of the case that
has not been developed before was
mentioned by Judge Dancy, who
stated that because Of the ulf Coasts
natural affinity for New Orleans, that
line would naturally do everything in
its power to discourage the completion
of deep water harbor at Point Isa-
bel, in preference to the long haul via
Houston to New Orleans. On the
other hand, a competitive road from
San Antonio to the valley would nat
urally help in every way to develop
the harbor, as it would have the dou-
BILE haul and would handle the mass of
ocean tonnage that would go and
come at the port.
Ntcu mOrt hdiiTOduS.
Judge Dancy stated that the devel-
opment of good roads in the valley
would WELD a great influence in help
ing to rapidly develop those sections
that are not already planted in
oranges, truck, or cotton. Recently
Judge Dancy has had the unique ex-
perience of conducting highway con.
struction in his county so effectively
and economically that bonds and
available funds on hand after the
longest stretch of concrete road il
Texas had been finished, tOtaleC
S135,00O, and now the State High
way Department has approved an
other highway issue, which would con
struct several miles Of concrete roaC
north of Harlingen. The finished
stretch reaches from Brownsville t.
the Hidalgo county line, a distance o.
36.5 miles, which is the longest piece
of concrete road in the state.
Good roads will rush the develop
ment Of the valley, Judge Dane.
stated, and consequently greater de
mauds will be made on transportation
facilities with this increase in yield
1.-TWO hundred and thirty-nine car
of truck were shipped from the vale!
on March 2S, according 20 report
from the producers Judge Dane,
stated. Il predict that in five years
this amount will be doubled. 1t is tn
natural thing for progressive develop
ment 10 demand increase in facilities
In order to keep pace, our railroad