Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-10-09
Interest Im VulIey
Real, Baldwin Tells
/. &. &. Commissioner

WI
there, except that the commissioner
ruled that reference to The letters
should be omitted
Serenity having been restored, Mr.
Baldwin resumed his narrative
Touching the general proposition
that a disaster might interrupt oper-
alton of a railroad with a single line
of track into the Valley, a subject which
Mr.. Tallichet frequently had stressed,
Mr.. Baldwin said it is probable that an
earthquke or other calamity might stop
but so they might, he said, do that
anywhere. In this connection he said
the desirability of being able to make
detours in such cases over other lines
had been mentioned by the Southern
Pacific. AS rule, he said, breaks IN a
line of railroad can usually be mended
before arrangements can be made with
| other lines for use of their tracks for
a detour.
Paying For Flood Control
Turning to another phase, Mr.. Bald
win stated that the Gulf Coast s5ne.
had projected itself into this territory
at time when traffic volume was in
definite and finally became involved in
financial difficulties. Indeed, he said,
Gulf Coast Lines financial problems
were principal items in the receiver
ship of its parent, the St. Louis & San
Francis railroad.
Reverting. to the question of disas-
ters which might delay highly perish
able freight traffic from the Valley, the
witness indicated that tropical storms in
this latitude usually come in August and
| September, at a time, he said, when the
Valley vegetable and fruit is not an
urgent transportation factor.
Moreover, the witness declared, the
, Gulf Coast Lines had cheerfully paid its
share of the taxes for Rio Grande flood
control and expected. to continue that
policy.
He went into the matter, of Southern
Pacific expenditures on its system when
Mr.. Bell objected because, he said, they
were not at issue. Mr. Andrews said
they might tend to show attempts at
duplication of railroad service in vio-
lation of the transportation act and con-
stitute one reason why Southern Pacific
NAL earnings.
The commissioner admitted the testi-
many but A. B. Cole, Brownsville, attor-
ney for the Brownsville Chamber of
| Commerce, intervenor in favor of the
application for the proposed extension,
objected because, he said, it would de-
lay the hearing and bring in items "tri-
vial as far as the intervenor is con-
cerned." Moreover, he said, they were
prejudicial to he interests of the in
tervenor.
1T seems that his line Of testimony is
far flung" he said but the commissioner
said he thought "you will have to let
me decide that"
The sole purpose of the Southern Pa
cific, Mr.. Baldwin said in resuming his
story, is merely to come into the Rio
Grande Valley. 1t has not said, according
to Mr.. Baldwin, exactly its ultimate des-
tination in the Valley. Neither could
the Southern Pacific, he said, to build
its proposed extension, "spend $4,620,00(
in the interests of the public" AS {
matter of fact, he said, to duplicate
Gulf Coast existing Valley facilitie.
from the point where the Southern Pa
cific proposes to begin it's Valley con.
| struction, would cost $10,500,000. He
said it. would cost $18,000,000 to dupli-
cate the Missouri Pacific's situation
here.
Mr. Baldwin also went into the ques-
tions of rates, equipment and its eff
forts to be of service to agriculture
through its agricultural department
which, he said, I'VE are willing to ex.
tend anywhere the people in the Valley
may want it,
Valley success" he said, "is an i'm
portant factor in Gulf Coast Lines sue
cess. We will do anything in our power
to help"
i Mr.. Baldwin's figures on costs o
building into the Valley brought from
Commissioners Woodloek the remindel
1.-THE application "covers but two lines
and that testimony should be confined
to argument on the application.
/ Cross-examined briefly by Mr.. Tai
Ilichet, Mr. Baldwin said that the Val
lley "has very great possibilities, tina
production possibly would increas'
greater than it has in the past.
The witness denied that the Missouri
Pacific was determined on a transpor
tation monopoly, asserting that w,
lare determined to give proper servic'
Ito the Valley"
Questioned as to his familiarity will
production along the railroad andd it
; paralleling highway in the Valley. Mr.
Baldwin said that he knew "that goo,
transportation is very helpful" bu
that speed is not all that is necessar.
lin the handling of fresh vegetables.
Asked whether an alternate route i
!. desirable, the witness said there ma.
be very few exceptions, but general,
. it is not The witness went on t
SAY that a detour line would be val
tuable the shipment could reach tn,
! deeour and it the detour was prepares