Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-05-27

IN OUR
VALLEY

RAILROAD conversation up and down
xA the Lower Rio Grande Valley had
another brisk turn with the visit Sun
day, Monday and Tuesday of President
w. r. Scott of the Southern Pacific
Lines.
What are they going to do?"
"Where are they striking fort"
Something like these questions are
met everywhere.
Mr. Scott continues indefinite about
the exact location of the southern term
inus of the proposed branch south from
Falfurrias, "a distance of 80 miles to
some point on the Mexican border
That the proposed line will, with
]. C. c. permission, build into and
through Hidalgo county is a foregone
conclusion. That is indicated in the
application that has been filed, as we'll
as the maps that have gone forward.
Are they going to stop at Hidalgo,
and why?" is still another question.
The Southern Pacific is great be-
lever in oil and oil fields. The South
ern Pacific is interested in the oil fields
of California, and any other oil fields
that can reach with its lines.
Somewhere to the southwest of Hi
dalgo or to the southwest of any point
between Hidalgo and Samfordyce, lies
what some geologists have declared is
the greatest prospective oil field in the
world.
1t is in the vicinity of Aldamas, Mex
leo, l20 miles west of Matamoros. The
supposed oil field reaches up to the west
bank Of the San Juan river.
Is the Southern Pacific reaching for
that prospective fields business by
building to the Rio Grande in prepar-
alton for the Jump off" if Jump
off" will prove profitable from tom
mage standpoint.
But if the oil field does not develop,
what then?
Is the tonnage in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley that is developed east
of McAllen attractive enough to draw
the S. p. to Brownsville or the coast?
Some say that as a matter of fact
20 per cent of the in and out tonnage
in the Valley is developed east of San
Juan, and probably go per cent, perhaps
more, in the territory between Wes
laco and Brownsville has brought about
much discussion.
Heretofore Brownsville and the terri
tory east of McAllen have not been Of
ficiaily mentioned in connection with
the Southern Pacific extension south
from Falfurrias. Assuredly this terri
tory is not mentioned in the applica-
ton for permit that has gone forward
President Scott is, to use familiar,
expression, keeping stiff upper lip, :
and SO far as the public is concerned
one guess is as good as another at this
particular time as to what the S. p.
proposed to do about the territory east
of the McAllen-Hidalgo district.
The people of the Valley would GER
tainly not run true to form if they did
rot want another railroad. What thriv-
ing, ambitious American community
does not want another railroad, even
though il have dozen already? But
whether the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, with the great powers that
have been conferred upon it by con-
gress, can see it in the same light is
another question.
And doubtless the l. c. G. will have
ample opportunity at no distant date
to make important decisions which will
haveJs great effect upon the future of
the Lbwer Rio Grande Valley?
Jack Gimble, Gulf Coast Lines gen.
eral agent at Brownsville, c. W. Strain
general passenger agent Of the road,
and c. L. Stone, general passenger agent
of the Missouri Pacific, are reported
attending meeting at Monterrey with
Mexican National officials.
The report abounds in interest in
sofar as Brownsville is concerned. The
costly international bridge at Browns
willie at this time is serving no pur-
pose except as a general traffic bridge
On bullfight and fiesta days 1t Is
perhaps a profitable institution.
Gulf Coast Lines men have long been
ambitious to put the Brownsville gate
way ION the map. Perhaps this Mon
terrey meeting has to do with the
Brownsville gateway.
At least, it is to be hoped that it does.
Brownsville has long been ambitious
to share some of Laredo's fame as a
real gateway to Mexico.
Fuel is an item, big one, In rail-
road operation. Two trains Of the same
tonnage can start from the border, one
from Laredo, the other from Browns
willie.
At Monterrey it will be found that
the Brownsville train was hauled at a
csst of 40 per cent less for fuel than
was expended on the Laredo train, al
though Laredo is about 40 miles nearer
That's something to consider, anyhow