Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-08-23

IN OUR
VALLEY

~ of the Rio Grande City railway, will
take part in the festivities at Rio
Grande City today in connection with
the arrival there of the first passenger
train over to enter the capital of Starr
county.
The first train will start from Browns
willie at o'clock this morning and travel
with the rising sun, picking up passen-
gers along the route, folks who want to
take advantage Of the opportunity to
ride into Starr county with the opening
Of service.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
being willing, the Rio Grande City rail
way will eventually become part of the
great Missouri Pacific system, since the
st. Louis, Brown sville & Mexico, an
M p property, has asked for permis-
sion to buy the road which Colonel Ed
ridge built.
This railroad business down here in
the lower coast country and the Lower
Rio Grande Valley has assumed as
founding proportions.
On all sides there is activity. We find
the Gulf Coast Lines preparing to build
at Combes> and at Ricardo.
The Gulf Coast Lines is also building
about so miles of track across portions
of Cameron and Hidalgo county, con
nedting Raymondville and Monte
Christie, with fingers reaching south
about ten miles at two points in Hidalgo
county.
The Spiderweb, Gulf Coast subsidi-
arv. is connecting Santa Maria with it's
MADEIRA Monte Christie track, at MADEIRA.
All these tracks will make a veritable
network of railroad trasks through the
Lower Rio Grande Valley.
In addition to all of which, the South
ern Pacific, seeking entry into the
Lower Rio Grande Valley through it's
recently acquired San Antonio & Aran-
sas Pass, is seeking permission to build
from Falfurrias 80 miles south to the
border at Hidalgo.
Later it filed an application to build
from Edinburg to Harlingen.
What are the others plans Of the
Southern Pacific?
Does that road, if it is permitted to
carry out it's announced plans, propose
to continue on to Brownsville from Har-
lingen, or will it stop at Harlingen?
Rumors are that it is the ultimate in
tention of the Soethern Pacific, if its
various requests are granted, to build to
Brownsville. Other than President w.
r Scott's intimaton when in Browns
vile some months ago that the Southern
Pacific would build into this part of the
Valley if the people wanted it, there has
been no official information along this
line.
Probably if the matter were put to a
vote of the people, they would declare
that they want more railroads.
The people, doubtless, would not stop
to worry over whether there was suf-
, ficient tonnage to justify another rail-
road. If additional transportation meant
reduced revenues to the roads the
people would no doubt leave to the rail-
roads the matter Of figuring out ways
in which to increase tonnage and rev.
enues.
The one opening for the people to de-
clare themselves, through leaders and
men versed in tonnage and dvelopmnt in
Falfurrias- Hidalgo extension that will
be held in Brownsville on October S.
At that time Rirector Mahaffe Of the
bureau of finance of the Interstate
Commerce Commission will hear why's
and wherefores from two sides. since
the Missouri Pacific has announced its
protest againt the extension.
Added Importance is given the hear
ing. by the designation of Mr.. Mahaffie
to hold it. In other hearings that have
been held, examiners sat in the Gases
and made their recommendations to Mr..
Mahaffie. Mr.. Mahaffie will be on the
job himself in this case.
Up in Northwest Texas it has ben
the Santa Fe and the Burlington that
have been mixing it on the question
of extensions and new territory.
In extreme Southwest Texas it is two
of the country's greatest systems, the
Missouri Pacifil and the Southern
Pacific.
Up in New York City where railroads
are financed they are talking about