Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-04-19
L.YFORD CLAIM
HEARING ENDED
BY RAIL BOARD
No Recommendations to
Be Made to l. C.. C.. on
Testimony in Protest
of Locating Line

HARLINGEN, Texas, April 18.-The
Texas Railroad Commission will make
no recommendation to the Interstate
Commerce Commission in connection
with the hearing Of the Lyford protest
against the issuance Of certificate of
convenience and rccessity for the build
ing of the Ravmoniville Monte Christie
extension of the st. Louis, Brownsville
E. Mexico rairoad. Chairman Clarence
Gilmore said at the conclusion Of the
hearing here late this afternoon.
THE testimony which has been taken
here today, will be forwarded to the
Intershtate Commerce Commission at
Washington, which will announce its
finding in due time," Chairman Gilmore
said Commissioners c. Y. Terrell and
Lon A. Smith also sat in the case.
Attorneys for Lyford and the railroad
were given until May 20 to file briefs
in connection with the case.
w. r. Montgomery of Edinburg, rep
pesenting the Edinburg Booster Club,
before the beginning of testimony, init
mated the possibility of Intervention by
the city of Edinburg.
Mr. Montgomery represented that
Edinburg objected to the use Of spur
track" in connection with the railroad S
proposal to build an extension of ten
miles south from the proposed town of
Allandale to Edinburg, to connection
with the San -Edinburg branch of
the ST. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico.
He called attention to the fact that ap-
plication for this stretch of track re-
ferrei to it as a spur" and to the fact
that the legislature of Texas recently
passed a law, which he opposed, per-
mitting railroads to operate over tracks
designated as spurs" at their own con-
venience.
Railroad to Drop Spur
Frank Andrews, counsel for the rail-
road, stated that the railroad company
would be glad to eliminate the use of
the word spur" in connection with that
track, intimating that it was the in
tention to operate a regular service
over the line from Raymondville to Al
lendale and Edinburg, on down to San
Puan and McAllen, Mission and Sam
Fordyce.
H. L. Yates of Browsviiie assisted by
L. A. Carlton of Harlingen, presented
the case in behalf of the Lyford Com
mercial club.
E. W. Kirkpatrick, chief engineer OF
the ST. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico RAJ
road, H, p. Stafford, executive vica
president Of the Gulf Coast Lines, K.
Stuart of Harlingen, John Shary OF
Sharyland and Lamar Gill of Raymond
vii. were in the order named the wit
nesses for the railroad company. Twt
/ witnesses were used by Lyford. E. NJ
| Sorenson and w. r. Ray, both Of Lyford
| Last fall the ST. Louis, Brownsville
& Mexico railroad applied to the Inter
| state Commerce Commission for Ger
tificate of convenience and public ne
cessity for the construction of a brancl
line from a point near Lyford, Willac!
| county, to Edinburg, in Hiialgo county
to connection with the San Juan -Edin
| burg branch of the road. The certifi
cate was granted.
Lyford Objects to Change
Later the railroad changed its plan
and on February last filed an applica
| ton for permit to build from poin
near Raymondville west across Hidalg
county to Monte Christie, distance o
| 32 miles south. The application ais
provided for spur from point abou
nine miles west of Raymondville soutl
distance Of ten miles to Mile 18, at thu
north side of the Mercedes tract; ais
! for track from point known as Allen
/ dale, 18 miles west of Raym ondville
! south nine miles to Edinburg to a con
| nection with the San Juan-Edinbur,
( branch Of the st. L. B. e. M.
1t is this latter application to whicl
| citizens of Lyford entered a protest t.
the Interstate Commerce Commission
| The l. c. G. requested the Texas Rail
road Commission to hold the hearing
E. w. Kirkpatrick occupied the wit
ness stand during most Of the mornin,
session. He testified as to why tn
Continued on Page Two)