Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-07-04
VALLEY CITIES
OBSERVEDAY;;
SPIKE DRIVEN
Rail Extension From
San Benito Started;
McAllen Also Has
Program

The Lower Rio Grande Valley to-
day is celebrating with the rest Of
the Nation, in honor Of America
birthday.
Celebrations are being held in
most cities Of the Lowel Valley, and
in those whore there are no celebra-
tions, most of the business houses
and offices are closed. and the res
idents OF the cities have put Up
flags, and will otherwise observe the
national holiday.
Special church services in observ-
ance of the occasion were held in
most cities OF the Valley Sunday.
and Sunday night, and many special
programs Of other kinds were car
ried out.
The major celebrations Of the
Fourth of July in the Valley are be-
ing carried out today at San Benito
and McAllen.
San Benito Celebrates
Thousands Of people from al. parts
Of the Valley, and visitors from 9th
er sections assembled this morning
at San Benito for the elaborate pro-
gram Of entertainment which is 10
be carried out there during the day.
Crowds also saTted assembling
early at McAllen. where the official
Fourth of July program opened yes
terday. The McAllen program yes
terGay included balloon ascension,
similar 10 the one Saturday, with
parachute jumping. band music. with
the Alzafar Shrine Band of San An
tonic present, fireworks, and the
like
This afternoon the principal fea-
ture Of the McAllen celebration viii
be the bull fight at Reynosa, the
first held along this section Of the
border in several years, and thous-
ancs Of persons are expected TO 20
to the bull fight.
Val Verde
A celebration at Val Verde was
opened last night. with fireworks
and a patriotic program, and many
persons we're assembling in tnat
city early Monday.
The cities which are celebrating
the Fourth of July are deliberately
decorated. flags, streamers. and the
like being strewn throughout the
city. covering buildings. and decorat-
ing the streets.
Featuring the San Benito celebra-
tion was the driving OF the golden
spike. marking the beginning of ex-
tensions Of the San Benito 4 Rio
Grande Valley Railway. SUBSIDIARY Of
the Missouri Pacific.
Stafford Talks
The golden spike was driven at
l2:l5 this afternoon BY III. r. SAT-
ford. executive vice-president or the
Missouri Pacific lines. The driving
of the spike was followed BY brief
address in which Mr.. Stafford stated
that the extension OF this road IL
the carrying out Of the Missouri Pa
cities promise Of giving first class
transportation 40 the entire Valley.
James "a. Bowie Of San Benito
made a short talk on behalf Of the
city. and outlined the development
that is expected to take place fol-
lowing the completion of the new
line. This development. he said. will
spread out along the new tracks. and
viii be felt in San Benito and other
cities Of the Valley.
The city Of San Benito presented
George Winsor. manager of the San
Benito a Rio Grande Valley rail-
way, and chairman Of the committee
IN charge of the Fourth Of July cell
ebration. with a desk set, and Mr.
Stafford with a Scottish Rite ring az
token of appreciation for the ex-
tension of the "Spiderweb."
Baseball Postponed
The baseball games scheduled
here today were postponed on ac-
count ~ wet grounds. but prepara-
tions were being made At noon for
the races which are to be held this
afternoon.
The Missouri Pacific band. "Los
Toreadores." arrived IN the city
early today. and furnished music
during the morning.
Although there is no special cele-
bration scheduled for the Fourth in
Brownsville, most Of the stores are
closed and nearly every place Of
business has flag displayed. Most Of
the down town streets are lined with
street flags and many private res
licences are flying the Colors
Fort Brown j. eniovirg the nation
al holiday and will have no special
celebration other than the firing Of
iS-gun salute NJ noon todav. This
is a procedure prescribed IN the War
Department and consists of salute
10 each Of the +s states which "a
whole j. a salute 70 the entire ma
tion. Every army post throughout
tha country has orders TO observe