Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13

- HlyAtl1 buT I'm an Ola time
now" q voice from the crowd de
clared.
How come?" another voice de
manded.
why, I come to the Valley wher
u had only mesquite wood 70 burr
AMI now we got gas" the sell. elected
oldtimer explained.
Those few minutes during which
the city officials Of McAllen made 1
ceremony Of lighting the first natural
a flambeau in the Valley, late il
August. marked a greater chang,
IN the development Of the Lower ri,
Grande Valley than any other quar-
ter-hoar since the first railroad
train came in from the outside
world. Industrial expansion Of yet
unknown size became possible and
Immediate in a section which had al
ready become the greatest agricultu-
raj region Of its area IN the United
States.
A Factor In Industry
Enormous tonnage Of raw products
has been rolling out Of the Valley
in increasing totals each year. The
labor and supply and working condi-
tions are ideal for manufacturing,
Climate, soil and water supply are
combined 70 give twelve months 2
year production OF raw food products
for manufacturing plants. Iransror-
tation facilities for carrying manu-
featured products 20 the big markets
are rapidly approaching the ideal.
But until natural gas was brought
in by the Rio Grande Valley Gas
Company, the Valley has no fuel Tor
manufacturing purposes. When the
first gas jet was lighted the indus
trial era Of the Valley was opened.
Raw materials, labor. transporta-
ton and climate were the foundation
factors seen here long ago by capital.
Power was necessary and the Insult
interests led the way BY the purchase
Of a score Of small utility plants,
combining them, securing franchises
and developing a rapidly expanding
electric power system m which mil
lions have been invested in b past
few years. Electric power has been
here 70 turn wheels. but IL was gene
rated from oil, and cheap fuel was
needed for the giant cookers Of can
ming plants. dehydration plants.
brick and tile yards and gypsum
mills. Natural gas in practically I'M
limited supply from fields III miles
away, now coming through the mains
Of the Rio Grande Valley Gas Com
pany, supplies that fuel.
Demand for Gas Heavy
Unorganized demand for natural
gas fuel in the Lower Rio Grande
Velley began when small industries
expanded above the "three-men-and-
a-boy" payroll stage. and household
ers began TO pay more than So a
cord for mesquite wood When
settlement and development Of the
Valley began 20 years ago, the lands
we're covered with dense mesquite
growth which had 70 he cleared. Con-
tinual expansion 81 the farming area
produced a steady supply Of wood
for fuel. IL was cheap and the labor
understood its use. Even the irri-
cation pumping plants began with
wood for fuel under steam boilers.
AS the lands were cleared the
price Of wood rose, and housewives
and the owners of the first factories
and power plants began 70 look for
ward 10 the day Of natural gas.
That day seemed far off until gas
fields were found during wildcat oil
drilling operations in Jim H0gg,
Webb. Duval and 2apata counties
just north Of the Valley. Continued
drilling operations there discovered
gas fields Of immense possibilities
and the Valley people looked north
ward for fuel.
Capital Is Interested
The Webb-Jim Horg fields had the
gas and the Valley had the demand.
but capital was needed 10 get the two
together. The Valley was using its
and dfawing upon the out
side for more in is valley expan-
sion Of producing crops and building
Capital from the outside. in
what seemed 20 growing communities
in large amounts, was needed and the
big job was to get that capital in
terested.
Two men in San Benito. c. s. Lasbv
and j. II. Crawford. decided two years
ago that capital could be secured and
natural gas BE piped into the Valley.
They put up the first few dollars that
the project in which around
0OO. 900 has beer invested and did
the first work Of starting the gas line
has had a payroll Of $4,000 q
week during the past summer and
has employed a small army Of men.
Organize Demand
Lasby and Crawford compiled fig
ures showing the demand for gas IN
the Valley. They went 10 the gas
fields and drove from well 20 well
and lease 10 lease % learn Vi II was
while to employ %geologists and
engineers TO make a report on a natu-
gas line project 10 the Valley.
Then they got John W. Gaines, wei
known attorney OF San Antonio in.
tercSted and an engineer was employ
"a to make a preliminary report.
Lasby raised money for the early
financing and Crawford went from
10 town in the Valley 10 acquire
franchises. Judge Gaines went 20 the
money centcrs Of the country. from
Pacific coast 10 new 1oFh. 10 III
capital. Men were sent 20 the
fields 10 make contracts for delivery
II gas and a survey was made OF the
route or the proposed gas line. or tho
fields and the distribution lines in
towns.
An appointment was inside for a
meeting in San Antonio Of engineers.
capitalists. attorneys and the initia-
.ors Of TIE project 20 hear the first
-eport. The engineer did not appear
Two DAYS before he had been shot
md killed BY bandits near Zapata
while enroute 10 San Antonio with
his report
This was a check 20 the project but
ne engineers firm carried on. and
he promoters Of she gas line projcc.
again.
A capitalist in the east was inter
lstsd. received the complete reports
md expressed willingness 20 provide
he money. Before the deal was COM
,leted the capitalist died suddenly.
cermre Financial Rarkine