Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-21
EXTENSION OF
HIGH &c
IS SUGGESTED
Commission May De-
eide on Plan For
Parallel Highway to
San Benito

Harlingen to San Benito to form the
parallel highway for No. ~, was ex-
pressed today by County Judge
Dancy in a letter to the San Benito
and Harlingen chambers of COM
merce.
Judge Dancy stated the highway
commission is considering two
propositions-widening Of Highway
No. ~ to the standard width Of Is
feet or construction OF a parallel
highway.
Highway No. 9s extends north
from H~arlingen through Combes to
the north line Of Willacy county, and
is expected to be continued north
through kennedy county to connect
with No. II at Rivera in Kleberg
county. This highway is paved from
Harlingen TO Combes and from the
Willacy county line 20 Raymond
vile. Aid was granted Monday by
the state highway commission for
completion Of the 2 1-2 mile m
paved section in Cameron county.
The state highway department in
dictated II would widen TO Is feet
the l5-foot sections OF Highway No.
y south Of San Benito to Browns
vile. but would not consider a par
allel road project from San Benito
south at this time.
In his letter TO the San Benito
and Harlingen chambers Of COM
merce. Judge Dancy sd.
Would Widen 10 Is Feet
As apparently there is a great
deal Of misunderstanding, including
Misunderstanding regarding my po-
sition relative 10 widening Highway
No. IL and building a parallel road,
! feel il proper to make the fol-
lowing statement:
Il am assuming that in the event
the decision is to widen State High
way No. II, the state will do this
at its W expense TO the extent Of
three feet, making same an IS foot
road, without participation on the
Fart of the county save and except
TO furnish right of way free. They
indicate that they must have 100
feet right Of way, but / hope TO per-
suade them to accept so feet, which
Will mean widening the right of way
10 feet on each side, or that equiva-
lent.
II assume that IL the decision is
to extend Highway No. 96 from Har-
lingen TO San Benito east Of the
Missouri Pacific railroad or what
IS known as the parallel road, that
the highway department will help
US 20 at least the equivalent Of the
expense Of the bridge across the
Arroyo, and ! have hopes that they
VIII 90 o%nc-third or one-half on this
project. However. it must be dis
tlnctly understood that / do not
know just how far the highway de-
partment will 20 on either road, and
am not authorized to speak.
would not advocate the parallel
road az this particular time were
Il not my firm belief that we can
get aid az least to the extent OF the
expenses or a bridge.
Favors Parallel Road
When IL comes 70 a question of
choosing between widening Highway
No ~ or extending Highway No. 96,
think the overwhelming argument
IS in favor Of the parallel road.
Following are q few reasons for my
position:
"ta) The distance can be shorten
ed between the business sections Of
your two cities approximately one
half mile. This alone is a big fac
tor, but fortunately would not have
the effect of transferring the most
OF the traffic TO this road, for the
reason that the travel coming in
south of the Arroyo, west of Har-
llngen, would still come in over
Highway No. -, but this shortening
of distance is a factor to be consid-
cred.
ABB Excepting that part which
would be included in the bridge.
this road can be located so that ev-
cry inch will be through fertile
lands under irrigation, now witheu.
road facilities. Widening Highwa.
No. IL will not. in my opinion, ma
terially increase valuations, but
might decrease them. because land
owners will desire that the lands
dedicated 70 the road be taken Off
the tax rolls, while on the parallel
road this Will result In a very great
increase OF valuations which will
help not only the taxpayers in your
two cities along the road, but every
taxpayer Of TIE entire county.
Urges Prompt Action
"(c) Another great factor Is that
building the road now, providing
we can get the highway depart
ment help. will doubtless enable Your
two cities to bring the road into
your respective cities at such point
Is your two cities and your com
m~issioners may decide, and | pledge
you to do all within MY power ~
carry this out il just this way.
should the Sterling plan Of high
Nay aid 90 over. which / think Is
very probable. and tho state builds
the roads, by delaying you might not
be IN the strategic position that
you r In now, because should the
state build the road at its own ex-
pense. in the future they might 20
down on the east line of the South
ern Pacific instead Of the east line
of the Missouri Pacific and in a
way pass up both your cities. This
/ do not want to see done. so l think
that now is the psychological mo-
ment to get a satisfactory location.
II is well known that the highway
department, not only of this state.
but OF every state in the union, are
now trying to plan their through
state highways so as 10 avoid going
through cities and towns with their
consequent delays and congested
traffic. This, to my mind, is one Of
she most important things for you
20 consider.
Would be Feeder Road
I'D This is not even remotely
inconsistent with our feeder pro-
gram, because every foot, save ard
except the bridge as aforesaid, i
through irrigated. fertile lands, Just
as badly in need Of roads as other
sections Of the country which do no-
have this strategic location.
II hope your two chambers OF
commerce will get together again
and see II you cannot work this out
satisfactorily 70 both parties. as il