Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-07

would result in agricultural devel-
| opment in the Rio Grande Valley
and coastal country territory.
Grades Were Low
To the mind Of the uninitiated
layman, this statement doubtless
does not convey anything very COM
prehensible, but when it is stated
that many Of the greatest systems
are compelled to move their trains
over grades that exceed one and
one-quarter, to three per cent, the
idea Is more easily grasped. The
same physical conditions that made
it possible to build the lowest grade
line also made it practicable to
construct the longest straight line
in the country. In the 343 miles of
main line from Brownsville to Al
goa, there are 81 curves, and a ma
jority Of these are barely percepti-
bic to the eye On the Hidalgo
branch, there are IS curves, making
a total of SO for the whole line. In
the entire mileage of 1884 miles
there are but Is miles classed not
straight track.
From Robstown to Brownsville,
141.45 miles, there is but little more
than five miles between the two
terminals that is not absolutely
straight. Suffice it to say that re-
CARELESS of motive, incentive or rea-
son, the railroad was built as orig
inally planned, and today stands as
a monument to the courage, fore
sight and energy to al THAT sup
ported its chief in the actual con-
Struction.
I recall with pleasure many Incl
dents of early pioneering in that
now famous nd prosperous COM
munity. 1T was the foresight that
grand old man. Col. Uriah Lott.
supported by Robert j.. Kleberg and
John Kennedy, that made possible
the building Of the Brownsville
Line, penetrating as it did in 1903
and 1904, a section Of the country
absolutely devoid of any develop
ment. He devoted years in the pro-
noting of this proposition and dis
cusSed his plans with me early dur
ing 1902, and I gave him encourage
ment, believing that eventually it
would attract attention.
He disclosed to me all of his plans.
going into detail as to the possibil-
tiles arising from soils and water
so generously favored by climatic
conditions, which if aided by
transportation would stamp upon
the maps the most wonderful sec
ton in production. and create a rail
line that eventually would yield a
greater tonnage, per mile. than any
road existing in the entire South
land, and it Is to be regretted that
he could not live to see his dreams
realized. .
Saw the Possibilities
I made the settlement during, 1905
for publication to the effect that it
seemed marvelously strange to me
that the pioneer railroad builders
Of that time had overlooked the
Gulf coast country; what was most
prominent in their minds and what
they tried to do was to follow the
way people had already zone. They
wanted some assurance that their
investments and their labor would
not be In vain They sought to
connect isolated communities and
then in turn to connect them with
the great commercial centers.
The possibility of building their
railroads through unproductive and
unpeopled lands, and then filling
those lands with people, did not ap-
peal to them in the same sense that
it does to the modern builder. This
was Col Lofts experience in the be-
ginning, and had it not been for the
faithful and local support by Robert
j.. Klebergt and John Kennedy. he
would have failed In his under
taking.
The syndicate members. headed
by Mr.. B. F. Yoakum. Col. s. w.
Fordyce. Thomas H. West. w. K.
Bixby. Robt. S. Brookinrs, Edwards
Whitaker and John r. Shepley,
made It possible to finance Col.
lofts proposition and within a pc
Rod Of three short years. bring it
To a finished product as a live trans
nortation artery that holds today
manifold advantages.
The story as pictured at this time
IS best told by the evidence of its
beautiful cities. the homes Of pro-
qressive men and women, who have
planted thousands upon thousands
Of acres to profitable crops, all
working in harmony and with a de-
sire for cooperation in team work
for the upbuilding and identifying
IF the grsndest country in the entire
Southland.
When actual construction was
commenced a quarter century ago,
the territory between Robstown
and Brownsville, a distance of 141
miles, had a population Of less
than a dozen families with their
cattle industry, and as our work
progressed we gradually passed
through the DriScoll, King, Ken
nedy. Yturria and Armstrong
ranches, finally reacing the city of
Brownsville.
What a Transformation has
arisen out of the vacant prairies
since then, through the influence
Of transportation! The thriving
cities that have sprung itno exist
ence, and the broad acres planted
to profitable crops. confirms the
story that TRANSFORMATION alone is
the principal factor 50 eces-
sary In the development of our re-