, 1935-06-09
Railroad Week

Railroad Week" will be observed In the western
states, including Texas. starting on Monday Of this
week and continuing through Saturday.
It Is well to have such a week observed here in the
Valley. OF late years, more especially within the past
IL months. the principal railroads serving the VAL
ley-the Missouri Pacific and the Southern Pacific
have been the objects OF anything but uncompli-
mentary language as the result OF renewed efforts to
secure the removal OF the Robstown differential. 1t
may be that due to the struggle in which the Valley is
still engaged for lower freight rates. we have forgot
ten the real part in the development OF this territory
played by the rails.
The Valley may well remember that not until the
old ST. Louis. Brownsville and Mexico built into this
section was any development possible along modern
lines. Until the building Of that line the Valley was
an area Of cattle ranges. with practically no agri-
cultural development, no cities. no towns except
Brownsville and Rio Grande City.
With the railroad came the developers, came a new
population. came those forces which have builded the
Rio Grande Valley OF today and which by their work
have made possible the Rio Grande Valley Of to-
morrow.
came to our rescue. Many residents Of the Valley can
remember the time when cabbage was piled high along
the tracks and left to spread its rotting smell over the
landscape as a result Of the inability Of the ST. Is. B.
g. NJ. to furnish refrigerator cars in sufficient num-
bers to accommodate the crop.
Then came the arrangement with the Illinois Gen.
trial lines by which the Valley was guaranteed plenty
Of cars and faster freight service was inaugurated to
the bigger market points Of the country.
Still later came the acquisition Of the Gulf Coast
lines. including the Valley pioneer line. by the Missouri
Pacific. and again new strides in transportation de-
velopment were made. Faster passenger schedules
to Houston and San Antonio and faster freight sched-
ules 70 carry our fruits and vegetables to market came
about as a result Of this union.
Shortly after came the successful effort Of the
Southern Pacific lines to extend the San Antonio and
Arkansas Pass from Falfurras to the Valley, and a new
Valley farming territory was opened up to agricul-
tural development.
Not only within the bounds OF the Valley, but the
country over. have these main lines Of transporta-
ton helped the Valley. Valley advertising sponsored
by both has been a marvel Of attractive publicity.
They have done their fun share to attract to this
section the sportsman, the tourist. the settler. and will
continue to do their share as the years pass.
And the Valley would not approve a neglect to men
ton the old slider Web" line and the Port Isabel a.
Rio Grande line. Spider Web" made it possible for
many a Valley farmer to save a long journey to a
shipping point by threading its rails through his
backyard. whether he lived in Cameron or Hidalgo
counties. And in the earlier days Of the Valley, be-
fore the coming Of rail connections with the outside
world. the Rio Grande with its narrow gauge tracks
hauled many a cargo Of merchandise from the port OF
Point Isabel 10 Brownsville for forwarding into North
ern Mexico and to other Valley points. And the COM
ing Of the Port Isabel and Brownsville ports throws
q new responsibility on this, the Oldest railroad in the
United States.
And so through the years Of the Valleys history.