Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, February 20, 1914 Page: 1 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Aransas Pass Progress and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Aransas Pass Progress
Volume V
ARANSAS PASS, SAN PATRICIO COUNTY, TEXAS, FEBRUARY 20, 1914.
Number 46
THE CITY OF CERTAINTY, WHERE SAILS MEET RAILS
GOVERNMENT ANSWERS
TEXAS RAILROADS
Sustains the Interstate Commerce Commission
In The Contention.
WANT PRESENT RATES MAINTAINED
Vitally Affects Port Aransas and the People
Southwest Texas—Case To Come Up
at May Term of Federal Court
At Corpus Christi.
UP TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS i
f
: m
er admits nor denies the same.
If it becomes material upon the
heading, respondent will require
strict proof thereof.
It admits the extracts (from the
report of the Commission sub-
stantially as alleged. For great-
er accuracy respondent refers to
the said report for the true con-
tents thereof, and for the ground
on which it rested its order.
It has no knowledge that the
cost of transporting cotton from
all points in common point tc-\
rit*ry on the lines of the petir
tioners and their connections to
Port Aransas exceeds by at least
the sum of 4c per 100 pounds the
cost of transporting cotton for
like distance to Galveston, and
neither admits nor denies the
same. If it becomes material up-
on the hearing respondent will
require strict proof thereof. It
alleges that any finding of
the Commission on the subject
of cost was supported by sub-
stantial evidence, and denies that
any such finding was contrary to
uncohtradicted evidence.
Respondent neither admits nor
denies the remaining allegations o
Paragraph IY. If they become
material upon the hearing, res-
pondent will require strict proof
thereof. Respondent alleges the
true facts to be as they are set
forth in the report and order of
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, based on substantial evi-
dence after a full hearing.
V. (There is no Paragraph Y
in the petition).
VI. It denies the Commission
erred in its findings and that the
Commission made any findings
contrary to the evidence. It al-
leges that, each and every one of
the findings of the Commission
were supported by substantial evi
dence. It has no knowledge that
prior to September 1, 1912, there
had been no movement of cotton
to Aransas Pass, and the rate
thereto was a paper rate, and
neither admits nor denies the
same. If it becomes materia] up-
on the hearing respondent will
require strict proof thereof.
YII. It denies the Commission
erred or was misled as alleged
in Paragraph VII.
VIII. It denies the Commis-
sion erred as alleged in Para-
graph VIII. 9
IX. It alleges that the matters
referred to in Paragraph IX
were properly within the juris-
diction of the Commission to con-
sider,* and that it gave proper
consideration and weight thereto.
X. It denies the conditions ex-
isting at the two ports are so rad-
ically different as to divest the
Commission of power or authori-
ty to issue its order directing] the
discontinuance of illegal discrimi-
nations and undue preferences.
Unless sufficient tonnage is provided ror( the coastwise
steamships plying from New York to Port Aransas, the service
cannot be maintained with any degree of certainty for sailing
schedules, and it now looks as though it was wholly up to Cen-
tral and Southwest Texas to supply the requisite tonnage to in-
sure an improyed and permanent steamship service. At-least
that is the sum and substance of an authorized interview of E.
G. Warfield, vice-president and general manager of the Sea-
board and Gulf Steamship Company.
“The prospect generally for increased business from Sea-
board territory, especially in Southwest Texas, was never bet-
ter and bids fair during the coming season to exceed that of
any similar period,” said Mr. Warfield. “1 have been given
assurance by merchants and wholesalers of Corpus Christi of a
material increase in tonnage, and, in fact, all tonnage from
Seaboard territory moving by water formerly to Galveston,
which, in a measure, goes to make up for the guarantee given
by the San Antonio merchants and wholesalers, The saving
on shipments moved through Port Aransas is illustrated by
material unloaded this week from the Honduras for the con-
struction of the new 55,000 barrel oil tank for the Magnolia
Petroleum Company. The cost of handling this material from
New York to Port Aransas by the Seaboard and Gulf line was
$5 per con, as compared with $12 per ton, the cost of moving
it, as formerly, through Galveston, Similar savings can be il-
lustrated in many other cases.
“1 desire to co-operate in every way possible with the
shipping interests of this entire section. Inasmuch as I cannot
be assured of the requisite amount of tonnage, of course I
cannot give definite assurance that the New York-Port Aransas
steamer service will be maintained indefinitely. I trust that
the service may continue and we stand ready to do our part.’’
Nothing could be more explicit than the statement of Mr.
Warfield, which should bring it strictly home to every produc-
er, merchant and consumer in Southwest Texas that PORT
ARANSAS IS 1 HEIR PORI and that to derive the immediate
benefits of this new deep waterway they must produce suffi-
cient -tonnage to warrant a permanent and improved service.
It is impossible to compute the immense benefits South-
west Texas will derive from their new deep waterway now af-
forded them through the grace and ^goodness of the govern- J
ment and they should respond loyally to the demand for more 1
tonnage. ' ...... ..... }
INCREASED TONNAGE
FOR N. Y. STEAMSHIPS
Everything Indicates a General Awakening To
Benefits From Water Rates.
LIBERAL ORDERS ARE BEING PLACED
Next Sailing Will Carry Nearly Twice as Much
as Ever Brought Into Port Aransas By
One Steamship--Want More
Railroads to the Port.
ADMINISTRATION
PLAN APPROVED
Commissioner Henry Re-
turns From Visit
to Missouri.
Commissioner C. E. Henry has
returned from Pattonsburg, Mo.,
where he was called last Decem-
ber as defendant with his broth-
er in • a damage suit for $25,000
brought by a former employe wh
lost a limb in a saw mill. The
ease was strongly contended and
Mr. Henry won by proving no lia-
bility.
Mr. Henry said that when he
left Missouri the weather was
bitterly cold and he was, glad
to get back to Aransas Pass.
“I am thoroughly in accord
INSPECT DREDGE
BOAT NO.
6
J. S. Grant, of Galveston,
Here on First Visit to
Port Aransas.
J. C. Grant, surveyor of Lloyds
Register of Shipping, with head-
quarters at Galveston, was in
Aransas Pass for the first time
this week and it was also his ini-
tial trip to this port. He was
here to inspect dredge boat No. 6,
which is insured by the Lloyds,
as it was about to leave for Sa-
bine. It was brought in Monday
from Corpus Pass by the tug
Alexander Brown. Mr. Grant
said the future of the port was
assured on account of develop-
ments in the South American
trade, the opening of the Pana-
ma Canal and the Mexican trade,
which would be far in excess of
with the administration relative-
, j • ' W X/ U.1U. IOC- -4.C4/X XXI UAL/l
ly to the placing of all water and Galve£teQ ,s capae% jn the
gas mains and light, telephone j fulure
and telegraph wires-in the alleys
and, if practical, to apply the
conduit system now in vogue in
cities which are building right up
to the minute,” said Mr. Henry.
“We are simply building the
foundation for a big city and we
want to make it ready for the ci-
ty builders who are yet to come.
the Corpus Christi ^vision
of the federal court last Friday
was filed an answer by the Unit-
ed States of America, respondent
to the petition of the Galveston,
Harrisburg & Santonio Railway
et al, petitioners, ||ie latter ask-
ing, in effect; that they be no
longer required to maintain ef-
fective the present non-discrimi-
natory rates in interstate ship-
ments through Port Aransas, in
accordance with orders issued by
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.
The suit of the Texas railroads,
including most of the more im-
portant lines of the state, as filed
in Corpus Christi some weeks ago
against the -United States of
America, through the attorney
general and the secretary of the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
is of much interest to‘ all inter-
ested in Port Aransas develop-
ments. It is expected that the
case will come up for hearing in
the United States court at Cor-
pus Christi, before Judge Waller
T. Burns, at the May term of the
court.
Through Lock McDaniel, Unit-
ed States attorney for the south-
ern district of Texas, and Black-
burn Esterline, special assistant
to the attorney general, has filed
the following answer for the re-
spondent to the petition of the
Galveston, Harrisburg & San An-
tonio Railway et al:
Comes now the United States of
America, by ‘its counsel, and for
answer to the petition filed here-
in against it, says:
I. It denies that the said tar-
iff, rates, charges, classifications,
regulations and practices of the
petitioners were just, fair and
reasonable to all parties, places,
and commodities interested there-
in, as alleged in said Paragraph I
II. It admits the allegations
of Paragraph II substantially as
alleged. For accuracy responden
refers to the complaint before the
Interstate Commerce Commission
for the true contents thereof.
III. It admits the allegations
of Paragraph III substantially as
alleged. For accuracy respon-
dent refers to the opinion and or-
der of the Commission for the
true contents thereof.
IV. It admits the petitioners
filed the petition for hearing and
the re-hearing was refused. For
accuracy respondent refers to the
said petition for rehearing for the
true contents Thereof.
It has no knowledge that, the
Commission was not in session af-
ter the petition for rehearing was
filed; or that its members were
dispersed to different, points on
their annual vacations; or that
petitioners were unable to apply
for an order suspending the or-
der of the Commission; or that —
they were advised by the score- - Jt,
tary that no session of the Com- lawful right to establish through pags will mean a great saving | work trains which are running jical that Port Aransas will be1 opportunity to get in there w iib
Everything indicates a general
awakening to the advantages of
freight saving through Port Aran-
sas, the first material evidences be-
ing in they.iicreased number of or-
ders being placed in New York
from Seaboard territory bearing
instructions to route by way of the
Seaboard and Gulf Steamship Com-
pany and Port Aransas. In some
instances, the merchants, fearing
that' their instructions might not
be observed by the manufacturer,
have added to their routing .in-
structions the very terse statement
that unless such instructions are
observed, they will be charged with
the difference in freight.
The Aransas Terminal Railroad
Company have advice of orders
placed bearing instructions to route
through Port Aransas on tire March
1 sailing tjiat' will aggregate seven
ortTght hundred ton's, or nearly
twice as much as has ever been
handled on one steamship to this
port up to this time.
President Edson, of the Kansas
City Southern Railway, who, with
a party of friends, has been enjoy-
ing himself in the vicinity of the
deep waterway the past week, made
the very significant statement that
the development of any port with
only one railroad was rather a slow
process, but that Port Aransas had
many natural advantages over that
of any other gulf port. He had in
mind the Mexican oil, cotton, and
the tremendous territory through
this section that can be reached at
port
Ah-
cheaper rail rates 'from this
than any other Texas port,
other condition favorable, to Port
Aransas as against that of Port Ar-
thur, is that it is not situated be-
tween two of the largest ports in
the country—Galveston and New
Orleans—and further affected by
inland waterway rates as that sec-
tion of the state is.
E. G. Warfield, vice-president
and general manager of the Sea-
board and Gulf Steamship Cqmpa-
ny, plainly intimated the necessity
of a competing railroad in Aransas
Pass so that the tpnnage could be
increased for the coastwise service.
There are many lines within a
stone’s throw of the deep water
that should be glad to get into
Aransas Pass arid when conditions
are right they will come, thereby
adding their solicitation, and in-
fluence to the support of the coast-
wise service entering Port Aransas
by developing a new and increased
freight tonnage.
Along these lines it should soon
be favorable for the St. Louis,
Brownsville & Mexico railway to
beheading straight for deep water
at this point as the receivership
will probably terminate within the
next sixty days, after which, ac-
cording to statements made by the
bondholders on their recent trip of
inspection through Southwest Tex-
as, they are going to expend about
$3,000,OCX) on improvements and
extensions.
MORE OIL MEN
FROM TAMPICO
near
STONE FOR JETTY.
The Japonica, the passenger
boat of Corpus Christi, to the
port, is nowr doing tug work at
the harbor and the Gypsy is in
passenger service. The Japonica
J. A. Davy, of Pierre, S. D., in-
terested in the Mexican Oil com-
pany, and Roy Baker of the Ag-
ula Oil company, near Tampico,
Mexico, were passengers on the
oil steamer Russian Prince which
arrived at port this week with a
cargo of oil.
“When we left Tampico,” said
Mr Davy, “active preparations
were being made for a conflict
between the federal and rebel
forces. Fighting was in prog-
ress about ten miles from Tam-
pico, and the federals holding
Monday towed the first barge
Whatever is done should be done! load of stone, containing nine up new defense lines at every lit-
right and Aransas Pass will reap j loaded flat cars, for work of ex-j tie alarm. As yet the oil inter-
a rich reward in the inducements; tending the south jetty 1100,ests have not suffered to any
it can offer investors who are, feet. Contractor Picton now has extent, but there is no telling
what will happen should there be
there is no valid reason why this
port should not be the receiving
point for Mexican cattle ship-
ments, thereby saving the 400
mile boatage now necessitated by
having to go to Galveston. This
would naturally lead to the as-
sumption that as soon as conven-
iences for handling were provided
at the wharf packing houses
would be established at or near
Aransas Pass. But this is wholly
conjecture which the future must
prove to be right or wrong
Before I became interested in
closely watching developments a large force of men at work,
at this place. I who will be kept busy during the
“The utility of placing all pub-'greater part of the spring
lie utilities of the above charac- summer
ter under ground in the alleys is
and
illustrated by the present torn-
up condition of San Antonio
PROHIBIT A PLEASURE
Fishermen who have been en-
streets and I find the same con-'joying fishing from the rocks
dition exists in every city I vis- J on the south jetty, have been
ited while I was away. I think prohibited that pleasure by the
the city, were excitedly throwing oil and prior to the breaking out
of the revolution I was interested
in Mexican lands and we had just
commenced to get people from the
northern states very much in-
terested, bnt the revolution put
us out of the land business tem-
porarily. You can say that Mex-
ico is almost ideal in climate and
soil and when the war is ov;,w
and conditions a,gain become nor-
mal. there will be the greatest
rush of land seekers into that
country t.hai was ever known be-
a prolonged struggle in that vi-
cinity. We were not menaced in
any way and only left there be-
cause of business interests which
necessitated our presence in the
states. The oil interests of Mex-
ico are simply enormous and
there will be still further devel-
opment, when the turmoil is 'over, fore. Thousands and thousands
denies the petitioners had the-; the plan proposed for Aransas government, on account of the! When that time comes it is log- of people are just- Yvaitino- ft,
mission would be held prior to
September 15, 1913, and it neith-
(Continued ou 8th page) j repairs will be mimimized.
in the future in that the cost for back and forth from this station made the base of all Mexican oil
to the terminus of the jetty. operations with the states and
safety assured for life and prop-
erty. ’ ’
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, February 20, 1914, newspaper, February 20, 1914; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth975301/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.