Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, March 22, 1918 Page: 1 of 8
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POTATOES
$3 25 per cwt.
Rio Grande Grain Co.
Jr ... _
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mb
APPLES
Just Received
Rio Grande Gra n Co
VOLUME V.
MERCEDES, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1918.
ffUMBEE 4.
STORY OF DEVELOPMENT
OF PROGRESS IN VALLEY
• f . > / '
Vast Tracts of Land Being Placed
on Market and Improvements
Made—All Irrigable Land Will Be
In, Cultivation Within Two Years
We venture the assertion that a
very small proportion of the resi-
dents of the valley realize the extent
-of the development which is now un-
der way here. V
To properly appreciate it one
.should take a ride from Harlingen to
San Juan after dark and note the
burning brush piles for miles back
on each side of the road which will
.give some idea of the immense
amonut of clearing now under way.
After leaving Harlingen, Leland is
the first new proposition encounter-
ed. The development there has all
been accomplished within the past
.year and it is simply wonderful.
Practically 3000 acres have been
•oleared and a large portion of it
plowed and put in crops. The clear-
ing and development is being contin-
ued at an increased rate. A large
number of big tractors are busy
breaking the land and planting and
cultivation present on every hand.
The Northern purchasers of the
farms on this choice tract of land are
•arriving almost daily to take charge
of their interests. A number of mod-
ern and beautiful residences have
been completed and more are in
course of construction.
Leeland, altho under the Harlingen
Irrigation District, has its own canal
unit and its own exclusive pumping
plant equipped with the most modern
machinery that it is possible to ob-
tain.
Two miles west of Leeland.. is La-
Feria. The farmers at LaFeria for
the past few years have been handi-
capped by a privately owned canal
system whose owners either through
indifference or lack of finances, fail-
ed to furnish a sufficient amount of
water to properly irrigate the crops.
-..The land owners, however, have
•overcome this difficulty by organiz-
ing an irrigation district and taking
over the canal system. Bonds in the
amount of $500,000 have been duly
authorized and issued insuring am-
ple finances to make the needed im-
provements and extensions and fur-
nish an adequate supply of water at
all times.
During the past two months devel-
opment at LaFeria has commenced in
earnest and is now going forward in
leaps and bounds. Several new tracts
have been opened and regular semi-
monthly excursions are bringing
many home-seekers who are rapidly
taking up and settling these tracts.
Five miles farther west is Mercedes
the oldest proposition in the valley
Mercedes claims to have tbe best ca-
rnal system in the United States.] Two
•60-inch and two 32-inch pumps at
its pumping plant have a capacity of
360,000 gallons of water a minute,
is supplemented by a 360 acre
hr into which the water is
d and allowed to settle before
into the canals. The big ca-
re bank full all of the time and
rmers can get all the water
ant at any time they want it.
nly restriction is that .orders
ater should be in by four
in the afternoon in order to
water early the next morn-
d this is only to facilitate book-
ing.
en the Mercedes pi'oposition
ed a considerable body of land,
prising some 3000 acres lying be-
en the town and the river was
chased by northern people, mostly
speculative purposes, who held it
In the brush. Within the past six
months practically all of this land
Las been sold to settlers who are
rapidly placing it under cultivation.
-Clearing gangs have been busy get-
ting it ready for the plow and all the
brush will be removed within a verjN
Short time. ,
Probably the most rapid sale and
development in the history of the
valley has been made on the west
Mercedes tract. The tract, consist-
ing of 30,000 acres running west to
the Donna line, was acquired less
than three months ago by the W. E.
Stewart Land Co. Since that time
nearly 4000 acres have been sold in
40 acre blocks to northern people,
1500 acres have been cleared and sev-
eral hundred acres have been plowed,
some of which has already been
planted to' crops. New houses are
going up almost daily. The purchas-
ers are farmers who will live upon
their land and they are rapidly com-
ing in to take possession^
A large number of clearing gangs
are busy here and the hundreds of
burning brush piles make a very im-
pressive sight at night. Adjoining
this tract on the west is the Donna
Irrigation district consisting of 40,-
000 acres of la'nd. The development
here during the past year has beeh
almost phenomenal. The J. C. En-
glemaik Land Co., reports the sale
of lOAo acres od Donna land all
■corRf)lished within a year.
The pumping machinery has been
installed at the three pumping plants
which furnished water to the sys-
tem and hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been expended in build-
ing and extending the canals.
The Jn.o. T. Beamer Land Syndi-
cate owns some 10,000 acres lying
north of Donna, to which the canals
are being rapidly extended.
This company is now engaged in
organizing a sales force and as soon
as the canals are completed to the
land, which will be in a very short
time, this choice tract will be opened
for settlement and it is a safe pre-
diction that the entire tract will be
disposed of within a very short time.
More than 4000 acres of the Donna
land has been cleared and made
ready for the plow within the past
year and the work is still rapidly
going on.
Adjoining Donna on the west is
the tract of the Alamo Land & Su-
gar Co., and this tract of some 10,000
acres has experienced wonderful de-
velopment.
Two years ago it was all in the
brush. Now it is practically all in
growing crops. A boulevard has been
constructed north from the Ebinezer
station for a distance .of seven miles
connecting with the Edinburg road
and beautiful residences line this
boulevard on either side the entire
distance. Some of the greatest suc-
cesses in growing broom corn were
made on this tract last year and the
profits reported are simply fabulous.
The development here has been con-
fined to the land north of the rail-
road but this has all been sold and
the land south has recently been
placed on the market and the burn-
ing brush piles indicated the rapidi-
ty with which it is being marketed.
Development is also being contin-
ued rapidly at Sharyland, and the San
Benrto country is experiencing a gen-
uine boom.
If the development of the past year
should continue for another two
years, and every" indication points
that way, it will mean that every foot
of land between San Benito and Mis-
sion will be cleared and in cultiva-
tion. It will mean also very material
increase in land values.
TO CALLOUT 6IL000
MEN OF CLASS NO. 1
Schools and Colleges to Help Supply
Specially Drilled Soldiers
TEXAS ENLISTMENTS
LARGER THAN ASKED
Washington, March 19.—Tex-
as was asked to raise 7792 vol-
unteers for the regular army at
the beginning of the war. Up
to date she has furnished 12,-
114.
This does not take into ac-
count voluntary enlistments
for National Guard, Marine
Corps and the navy, nor those
drafted into the national army.
GREAT GERMAN DRIVE BEGUN
VALLEY BEE KEEPERS
FORM ORGANIZATION
Make Recommendation for Appoint-
ment of Inspector of Bee
Products
The bee keepers of Cameron and
Hidalgo counties met at San Benito
Tuesday, March 19 for the purpose
•of organizing a Bee Keepers associ-
ation. Mr. Wm. Atchley acted as
temporary chairman, and W. H. Laws
of Beeville, as secretary.
The first matter to come up was
to decide on a name for the associa-
tion. The Cameron Hidalgo Associa-
tion was selected .
Mr. Grant Anderson of Rio Hondo,
was nominated and elected presi-
dent, J. D. Kennedy of Mercedes, vice
president and Claude Armstrong of
Mercedes secretary and treasurer. Mr.
A. L. Stephenson of Brownsville and
Mr. Grant Anderson were recom-
mended to the state etomologist for
the appointment of bee inspector for
the association. An inspector has to
be appointed to fill the requirements
of a state law providing that no
bees or honey be shipped to other
sections of the state without first be-
ing inspected for foul brood.
On a motion it was agreed that
each member contribute 25 cents to
maintain the local expense and that
annual dues be discussed at some fu-
ture meeting. The other bee keen- ^ YT3 "'Y Lraue aoara received
ers present were W. J. La Rue, Mer- h„ad
ROSINESS MEN OF
LA FERIA ORGANIZE
New Commercial Club Formed to Ad-
vance Interests of Rapidly De-
veloping Community.
As a natural sequence to the rapid
development which La Feria is now
experiencing, the business men of
that thriving town met at the post
office Monday and perfected the or-
ganization of the La Feria Commer-
cial Club.
The officers elected were: H. B.
Noblett, president; H. P. Willis, vice
president and W. P. Hamner, secre-
tary and treasurer.
The meeting was very well attend-
ed practically every bhsiness man be-
ing present.
The new organization will hold
weekly meetings on each Monday
night and discuss matters important
to the progress of the La Feria com-
munity. What they propose to do is
a plenty, among which is the plant-
ing and maintenance of palm trees
on each side of .the main highway for
a considerable distance.
With the completion of the organ-
ization of the Irrigation District a
new impetus has been given and the
rapid development of the La Feria
country is now in full swing. Sev-
eral prominent land companies have
become interested and their opera-
tions include the opening of a num-
ber of attractive tracts of land which
are being rapidly sold to and settled
by northern people.
The new commercial organization
is embued with the proper spirit and
is certain to be an important factor
in the progress and development now
going on-
o
Washington, D. C., March 20.—-Pro-
vost Marshal General Crowder will
begin within a few days calling out
for special instruction the men in the
draft needed by the army in tech-
nical positions.
A general survey of the educa-
tional institutions pf the country is
in progress, it was announced today
to determine what colleges and in-
dustrial schools will be available for
their training during the summer
months.
Probably 60,000 men obtained prin-
cipally from class 1 will be ordered
out for special training. Local draft
boards will publish widely the oppor-
tunity that is offered to registrants
with a view to obtaining as' many
voluntary inductions into the service
as possible.
HIGH PRICE FOR PASTURE
Donna Farmer Has Profitable Field
v of Rhodes Grass.
A couple of months ago the Trib-
une published an, account of a busi-
ness transaction wherein Prof. H.
Clay Harvey of McAllen rented twen-
ty-five acres of a 60-acre field of
Rhodes grass belonging to him for a
cash rental of $75.00 per acre per
year.
Our attention has been called to
another little deal in Rhodes grass
pasture which is additional evidence
Of the money in this popular crop.
S. Turner Ferguson of Donna has
a field .of a little less than four acres
of Rhodes grass that he does not
need for his own stock.
A neighbor, who owns ten dairy
cows,-but has no pasture, rented this
field of Rhodes grass for $1.00 per
day to pasture his cows upon. The
cows need no other feed and the
pasture grows faster than they eat
it. He gets his pasture at 10 cents
per day for each cow and with milk
selling at 15 cents per quart that
would apepar not to be treasonable.
On the other hand Mr. Ferguson is
receiving at the rate of nearly $100
per acre per year for the rent of his
pasture.
cedes; L. La Rue, Mercedes; Marshal
Armstrong, Mercedes; W. W. Stock-
ing, Santa Maria; A. J. Lambert, San
Benito; Mrs. A. L._ Stephenson, of
Brownsville; Miss Hazel Thompson
Brownsville. Those who could not be
present but desired to become mem1
bers were J. R. George of Rio Hondo,
Mrs. Morris, Brownsville; A. A. Cobb
and Wm. Jett of Donna, and A.
Hoover of La Feria.
Another meeting will be called
the near future.
FORECAST OF THIRD
GREAT LIRERTY LOAN
Five Billion Will Probably Be the
Amount Required. Interest Rate
to Yet Be Determined.
DUTCH SHIPS IN UNITED
STATES PORTS SEIZED
All Dutch shipping in American
waters was ordered seized tonight in
proclamation by President Wilson.
The proclarotetion was issued af-
ter the war trade board received
ALLIED WAR COUNCIL
REJECTS TREATIES
Allies Serve Notice That Treaty With
Russia Will Not be Recognized
and That War Must Go On.
German-made peace treaties forced
■on Russia and Roumania will not be
recognized by the entente al lied
powers, the supreme war council has
decided at a session in London. The
German policy of plunder is de-
nounced and the declaration is voiced
that the allied powers “are fighting
and mean to continue fighting’’ to
put an end to this aggression.
The treaty with Russia is called
political crime in the statement issu-
ed by the council and Germany’s at-
titude toward Russia at present is
declared to be tantamount to annexa-
tion. Gerniany is described as a “de-
stroyer of national independence and
implacable enemy of the rights of
man.”
In persisting in the fight for right
and justice, the statement says, the
peoples of the allied nations may
place their trust in the armies now
facing the central powers.
The conference was attended by
premiers of Great Britain, France
and Italy. The United States was
represented by General Bliss and
Vice Admiral Sims.
..Charging the allied powers with
hypocrisy and declaring he does not
wish to discuss their opinions con-
cerning the treaty with Russia, Chan-
cellor Von Hertling has informed the
Reichstag that Courland and Lithu-
ania are united to Germany politic-
ally, economically and militarily. In
his previous speeches in the Reich-
stag the imperial chancellor has said
that Courland and Lithunia would
have autonomy.
-o-
UNITED STATES WAR
CROSSES AWARDED
With the American Army in France
March 19.— General Pershing, the
American commander-in-chief, has
approved the awarding of the first
new American military crosses for
extraordinary heroism. The recipi-
ents are Lieutenant John O. Green,
Sergeant William Norton and Ser-
geant Patrick Walsh.
refused the American ultimatum for
a ti ansfer of the ships according to
the original agreement which Germa-
nV blocked. All Dutch shipping in
British waters- is being requisitioned
simultaneously.
Naval guards will go on board the
ships immediately. Approximately
77 vessels, with a tonnage estimated
as high as 600,000 tons, thus will be
added to the American merchant ma-
rine. The ships in British waters
will add another 300,000 or 400,000
to the allied merchant fleet.
SOLDIERS OF 16TH TO
FARMAND SWIM
Vegetable Garden and Swimming
Pool New Things at the Canton-
ments—More Land Acquired
Washington, March 2L---Immi-
nence of Secretary McAdoo’s an-
nouncement of the size and interest
rate the third Liberty Loan to open
April 6 gave special importance
Tuesday to a treasury announce-
ment from which might be calculated
the sum the government would need
before the end of the fiscal year,
June 30.
Outstanding features of these fig-
ures as unofficially analyzed, are that
war costs are not increasing from
month to month, as had been expect-
ed, and that ordinary expensess and
loans to allies in the next thrde and
one-third months probably will not
be much over. $4,000,000,000. To this
must be added the outlay of about
$3,155,000,000 to redeem certificates
of indebtedness now outstanding and
maturing before june 30; $500,000;000
for a railroad administration revolv-
ing fund; $500,000,000 for the gov-
ernment’s capital in the war finance
corporation, whose creation is ex-
pected soon and $500,000,000 to pro-
vide a current working balance at
the end of the year.
These would make a total of $8,-
655,000,000 needed between now and
June 30.
Assets of $4,500,000,000.
On the other side of the books can
be placed the $853,000,000 working
balance on hand Tuesday; $2,816,000,-
000 estimated receipts from income
and excess profits taxes and other in-
ternal revenue sources; $75,000,000
estimated miscellaneous receipts;
$43,000,000 . estimated customs re-
ceipts; approximately $200,000,000
revenue expected from sale of war
savings stamps and thrift stamps and
$500,000,000 to be received in the next
three days from a current issue of
certificates. These would make a to-
tal of nearly $4,500,000,000 which may
be expected to flow into the treas-
ury between now and June 30 from
other sources than the Liberty Loan.
On this basis of/ calculation the
difference to be provided for would
be between four and five billion dol-
lars. This sum is much - less than
had been calculated in the past as
necessary on the basis of estimated
expenditures o% government depart-
ments and loans to allies.
These figures do not necessarily
disclose the size of the third Liber-
ty Loan, for other elements of finan-
cial mechanics, judgment of the
money market and appraisal of pop-
ular feeling enter into the actual
determination. The figures are es-
sentially the same, however, as those
which Secretary McAdoo and his ad-
advisers have before them in deciding
how many billions are to be raised
in the forthcoming campaign.
Teutons Penetrate British
Line at Several Points
of Attack
BUT FAIL TO REACH
THEIR OBJECTIVE
The Battle Rages Fiercely
Over a Fifty-Mile
Front
NO NEWS OF AMERICAN
Sector as Yet—Battle Is
the Beginning of
the End
A swimming pool and a vegetable
garden are innovations at the canton-
ments of the 16th cavalry in Merce-
des.
Work on the swimming pool was
commenced Tuesday. It will be a
concrete basin 20x40 feet and 6 feet
deep adjoining the Y. M. C. A. build-
ing on the south. It will be sur-
rounded by a brick wall and a space
ten feet wide has been set apart all
around it.
The vegetable garden is another
new feature just established. It con-
sists of about three acres of ground
at the west side of the grounds. Two
men from each troop who have had
previous experience in agriculture
have been detailed to plant and cul-
tivate the crops. The ground has
been plowed and the crops are now
being planted. They will consist of
snap beans, tomatoes, egg-plant, cu-
cumbers, squash, sweet peppers and
other spring vegetables.
Arrangements have just ben com-
pleted by which the government ac-
quires fifteen more acres pf land ad-
joining* the present cantonments on
the south.
A number of large buildings will
be constructed on this land at once
and it is said that another squadron
of troops will then be stationed here.
Some difficulty was experienced in
obtaining this lease as the govern-
ment limited the amount to be paid
as rent. It seems that the officials
at Washington can not understand
why rent for farm property here
should be any higher than in
other parts of the country, the mat-
ter has been adjusted by a number
of the Mercedes business men raising
the difference in the amount asked
by the owner of the land and that
authorized by the government. The
lease is for a term of five years.
-o-
Washington, D. C. March 21.—An
executive order issued today by Pres-
ident Wilson provides that all con-
scientious .objectors to the selective
draft will be given non-combatant
service. The non-combatant branches
outlined by the president include the
Medical corps, Quartermaster corps,
and the engineer service.
President Signs Railroad Control
Law
Washington, D. C., March 21-
President Wilson today signed the
bill bringing railroads under govern-
ment operation and control until 21
months after the end of the war. Di-
rector General McAdoo ordered that
construction of new lines or branches
or extensions of existing lines should
not be started without his approval.
-o-—
$2.50 is Price Made for Wheat.
Washington, March. 21.—The agri-
cultural bill with amendment in-
creasing the 1918 government guar-
anteed wheat price to $2.50 passed
the senate this evening and goes to
a conference between the two houses
where there will be another fight
over wheat prices.
-o-
Report on Ship Losses. ,
Washington, D. C., March 21.—Se-
cret figures of the British admiralty
on submarine losses and world ship-
building were made public here to-
day by the British embassy. They
show that from both enemy action
and marine risk on January 1, 1918,
allied and neutral shipping had lost
since the war began, 11,827,572 gross
tons, while ship yards, outside of
the central powers, were turning out
6,406,275 tons.
COTTON IS UP 40 POINTS;
QUOTED AT 38.40 MIDDLING
Middling cotton again advanced in
Houston Thursday, scoring 40 points
skyward and bringing the quotation
to 33.40. This makes a 500-pound
bale of cotton worth $167, and add-
ing the seed brings the market value
of a bale above $200.
-o_-
CHAMPION HEREFORD BRINGS
IN $18,349.25 FOR RED CROSS
Dallas, Texas, March 21.—The
champion Hereford steer of the Fort
Worth Stock Show, previously auc-
tioned in the city for $10,000 for the
benefit of the Red Cross, sold at auc-
tion here today for $8,349.25, making
a total of $18,349.25 that has been
paid for the animal.
The great German drive on the
western front for which preparations
have been under way for months, was
commenced yesterday morning at five
o’clock and is now in full swing.
The attack is on a front extend*
ing more than fifty miles and is on a
scale hitherto unknown in any war.
The greatest bailie irf the history
of the world is being waged and the
result will undoubtedly decide the
war.
In fact, the Kaiser made the state-
ment Monday that “The decisive mo-
ment of the war has come.”
The front attack is being defend-
ed by the British troops and late re-
ports indicate that the British lines
have been, penetrated, at. several
points by the charging Teutons.
Paris is the objective point and a
supreme effort is being made by the
Prussians 4fco reach the French capi-
tal.
The battle is spreading northward
as far as the coast. Severe fighting
is also being waged in several vital
sectors of the French front. Yerdun,
Rheims, and the Champagne are the
storm centers.
No news has yet been received
from the American sector. Austrian
guns are aiding the German artillery
altho there has been bitter opposi-
tion in. Austria-Hungary, to. this
drive.
Altho Field Marshal Haig, from
British headquarters admits that a
number of British positions have
been penetrated yet he says that the
German losses were exceptionally
heavy and that at no point did the
Germans reach the objective of the
attack.
The battle is still raging with un-
abated fiiry.
-o--
ARMY CHIEFS INYITE NEU-
TRALS TO WESTERN FRONT
London, March 19.—Germany is
again advertising the imminence of
an offensive by her massed forces on
the Franco-Belgian front.
The word comes this time through
Copenhagen in the shape of a report
that the high command has invited a
number of neutral correspondents to
go to the west front to witness the
offensive operation and that they will
leave for their destination tomorrow.
This news follows quickly on the
interviews given by Field Marshal
von Hindenburg and General von Lu-
dendorff, the general tone .of which
is apparently intended to lead to be-
lief that- a German offensive was in
prospect.
That Germany should so widely
herald an attack has excited specu-
lation in entente quarters that she
did not really intend making one. An-
other view, however, has been that
it was her real purpose to excite just
such suspicion and then strike at a
moment when the allies’ guard had
been figuratively lowered or they
were preparing for an offensive op-
eration on their own account.
SWOPE REDEMPTION BILL
IS ENGROSSED 100 TO 1
Austin, Texas, March 21.—The
Swope bill, affording one year’s grace
for the redemption of properties sold
under deeds of trust and foreclosures
of vendor’s liens, passed to engross-
ment in the house today by a vote
100 for to 1 against
Governor Signs Pro Bill.
Austin, March 21.—Governor Hob-
by this afternoon signed the statutory
prohibition bill. The bill becomes ef-
fective 90 days after adjournment of
the special session, or on June 26.
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Hoyt, L. T. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, March 22, 1918, newspaper, March 22, 1918; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth635047/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.