The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 24, 1958 Page: 1 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.
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SINGLE COPY
PRICE
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The Merce
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nterprise
SINGLE COPY
PRICE
VOLUME NO. XLVI — NO. 30
MERCEDES, TEXAS, THURSDAY. JULY 24, 1958
PRICE lOtf PER COPY
$3.00 Per Year In The Valley
State Approves
Valley Brewing
Public Stock Sale
State Securities Commission
Chairman William King has author-
ized public sale of the new Val-
ley Brewing Co. stock, Vice-Pres-
ident Dan Murphy said this week.
The approval was given via tele-
phone after a detailed study over
a period of two months of the
proposed corporation, its incorpor-
ators and its potential, Mr. Mur-
phy said.
The Valley Brewing Co. will
headquarter in Mercedes, where a
new building i’s under construc-
tion to house the Valley’s first
brewery.
Already $15,000 has been ex-
pended on foundation work and
roughing in, Mr. Murphy stated.
Structural steel is being fabricat-
ed and is expected to arrive short-
ly, he said.
The stock, which sold to some
35 incorporators who hold 52.125
shares at $1 per share, has been
approved at $1.25 for the public
offering, which is by prospectus
only. , .
Mr. Murphy is a licensed dealer
in securities, is vice-president of
Laguna Royalty Co., and is a di-
rector in the Texas Frozen Foods
Co.
Other officers are S. K. Blette,
Weslaco, retired electrical engi-
neer, builder and farmer, pres-
ident; E. D. Block, Harlingen in-
dependent oil operator and real
estate and investment dealer, sec-
retary-treasurer; attorney is John-
William Ellis of Harlingen; direc-
tor is G. L. Schulgen, owner of the
Santa Rosa Iron Works, Santa Ro-
sa. These are temporary officers
who will serve until the first full
meeting of the stockholders.
Bletti generally is credited with
the original idea for a Valley brew-
ery. For several years he has
been seeking a site for the brew-
ery. Several were considered but
Mercedes was chosen because of
its consistently pure water and its
mid-Valley location.
Equipment already has been
purchased for $99,500 and a brew-
master employed.
-o-
Tennis Contest
To Begin July 27
Pairings will be made the af-
ternoon of July 27 for play in a
local men’s tennis tournament be-
ing sponsored by the Mercedes
Tennis Association.
Rules for the tournament, as
announced by the chairman, Den-
nis Clifford, are as follows:
1. singles only, no doubles will
be played.
2. men only, high school age and
oldeiv—
3. residents of Mercedes or the
immediate area only.
A registration fee of $2 should
accompany registration, which
given to him at Hidalgo County
may be sent to Mr. Clifford or
given to him at Hidalgo County
Bank, Mercedes. A trophy will be
awarded ,the winner.
Actual play will begin on Mon-
day afternoon, July 28 and con-
tinue until all matches have been
played. Play will begin each aft-
ernoon at 4:30 on the court at the
Jr. High School campus in South
Mercedes.
Balls for matches are to be pick-
ed up from Mr. Clifford at the
bank. .
As of Wednesday morning, the
following entries had been re-
ceived Bill Kennedy, Dub Lau-
der, Jimmy Lauderdale,. Dennis
Clifford, Kermit Natho Jr., Har-
old Natho, Rev. John Herzog.
IN TRAINING MANEUVER at North Fort Hood, Texas, is the
Mercedes National Guard Unit. Here is a typical class during
summer field training. Left to right are Sgt. Ignacio Garcia,
instructor, Pfc. Lauro Saldana, Jr., and Pvt.-2 Pedro L. Garcia,
members of Company C, 112th Armored Cayalry, First Battalion.
CONDON CLOSING
HIS CAMPAIGN
FOR LEGISLATURE
William J. Condon, Mercedes in-
surance man and civic leader,
this week was winding up his
campaign for nomination for state
representative, Dist. 38, Place 1.
“I believe the county should be
equally represented, and we should
have one representative from the
eastern side of the county,” Con-
don declared.
He also pledged cooperation
with the farmers and the Farm
Bureau. Condon is active in vari-
ous divisions of the Rio Grande
Valley Livestock Show. He also
said he would work for a merit
system of automobile insurance
premium rating.
Condon also has worked with
such community projects as Boy
Scouts, March of Dimes and is a
past president of the Mercedes
Kiwanis Club. In addition to be-
ing an insurance man, he is an
attorney and is a former Hidalgo
County Assistant District Attorney.
He added that he would not fur-
ther his political ambitions at the
expense of the best interests ot
Hidalgo County.
City’s Urban Renewal Application D'S™CT
On Way To Capital For Final Okay kq-acre lmt
Every check has been made and
the final application for actual
funds for loan and grant for the
Mercedes Urban Renewal project
has been completed and sent to
Washington for final approval, Col.
A. W. Snyder, local Urban Re-
newal director, said Monday.
At a meeting of the Urban Re-
newal Commission, Col. Snyder
said that while the Mercedes file
had been in the Fort Worth region-
al office for some time, that of-
fice has been sending experts in
special fields such as finance, re-
habilitation, and the like to Mer-
cedes for on the spot inspection
and verification.
The last of these inspectors was
here and completed his work sev-
eral days ago, Col. Snyder said.
The regional director at Fort
Worth has given every assurance
that the application has been ap-
proved at the regional level and is
being transmitted to the national
headquarters with recommenda-
tion for final acceptance.
While no accurate estimate can
be made locally as to how long it
will take the Washington office to
process the application, some
Three Volunteer Firemen Attend
State School At College Station
CITY AWARDED
TRAFFIC HONOR
Mercedes has been awarded a
citation for its traffic accident
prevention program it was an-
nounced Wednesday.
The announcement was made by
J. O. Musick, general manager of
the Texas Safety Association. Only
39 cities in the entire state receiv-
ed the awards, which are made by
the association and by the Nation-
al Safety Council. Weslaco was the
only other Valley town receiving
the award.
The cities were judged on eight
phases of traffic accident preven-
tion work, with 75 per cent per-
fect rating required on at least
one of the fields.
Three Mercedes firemen are at-
tending the Annual Firemen’s
Training School this week at Tex-
as A&M College.
They are Chief J.. V. Adams,
Howard Jones, Capt., Co. No. 2,
and Charles Borchelt, fire mar-
shal.
This year’s school will feature a
training film for firefighters and
a course in fire pump mainte-
nance. The school sponsored by
the State Firemen’s and Fire Mar-
shals’ Association of Texas, and
conducted by the Engineering Ex-
tension Service, Texas A. and M.
College System, expects to handle
some 1,500 firemen and fire mar-
shals from 435 Texas cities.
The film, which will show pro-
per techniques in approaching,
entering and extinguishing res-
idential-type fires, will be in color
and will run about 14 minutes.
Financing and supervisory pro-
duction of the film was handled by
the Fire Prevention and Engineer-
ing Bureau of Texas. The film will
be made available to all fire de-
partments in Texas, with future
plans for distribution to other
states and possibly abroad.
The course in fire pump main-
tenance, which covers pump con-
struction, principles of operation,
maintenance and repair of pump
and accessories, in-service testing
and preventative maintenance was
discontinued several years
ago but was rescheduled for this
year.
Other courses offered include
general basic firefighting, advanc-
ed firefighting fire officers train-
ing industrial fire protection
armed services fire protection,
marshals and instructor’s courses.
All courses will be 30 hours of
instruction. Each firefighter will
select a course and will receive
instruction in all phases of that
particular course.
The first school was held in
1930 in neighboring Bryan and the
196 firemen attending used the
facilities of the city fire depart-
ment there. This year more than
200 instructors alone will be on
hand with about $60,000 worth of
supplies available and 36,000 gal-
lons of jet, diesel, gasoline and oil
fuel to burn in the demonstrations.
Visiting firemen are using some
of the latest equipment available.
A new fire entry suit will permit a
fireman to walk directly into 3,-
000 degree heat without any dis-
comfort. The firemen also will
watch a 1,500 lb. container of dry
chemical powder wipe out a 600
sq. ft. gasoline fire in a matter of
3 or 4 seconds.
Firefighting training will include
airplane fires, remote control oper-
ated ladder nozzle, a fixed fire
protection system with the alarm
operated with C02, oil and gas
fires, residential fires and chemi-
cal fires.
H. D. Smith, chief of the Fire-
men’s Training School, Engineer-
ing Extension Service, said the
field operation training would be
held on a 26-acre plot of college
property northeast of College View
where permanent firefighting fa-
cilities have already been con-
structed. Additional classes in use
of firefighting equipment will be
conducted throughout the A. and
M. campus during the five day
school, Smith said.
Mercedes gets a lower insur-
ance premium rating when fire-
Urban Renewal officials have pre-
dicted approval Should come with-
in 90 days.
When that is received, first ac-
tual construction, such as drain-
age, sewer and water line instal-
lation, can be started. Thus far,
all work on Urban Renewal has
been planning and survey in prep-
aration for the actual projec|.
Mercedes borrowed $92,000 to-
ward its ultimate grant for this
advance planning. Of this, there
is some $22,000 left — adequate
funds to carry on the normal of-
fice routine and other work which
can be done locally until the loan
and grand application is approved.
Col. Snyder also explained that
considerable work has been done
toward making an application for
a second Mercedes project in the
northwest part of town, but that
such application cannot be ap-
proved until the Lubbock Test
Case is completed.
Chairman R. R. McAfee presid-
ed Monday night.
-o-
EDC0UCH HOME
DESTROYED BY FIRE
The Edcouch home of Mr. and
Mrs. Clayton McClure was almost
completely destroyed by fire Mon-
day afternoon.
Fighting the fire were three El-
sa and one Edcouch fire truck.
Firemen were reported to have
been hampered in fighting the fire
by the remoteness of water hydr
ant. The nearest hydrant was a
mile from the house.
Fire at the five room stone
house began about 2 p.m. and
continued for almost three hours.
The McClure house was locat-
ed north of the Edcouch-Elsa High
School about IV2 miles.
Most of the household furnish-
ings and clothing were saved, it
was reported.
[ basic fire marshals, advanced fire men attend the school.
Methodists Hold
Vacation School
Approximately 75 youngsters
have enrolled in the Daily Vaca-
tion Bible School now being held
daily at First Methodist Church.
Mrs. R. C. Jones, superintendent,
reported a growing enrollment and
enthusiastic children.
Teachers and helpers in the
school include the following: kind-
ergarten: Mrs. C. B. Ray, Mrs
Charles Greenwood and Mrs. Chrys
Bray.
Primary: Mrs. Bruce Medford
and Mrs. J. L. Purl, leaders; Mrs
Finish Morris and Mary Alice
George, assistants.
Juniors: Mrs. E. E. Marchant,
Mrs. Kermit Natho, Mrs. Garland
Lea veil, Mrs. John Powers.
Girls who are assisting include
Judy German, Judy Sparrow, Su-
san Cayce, Ann Natho, Sharonne
Coon, Peggy Adam.
The school will conclude on Wed-
nesday, July 30. A program is
planned for that evening.
Refreshments for the daily ses-
sions are being furnished by var-
ious members of the church.
Fears by some opponents of the
recently-voted rehabilitation pro-
ject for the Mercedes Water dis-
trict were eased this week when
it was pointed out that the 160-
acre limitation on ownership of
lands irrigated from a reclama-
tion project did not apply to this
district.
After some inquiries, Water Dis-
trict Manager W. D. Parrish
looked up a copy of the actual law
which was enacted by the 85th
Congress April 7, 1958, and which
has been signed by President
Eisenhower. The act, which
specifically authorizes the Merce-
des project, reads in Sec. 3:
‘The excess - land provisions
of the Federal reclamation laws
shall not be applicable to lands in
this project which now have an ir-
rigation water supply from sources
other than a Federal reclama-
tion project, and for which no new
waters are being developed.”
The question came up with a re-
cent Supreme Court ruling that in
several western states, the 160-
acre limitation is legal and bind-
ing, and that farmers there will
be given 10 years in which to sell
off acreage in excess of 160
acres. In the meantime, they may
continue to irrigate all land own-
ed, so long as they agree to sell
the excess land within 10 years.
No such requirement will affect
the local district which is speci-
fically exempt from the 160-
acre limitation in the enabling
act.
ACCIDENT FATAL
TO EDCOUCH MAN
Dionicio Perez, Edcouch, died
Monday in the Grandview Hos-
pial, Edinburg, as a result of in-
juries received when he was
struck by an automobile Friday
evening
State Highway Patrolman G. P.
Hardy said driver of the automo-
bile was Antonio Gomez, Jr., also
of Edcouch.
Services for Perez were pend-
ing Tuesday.
The accident took place about
9:15 Friday evening.
NEW RADAR
SPEED UNIT
PUT TO USE
It’s here.
Yep, you speed demons better
join the drag race club because
that new radar gadget Chief
Claudio Castaneda has doesn’t lie.
It’ll trip you up if you are ex-
ceeding the speed limit.
And the chief wants everybody
to know it’s here. It’s no secret.
Signs will be errected at each
entrance to the city warning mo-
torists the radar unit is in use.
Mayor C. A. Ripley pointed out
that the city is not seeking a big
increase in fines. It is just that the
speeding must be stopped to save-
lives and property.
Speed limits on the highway are
30 mph, and are posted.
.Speed limits in other sections of
town are 30, unless otherwise des-
ignated by the city commission.
School and hospital zones are 15
mph. A speed limit of 20 mph has
been designated on Tenth from
Texas West and on First St.
-0-
Demo Primary
Vote Slated
For Saturday
Local Democratic voters will
join others throughout the state
Saturday when they go to the polls
to nominate federal, state and lo-
cal officials from the office of U.S.
Senate and governor to state re-
presentative.
One of the most hotly contested
races is that in which William
Blakley, Dallas, seeks to unseat
Ralph Yarborough for the U. S.
Senate. Yarborough was elected
for a 1-year unexpired term of
Price Daniel after the latter wag
elected governor. This will be Yar-
borough’s first race for a full sen-
ate term.
Blakley served an interim per-
iod in the Senate on apnointment
by the governor before Yarbo-
rough was elected. Blakley said at
the time he did not want the of-
fice and did not run for election
at that time.
For the first time in recent
years, County Judge Milton Rich-
ardson is facing opposition by Can-
didate Felix McDonald, Edinburg
attorney. Both men are pledging
honesty in government, and the
incumbent points to his accom-
plishments, including support of
the County Expressway plan and
more specifically its routing over
the old drain ditch in North Mer-
cedes when it is built here.
Gov. Price Daniel is opposed by
two candidates, State Sen. Henry
Gonzalez and Former Governor
W. Lee O’Daniel.
Another county*" rficer fac-
ing opposition is County Clerk
George Anderson, kits opponent is
W. H. Billimek.
A local man, William J. Condon
and the present district attorney,
Jim Bates, are battling for the
State legislative post from this
area.
Voting for East Mercedes will
be at the City Hall, hhd for West
Mercedes at the Federated Clubs
Building. Polls will be open from
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
See accompanying article for
complete list of names on ballot.
-o-
WATER HEAD TO SPEAK
W. D. Parish, manager of Wa-
ter District No. 9, will be speak-
er at Thursday’s luncheon meet-
ing of the Kiwanis Club. He will
explain what passage of a recent
rehabilitation program for the dis-
trict will mean. Vice-President
Bruce Medford will preside again
in the absence of President George
Wheeler.
Shelley Collier Named Chairman
Of Permanent Highway Group
Shelley Collier, Mercedes bank- at the Vets Club at Edinburg last
er and long active in the campaign
for an east-west expressway, has
been elected permanent chairman
of the new Hidalgo County Deve-
lopment Association.
In a meeting of the old Hidalgo
County Rights of Way Committee
SHELLEY COLLIER
Heads Highway Group
Ray, Schuster
In Washington
Valley Farm Bureau Manager
C. B. Ray of Mercedes and the Bu-
reau president, Frank Schuster of
San Juan flew to Washington late
Tuesday.
There they joined J. H. West,
State Farm Bureau president,
where they will attend Senate
hearings on the cotton acreage al-
lotment bill and other farm legis-
lation.
Before leaving for Washington,
Schuster said the legislation look-
ed favorable. Every farm organ-
ization except one and all cotton
industry groups are supporting
the measure. It was expected to
pass the Senate this week.
While in Washington, the Farm
Bureau leaders also will attend
two labor group meetings. One was
a bracero users meeting and the
other a committee meeting called
by the secretary of labor to dis-
cuss bracero contract fees and
other matters.
-0-
SAMPLE BALLOT
City To Get 2011-Bed Emergency
Hospital For Civil Defense Use
Mercedes has been assigned one
of two Civil Defense Field Emer-
gency Hospitals, Mayor C. A. Rip-
ley announced this week.
The unit, large enough to set up
a 200 bed emergency hospital, will
be shipped here from Bastrop,
Tex., according to word from W.
D. Jones, director, Storage and
Distribution Division, Administra-
tive Operations Office, Battle
Creek, Mich.
Included will be a portable gen-
erator to provide lights and pow^
er in case regular service is in- he may appoint.
terrupted or unavailable, and X-
ray equipment in addition to med-
icines and related items.
Another unit will be sent to
Brownsville.
The hospital units are surplus
from the Armed Services. They
are being assigned to local civil
defense organizations throughout
the nation in order to prepare for
any disaster or emergency, whe-
ther it be flood, tornado, hurri-
cane, fire or war.
Use of the unit presumably will
be on call of the mayor or someone
The following is the order of-
fices and candidates will appear
on the ballot to be voted in Mer-
cedes :
(Voter is to scratch out name
of candidate he1 wishes to vote
against)
FOR GOVERNOR:
Price Daniel, Liberty County
Henry B. Gonzalez, Bexar County
W. Lee O’Daniel, Dallas County
Joe A. Irwin, Dallas County
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Ben P^-m'sey, San Augustine
County
George Nokes, McLennan Coun-
ty
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL:
Will Wilson, Dallas County
FOR UNITED STATES SENA-
TOR:
Ralph Yarborough, Travis Coun-
ty
Wm. A. Blakley, Dallas County
FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF
SUPREME COURT, Place No. 1;
J Edwin Smith, Harris County
Robert W. Hamilton, Midland
County
Wilmer B. Hunt, Harris County
FOR ASSOCATE JUSTICE OF
SUPREME COURT, Place No. 2:
Frank P. Culver, Tarrant Coun-
ty
FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF
SUPREME COURT, Place No. 3:
Ruel C. Walker, Johnson Coun-
ty
FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF
SUPREME COURT, Place No. 4
(Unexpired Term)
Sarah T. Hughes, Dallas Coun-
ty
Joe Greenhill, Travis County
FOR JUDGE, COURT OF CRI-
MINAL APPEALS:
Kenneth K. Woodley, Travis
County
FOR RAILROAD COMMISSION:
Olin Culberson, Travis County
FOR COMPTROLLER OF PUB-
LIC ACCOUNTS:
Robert S. Calvert, Travis Coun-
ty
FOR STATE TREASURER:
Thursday, Collier was elected
chairman. Other officers are Ho-
race Etchison, McAllen, vice-
chairman, and A1 Ady, Mission,
secretary.
Purpose of the group will be to
keep informed on road develop-
ments and to act in an advisory
capacity on county developments
in general.
Directors for the various com-
munities named were Ernest
Johnson, Edinburg; Bill Walters,
Pharr; Leonard Johnson, Alamo;
Bill Bormann, San Juan; Ray-
mond Mills, Weslaco; Emmett
Cooper, La Villa; Ed Vela, Jr.,
Hidalgo; Ralph King, La Joya;
Blains Holcomb, Mission; Cedric
Wood, Donna; Cordell Edwards,
Monte Alto; Ray Guinn, Edcouch-
Elsa; C. A. Ripley, Mercedes, and!
Barry Trask, Weslaco, at large.
Marshall Formby, Chairman of
the State Highway Commission,
told the group citizens Thursday
night that the State Highway De-
partment will be ready for the-
beginning of right of way apprai-
sals on the new Valley Express-
way within 4 months.
He was in the Valley for a visit
with District Engineer Jim Sny-
der inspecting the highways and
the possible location of the new
Expressway.
“When the right of way bonds
were being voted on, we made the
statement that within 6 months
after the bonds were voted the
Highway Department would be
able to furnish sufficient informa-
tion for the County for right of'
way purchases to get underway.
Less than 2 months have passed
since the election was held, and
we are now busy preparing own-
ership maps which will show all
land lines along the Expressay
route. It is necessary to prepare
these ownership maps to prevent
unnecessary cutting up of prop-
erty. Next, we will make the de-
tailed location in the ground and
prepare the field notes and then
furnish approved right of way ap-
praisals to the County to start
purchasing right of way. We in-
tend to stay on schedule as we
promised last spring.”
Formby explained that the pre-
paration of field notes and deeds:,
making appraisals, and the final
purchase of rights of way involves
much more work than the aver-
age citizen thinks. He said the
State Highway Department is
training appraisers and other right
of way experts at as rapid a rate
as possible. He praised Hidalgo
County for having the foresight
to start training County right of
way personnel so everything will
be in readiness for the County to
start negotiating for the property
as soon as the appraisals are
made. He said that Hidalgo Coun-
ty’s alertness in setting up this
right of way department will meam
a faster purchase of right of way..
Formby said that the Valley Ex?--
pressway will be built in sections,
perhaps, 5 to 10 miles in length.
Four-lane divided highways will
be constructed at first, so that the
Expressway can be used as quick-
ly as possible. Some of the over-
passes will be built at first and'
some of the frontage roads; how-
ever, the main thing will be ta-
build the four-lane divided high-
way and add the overpasses and
frontage roads as the needs arise
and as time and money permit-
He pointed out that this is planned
as a “super-duper” Expressway,
although it will be many years
before it is a finished job.
The Highway Chairman said that
present plans are to build the first
section of this Expressway begin-
ning at the intersection of present
U.S. Highway 83 west of Mission
coming east along the south side
of Mission and McAllen and then
turning northeast to the intersec-
tion of U. S. Highway 281 just north
of Pharr. It has not yet been de-
termined where the next section
will be built, but it is probably that
the next section might be the one
starting at the Cameron County
line and coming west to Mercedes.
Formby, a Plainview attorney,
was high in praise of the Hidalgo
County citizens for voting the right
of way bond money.
-0-
(Continued on Page 7)
Valley Temperature
July
16
High
93
Low
74
July
17
95
72
July
18
96
73
July
19
95
74
July
20
95
76
July
21
94
77
July
22
95
75
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 24, 1958, newspaper, July 24, 1958; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth723996/m1/1/?q=waco+tornado&rotate=0: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.