Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/San Benito and Rio Grande Valley Railway
Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 29
San Benito and Rio Grande Valley Railway[edit]
Location and General Description of Property[edit]
The railroad of San Benito and Rio Grande Valley Railway Company, herein called the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley, is a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad, located in southeastern Texas. The owned mileage consists of two disconnected main lines, with branches. One main line extends in a southerly direction from East to Sammons, and the other extends southwestwardly from Fernando, via San Benito, to a point 1.25 miles west of Santa Maria. The branches extend from this latter main line to La Paloma and a point on the Rio Grande River beyond Los Indios. The San Benito and Rio Grande Valley wholly owns and uses 64.917 miles of main track and 6.146 miles of yard tracks and sidings, a total of 71.063 miles of all tracks.
This railroad, although independently operated, forms a part of the system doing business under the trade name of the Gulf Coast Lines.
Corporate History[edit]
The San Benito and Rio Grande Valley was incorporated June 28, 1912, for a period of 50 years, under the general laws of the State of Texas as the San Benito & Rio Grande Valley Interurban Railway. On August 22, 1912, its name was changed to its present designation. The purpose for which the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley was incorporated was to construct, own, maintain, and operate various lines of railroads, aggregating 200 miles in length, located in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, Tex., and extending in various directions from San Benito, Tex.
Development of Fixed Physical Property[edit]
The road owned and operated by the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley on date of valuation was acquired by it as indicated hereunder:
| Termini | Construction commenced |
Acquired for operation |
Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| By construction: | |||
| Fernando to 1.25 miles west of Santa Maria. | April, 1910 | June 28, 1912 | 29.822 |
| Ohio Junction to Boulevard Junction. | do. | do. | 11.352 |
| Head Gates to Los Indios. | do. | do. | 1.181 |
| La Paloma Junction to La Paloma. | do. | do. | 0.981 |
| Sammons to Monte Christo. | November, 1911 | July 1, 1913 | 19.711 |
| Monte Christo to 2 miles east. | do. | Nov. 1, 1913 | 1.870 |
| Total road mileage owned on date of valuation. | 64.917 | ||
Construction of the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley's road was commenced in 1910 in the name of S. A. Robertson, trustee, acting for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company, which advanced the necessary funds.
On June 28, 1912, the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley was incorporated and the completed and uncompleted lines were deeded by Robertson to it on that date. On July 1, 1912, the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley entered into a contract with A. T. Perkins, trustee, acting for the St. Louis and San Francisco, to complete the construction, and under this contract the road was finished. Robertson employed the Hidalgo Construction Company, of which he was president, as contractor, and received a cash bonus of $500 per mile, or $19,500 on 39 miles completed under his trusteeship. The construction company completed the construction under Perkins as trustee.
Leased Railway Property[edit]
On date of valuation the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley is using in the operation of its road certain units of equipment owned by the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico and the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico. This equipment is not formally leased but is assigned as the operating conditions of the San Benito and Rio Grande Valley warrant.