There's a situation in Mumford. Landowners are pushing to stop Union Pacific from potentially taking their land via eminent domain. I am working on a documentary highlighting the issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al8MSmJ5KhU

Here are a couple articles from The Eagle for those who are not aware of what's going on:
"Land Eyed for Rail Yard"
http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_80fbd92e-17c9-5a4a-b1ca-a5c90d173a0d.html
"Coalition Emerges Against Rail Yard"
http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_aad420c2-5c47-5f5b-9113-c1daf585eebd.html

The film will be centered around the people who have lived and worked in the Brazos Bottom for many years. I hope to have the film completed and available for viewing by April 5th barring any production delays.

There are many people in the Brazos Valley who are unaware that this project is going in much less people beyond the region. There is a recurring theme that I'm hearing from these folks: "It's the right project for the region but it's absolutely the wrong location". There are better suited lands nearby that would be further away from the Brazos River and are less agriculturally viable. There are landowners in other parts of the county who are willing to sell their property to the railroad. The railroad thus far has their sights set on this particular location.

I will post a link to the full film once it's completed.



[This message has been edited by Texan593 (edited 2/3/2013 12:07p).]

[This message has been edited by Texan593 (edited 2/3/2013 12:32p).]

Make your documentary.

But the railyard is getting built. Landowners will be compensated.

I talked to a railroad employee yesterday who said the opposition to the yard centers on the leasees of the land in question, not the owners of the land.

So is this a true documentary, that tells all sides of the story, or is it propoganda, in support of owners/lessees?

I can say this:

It would be propaganda if I was being funded, which I am not. I have contacted U.P. to get their side of the story and they have responded with this:

"Thank you for reaching out to us with this opportunity. We are currently in the early stages of this project and respectfully decline to participate in an interview."

Hopefully the project will come to fruition. Hearne needs all the economic assistance it can get.

frito bandit: unfortunately, you are not seeing the whole picture. the landowners ARE the ones OPPOSED to this rail yard. the land is simply NOT for sale. many of the familes have owned this land for over 90 years and want to pass the acreage down to their children and grandchildren. you might want to contact your railroad employee friend and enlighten him/her.

techno-ag: do you really believe the city of hearne will reap benefits from this project? if so, then you are mistaken. most the union pacific employees will NOT live in hearne, will NOT shop in hearne, and will NOT pay taxes to hearne. additionally, when all of the farmers have left the county because there is no available land worth farming in robertson county, who will live, shop and pay taxes there? that's a lot of lost revenue imho. the only people who will benefit financially from this project are the union pacific execs.

you might be interested in knowing that this hump yard will be located a couple of hundred yards away from a school. i don't know about you, but i would not want my children that close to a hazardous industrial site - especially since there are other locations that are not near 'civilization' and are not being cultivated.

I can understand the landowners thoughts, but as Governor Perry told my friends in East Texas - get over it, the pipeline is coming through. I feel sure he owns stock in UP also.

Maggie what school is it going next to, Hearne High or Mumford? I was under the impression it was to be in Mumford territory but closer to Hearne.

The southern end of the yard will be directly across FM 50 from The Mumford school.

Could there be a historical preservation aspect to it? That site is not far from Tenoxtitlan.

[This message has been edited by Alderman Davis (edited 2/4/2013 4:01p).]

I think you cannot imminent domain a dedicated cemetery. If true, and you have family owned land going back 90 years that you want to pass down to future generations, hire an attorney to dedicate part of the property for s family cemetery.

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Could there be a historical preservation aspect to it? That site is not far from Tenoxtitlan.

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The site of the old spanish Fort Tenoxtitlan was on the west side of the Brazos.

about 30° 41' 47.94", -96° 35' 24.41

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbf49

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20955287@N02/sets/72157604999018606/with/2483666204/

Texan593 - hav you sent the youtube link to U.P. execs? It may trigger them to respond.

It would be a pity if your documentary does not get their side. At the very least you should look for other 3rd parties (maybe someone in A&M, or in Austin, or another railway, etc) to get their perspective as well.

Are you planning to cover the positive impacts of the development?

Two points:

- Allowing private entities to declare eminent domain is a gross violation of land owner rights. Its just another symptom of our bloated and overeaching government forgetting that the role of government is to serve the people, not rule them.

- Our positions on the issue aside, can we all agree that the trailer is a well produced piece of film? Good job, Tex.

yes, the trailer does look well produced and made me curious about watching more.

however, with today's resources in video technology, editing, etc, it is not that hard to produce something decent that looks professional. The key for these documentaries is to have a good flow, showing all the conflicting pieces and sides of the story. If it does not show that, then IMO the value goes down, despite of how well produced it was.

rookie1 - In regards to getting all sides, that's what I'm working on. As for U.P. I'm more than willing to have them take part in this. Their stance is that it's very early in the planning phase and wish to not participate. For all we know, U.P. could announce tomorrow that the yard will be 10 miles north of Mumford or between Hearne and Calvert or any other area in Robertson Co. The chances are unlikely that would happen though.

I'm still putting pieces together on this and if anyone on either side of the issue wants to go "on the record" with me, just shoot me an email and I'll come out with my camera: texomatic593bravo(AT)gmail.com

And thanks to you and redball for the thumbs up on the visual aspect of the film. I appreciate it!

[This message has been edited by Texan593 (edited 2/5/2013 7:31a).]

One idea to start would be to contact someone at TTI. A quick google search shows this one as potential:
http://tti.tamu.edu/group/rail/contact/

He may give you some ideas of who else could counterbalance the view being provided by the land owners.

Thanks for the heads up Rookie. I will contact a good friend of mine at TTI who can help me get to the right person for this. Like I said folks, anyone who want's to go "on the record" with me has about a month to do so. Just let me know!

I first heard of a railyard project in Robertson County in about 2005.
I don't believe it's in the early planning phase as indicated. I guess it could have been tabled for a long period with the Panama Canal expansion kicking it into high gear, but the concept has been around for a while now.
Expect several huge cargo infrastructure projects around the ports as well as inland distribution facilities.

I grew up in Mumford and my Uncle retired from the railroad system a few years back. He lives down the road from the school.

Is the rail going to happen?

I will take a look at the rail trailer for updates.

Where is this land that people in the Valley want to sell and why do you think it would be a better place for the railroad? My impression is that you are suggesting a "win-win" by choosing other property.

Do you know why the UP is interested in the property currently in play? I'm sure you are going to interview the local landowners that undoubtedly are looking for an outlet but also do your homework on the railroad and the economy (both regional and national).

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Where is this land that people in the Valley want to sell and why do you think it would be a better place for the railroad? My impression is that you are suggesting a "win-win" by choosing other property.

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i seem to recall nelda eustice was interested in selling property.

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Do you know why the UP is interested in the property currently in play? I'm sure you are going to interview the local landowners that undoubtedly are looking for an outlet but also do your homework on the railroad and the economy (both regional and national).

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up is interested in the current location since the rail line is already there and the land will require the smallest investment in construction costs. to move further north will require more land improvement and moving the rail line.

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up is interested in the current location since the rail line is already there and the land will require the smallest investment in construction costs. to move further north will require more land improvement and moving the rail line

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This seems reasonable. How many jobs is UP expected to bring to the area?

techno-ag, would you find this "reasonable" if it was your family's land at stake that you had no intentions of parting with?

My understanding is that 1000 to 1400 temporary jobs would be created during construction over a nearly 2 year period. After 2 years, those jobs would be gone. Once into full 24/7 operation, the yard would employ about 200 full-time workers. Here's the potential catch: A majority of those jobs would be filled by current UP employees most likely from other areas like Houston, Fort Worth etc. It's estimated less than half the jobs would be filled by local folks. That being said, How many jobs are created or sustained by the crops in the footprint of the proposed rail yard? There is a multiplier effect. Fuel from Producers Co-Op etc to power equipment, seed and pesticides from ag suppliers, the cotton gin for harvest time, those receiving what's produced further down the line and so on.

Yes, there are a couple of landowners in the region who are willing to sell their land to UP but according to UP, they would have higher construction costs or have to re-locate highway 6 in one case. Read this: http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Union-Pacific-Railroad-Rejects-Proposal-from-Hearne-Resident-165357446.html

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you might be interested in knowing that this hump yard will be located a couple of hundred yards away from a school. i don't know about you, but i would not want my children that close to a hazardous industrial site - especially since there are other locations that are not near 'civilization' and are not being cultivated.

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Wow, maybe then all the students that are supposed to go to Hearne will leave Mumford, wouldn't that be some Karmic balance.

Agfan247 there's another big rail maintenance yard next door to Hearne High School, too.

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There is a multiplier effect.

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Huh, it would appear that in your research the "multiplier effect" only works for one side. Are all those auxiliary benefits directly going to those in the Brazos Bottom? I don't recall that my grain and fertilizer marketers right there in the bottom.

Do you know where the hump yard will actually be or are you just guessing in a manner that supports your premise? If you know, how about posting a sketch for us.

What's the real economic impact of this project on the bottom, Hearne area, Robertson county and the Brazos Valley in general? Surely you will include something along these lines in your documentary.

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What's the real economic impact of this project on the bottom, Hearne area, Robertson county and the Brazos Valley in general? Surely you will include something along these lines in your documentary.

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My guess is, with up to 1400 temporary jobs over 2 years, followed by 200 full time workers moving in from elsewhere, the cumulative economic impact on Mumford, Hearne, and all of Robertson County will be considerable. Hopefully this will all work out. That area needs it.

Why does it have to be RIGHT THERE, taking prime farmland? Why not on the trackage paralleling 6, somewhere between Hearne and Bryan?

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Why does it have to be RIGHT THERE, taking prime farmland? Why not on the trackage paralleling 6, somewhere between Hearne and Bryan?

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Good question. I know there's farmland between Hearne and Bryan, too. Perhaps they wanted it away from a major highway? Perhaps the rail line that goes through Mumford is used less than the one that goes along Hwy 6, and placing the yard in Mumford would impact the line less by clogging traffic less?

Techno taking the side of government seizure of land? Well now. Well now indeed.
OP I'm curious if you've looked into the history of similar incidents and got a sense of what the overall economic benefits vs. costs of such actions have been.

Marooned,

I plan on getting an exact footprint of the project. I know that Clayton Williams' group has a map and I'm working on getting it. Are there positives in regards to a development like this going in? I'm sure there is. There could be some retail, a restaurant or two and other economic benefits to this yard going in. I'm just telling the story of those who feel it's a good thing for the area but the absolute wrong location. Call it being a NIMBY (I've been here long enough to know what that is)but the people out there feel there is better-suited land in the county for a development like this. My research continues...

acp46,

As I stated above, my research continues and I hope to find out the things you bring up in regards to economic impact...Pros and cons. Stay tuned!

Apparently this rail yard needs to be built. If not the present site, where else would it be placed?

Those goods and supplies need to be shipped to/from the Gulf. I would think thousands of jobs could be created across he nation.

Someone is going to be disappointed and someone is going to be elated.

How do you know which side to take?

Edited to add this: A mayor once told me everyone wants their garbage to be picked up, but no one wants the landfill next to them.

[This message has been edited by brazos county observer (edited 2/9/2013 8:09p).]

Texan, I will applaud you. You have stated what the real goal is and that is to {mainly} tell the story as seen through the eyes of the people who own the land. This of course makes for a great tear jerker that lends itself to cinema.

I'm looking forward to your work.

Also, for the record, I have no affiliation with any valley land owners, business owners or the railroad. I do know a few things about the valley and the railroad which is what sparks my interest in your work and this thread.