Oklahoma AG Submits Rebuttal Letter to Tx AG Letter

In 1931, a war of words, backed by state militias, took place between the governors of Oklahoma and Texas over the opening of a free bridge between Colbert (Bryan County, Oklahoma) and Denison (Grayson County, Texas).

Motorists and politicians alike were eager to see modern highway bridges erected all across the Red River Valley in this period, as investigations found that the toll bridge companies that owned river crossings had been increasing rates and, perhaps, "fudging numbers" to obtain reimbursements by the state (Rep. Loy from Grayson County never actually said that, but heavily implied it).

With the cross-country roads nationalizing as federal highways, easy and free access across rivers just made sense, but the Red River was a special case. The Red River Bridge Company, which owned the toll bridge at Colbert, insisted that its contract with Texas be paid out before traffic was halted and diverted to the new, free bridge. A judge placed an injunction against the free bridge opening until the dispute was sorted out.

Oklahoma's governor "Alfalfa" Bill Murray opposed this action. The free bridge was a political boon to his populist platform and he used the injunction as a way to prove his politics. Murray sent Oklahoma National Guard troops to prevent motorists from accessing the toll bridge, insisting that the free bridge should, from now on, be the only route.

To enforce the court's order, Texas governor Ross Sterling stationed Texas Rangers on the other southern side of the free bridge to bar motorists from crossing the Red River. Thus, in the Summer of 1931, traffic was halted between Oklahoma and Texas as the courts, the toll bridge operators, and public opinion tried to sort out whose claims took precedence.



Read rest of story here:

Red River Bridge War LINK

B12 Bylaws

75% of the "disinterested members" is required to impose a sanction.

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