The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-28

space Of crystal water, which Is filed with
q nutritious grass, growing at the bottom
and waving gracefully in the rapid current.
Here the cattle come in large numbers,
and stand, cooling themselves in the Inn
pid stream, every now and then diving
their heads under the water. to get a mouth.
ful Of the coveted food. Altogether it is n
pleasant sight to witness. The water of
the Comal IS colder than the springs of the
San Antonio, but not near as cold as Barton
Springs, nor as palatable for drinking pur-
poses. All are tinctured more or less with
limestone, for these large springs are only
found in limestone formations. attempted
fishing on several occasions, but with very
indifferent success. The season Of the year
and the extreme warm weather were un-
propitious, and / had difficulty in procur-
ing proper bait, the larger Iminnows refus-
ing to come into my net 1 should think,
however, in the latefaII or winter, the bass,
or trout fishing, as we call it here, would be
fine. - '-- -
The water power Of the Comal is known
to be great, and no town in Texas is per
haps more suitable for manufacturing than
New Braunfels During the late civil war,
Messrs. Runge and Tory took steps to es-
tablish cotton factory here and sent to
England for the machinery. 1t arrived near
the close of the war, and in 1865 the mill
was put in operation. 1t run one thousand
spindles and twenty-one looms, employing
from fifty-fve to sixty hands, and was con
Quoted successfully until 1869, when a
furious tornado blew of the roof of the
stone building and destroyed much of the
machinery 1t was then repaired, another
story added, and converted into wheat
and saw mill, cotton gin, etc, all of which
were proftably run. But misf0rtnnes never
come singly@ In June 1879, came the most
terrible rain and flood, ever known on the
Comal, and swept off nearly the whole
five story building, as well as the
new iron bridge just erected below
it. The destruction was complete.
The food also injured and put stop to
the wooden factory, which was put up, a
few years previous, by a joint stock com
pany, Mr.. George H. Judson, manager, and
had been running very successfully making
jeans, cassimeres, blankets, etc, of the best
quality, and generally superior to the North
ern manufactures This fourishing estab
lishment run eighteen double looms and
furnished employment for many people.
There is now nothing leftlin the way Of
mills, except the -four mill of Mr.. Landa, on
this side, and the sash, blind and wheat
mill of Mr.. Koester, on the other side of
The Comal Thus the finest water power in
the State Is running at waste, and the place,
as Mr.. Landa observed, is dead, compare
lively. He and others think that the Inter
national Railroad will revive it, and so it
may be the means of doing, provided the
manufactures follow the railroad, not much
without. While on this subject, I would
remark that the water power of Western
Texas is immense and must be utilized
some day. The San Antonio, the Comal,
the Guadalupe, the San Marcos and the Col
orado, besides many other streams, furnish
the means of running cheaply any amount
of mills of all sorts. Within six miles of
seguin, on the Guadalupe, is water power
enough to turn all the spindles Of Lowell,
Lawrence and Manchester, And SO on for
miles up this stream, at New Braunfels and
above. With the building of railroads and
the influx of immigration, the attention of
capitalists must sooner or later be turned to
this section, where all the wool and cotton
needed will be at the very doors Of the fac
tories, and all expense Of transportation be
saved When that day comes, we shall
have the finest country on the face of the
earth, considering soil, productions, climate
and health, all united. God speed the
day .e;l.- r. j.,