The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-14
Letter from San Antonio.
G. DRESS,
Secretary of meeting.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, August ., 1878.
Editors Statesman-San Antonio can
boast of being the dryest, dullest and hottest
place, during the summer months, in the
State. From ten o'clock in the morning,
until four in the afternoon, a man on the
street is curiosity. After four, few old
fossils can be seen creeping down the street
on the shady side, to the nearest bar room,
where they ''smile," discuss railroads, and
''smile" again, until Marmion and Horner.
warns them that it is slime to close up, -
and this is the history of San Antonio sum-
mers since our earliest acquaintance with
them. We can remember as far back as
1857 and '58, when the same old set slipped
out at the same hour, down the shady side
OF the street, and into the same bar rooms,
smiled" and discussed railroads "'till
time to shut up" However they
are now making a desperate effort to
realize their long talked Of road.
The county had representative meeting
some time ago, at which it was determined
to offer Pierce $500, 900 to complete his
road to this place within the coming twenty
months, with an additional $50, 600 for
every month from the time of its compile
ton to the end of the twenty months; pro-
vided, however, that the entire amount was
not to exceed $500, OOO Yesterday tele-
gram was received from Mr.. Pierce, asking
if the gentlemen making the proposition
thought it could be carried at the next
county election by q two-thirds vote. A
meeting was Immediately called. Among
those present we noticed Judge Devine,
Gen. Knox, Judge Epson, ]. d. Logan, DR..
Kngsbury, ]. H. camp-map and other inf1u-
entail citizens After an animated discus
sion of the subject for two or three hours,
committee of five were appointed, with
instructions to say to Mr.. Pierce that it
was their opinion that the proposition
could be sustained by a two-thirds vote
at the next county election. During the
discussion, Judge Devine said that railroad
would increase the value of city property
1000 per cent.-when we reflect that lots
worth from 5000 to $500 are selling at
$1,000 and $1,000, we at once conclude that
if Judge Devine's words are prophetic, that
San Antonio ought to have a railroad at any
sacrifice; and few railroads, say Pierce's
and the International, running into San
Antonio, each bringing an increase of 1000
per cent, would soon enable it to compete
with Austin in the price of real estate.
A few days ago the city was thrown into
terrible state of excitement by the colored
soldiers stationed here, who threatened to
mob Capt. W. G, Tobin, the proprietor OF
the Vance House. One of their number,
it seems, had sent an insulting letter to
one of Capt. Tobin's little daughters,
whereupon be was taken out. tied to
a tree and handsomely thrashed, the fol
lowing morning an entire company appeared
before the Vance House and demanded
Capt. Tobin. An hour later, quite a mum
Der of citizens were on the spot armed to
the teeth, who soon succeeded in inducing
the ''troops" to return to camp, where they
have since remained perfectly quiet
Cheering reports come from the frontier.
1t is said that the Indians have turned out
en- mGsse, and are making things lively
around Fort Clark and Eagle Pass. The
commander at the former place has received
a message from some celebrated chief, say
ing that henceforth their object is not
pluHder, but scalps. This is considered bad
taste on the part of ''SIr. Lo, as he will
thereby loose all the profits of his trade.
| Bexar county can boast Of but half cToT
this year. The corn is large and fine in tn,
stalk and blade, but the ear does not fl
out, and twenty bushels per acre viii be {
good average, W. R. W.