The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-10-22

Perhaps there are few people who visit
Austin but seldom, and none among the thou
sands Of Texans who never visit the State
capital, that have the slightest idea Of the vast
amount Of goods that are annually disposed
Of by our merchants at wholesale, or of the
number Of extensive establishments in this
city that do a strictly wholesale business.
Austin is peculiarly situated 10 make her the
great commercial interior city Of the State,
and this fact accounts for her rapid growth
: and general prosperity during the tight times
Of the past two or three years, which so Sc
riously retarded the growth and prosperity Of
other towns in the State While San Anto-
MO, Houston and Jefferson, all larger than
Austin, have for the past few years
remained almost stationary. Austin has
marched straight forward from. little
quiet place Of FIVE thousand, until now her pop
ulation reaches twelve or fifteen thousand.
and large rock and brick buildings adorn both
sides of her principal streets where little
wooden onestOry buildings stood but few
short years ago; and there is a whirl and buzz
of business on the streets that is visible in no
other city in the State, perhaps excepting Gal.
weston. All this growth and trade has come
from natural causes, and not on account of
any enterprise manifested on the part of our
business men and citizens generally. We have
had no fairs, expositions, cotton congresses,
manufactures, railroad enterprises or other
enterprises to stimulate the rapid
growth that has characterized this
city, no, nothing Of the sort. Whatever
Austin is, is not due to artificial means or the
enterprise Of her people, many of whom have
been amazed with the multiplication of their
own wealth, but on account of her peculiarly
favored position. Austin is the objective point
of large scope Of sparsely settled country,
lying north, northwest, west, southwest and
south of her, consisting Of several counties,
most of which have been the recipients of
heavy immigration the past two OF three
years, the same having been attracted on &C
count Of the rich soil, the cheap lands and
healthy climate Of this section of the State.
As a general thing, the merchants in this
vast area Of country, who did not require
very heavy stocks, have found it to their in
terest to buy ia Austin, as they could
get their goods in a week or ten days
from the time the wagons were sent for them;
and the wagons that come for goods are inva-
riably loaded with cotton, hides, wool pota-
toes, produce, ETC., which are shipped from
here by rail to Galveston. This trade has
contributed very largely to the growth OF
Austin, Which now is only second to Calves
ton as a wholesale city and commercial cen
ter. How much longer our city win continue
TO get the vast trade of interior merchants de-
ponds upon the building of railroads and the
future enterprise Of our merchants, and
it is high time that they were beginning to give
the subject proper consideration. The people
of Austin should not be satisfied with natural
growth and trade; they should strive to go
beyond that They should be ambitious to
push Austin even ahead of the rapid growth
of the State, and, if possible, to double its
population every two or three years. An that
is necessary to do this, IS enterprise and pluck.
Austin should have cotton congresses, various
manufacturing establishments, and everything
possible should be done to attract people to the
city and surrounding country. Let our peo-
pie wake up and see what has not been done
that ought to be done to add to her growth
and importance.