The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-04-13
The Climax Approaches.

Four years ago, when the Central Rail-
road completed its western branch to the
city of Austin, there was not another rail-
road within one hundred and twenty-five
miles of US. Those were bright days for
the city Of Austin, which was the entrepot
for all the trade within radius of one hun
bred and twenty-five miles to the north,
south and west, and for half that distance
to the east of the city. Every pound of
freight for the counties of Bell, William
son, Burnet, Lampasas, Brown, Coleman,
San Saba, McCulloch, Mason, Llano, Giles
pie and other counties to the northwest, and
for -Blanco, Comal, Hays and Caldwell
counties, passed through and paid tribute to
our CITY,. The consequence was that for
year or two Austin prospered to an extent
rarely witnessed; real estate rose in value
one, two, three, four and even five hundred
per cent; men awoke in the morning and
found they had grown rich in a night; fine
buildings were erected, each exciting the
can excel his .neighbor in elegance, and
cost of building2 Gas works, street rail
ways, water works and an uArivalled
fire department followed in quick sue
cesslon, so that the universal verdict of
all visitors was that no place in the State
lexcelled Austin for enterprise. But Mr.
Pierce commenced to push his road toward
San Antonio, and as it approached Luling,
the sound thinkers amoung our citizens
foresaw that though of immense benefit to
the people along its route, this Pierce
road would take away q large section of
country from the trade of Austin, and an
effort was made then to induce our people
to build a road from Austin to Luling which
would have prevented the disaster. It was
not done, and the result was that the trade
San Antonio, New Braunfels, Seguin, San
Marcos and Lockhart was diverted and lost
to us forever, leaving Austin with only
local trade on the south side of the Colorado.
The International, undaunted by the refu-
sal of the State to issue its bonds, determined
to comply with its part of the contract, and
solitary and alone pushed its road across the
Brazos to Rockdale, and Austin was again
threatened with diversion of valua-
BILE trade. Before the Rockdale depot
was established, this city controlled
the trade of Bell and Williamson
counties; now it goes to Rockdale, and
deep inroads have been made into Lampa-
sas, Brown, Burnett San Saba, and other
counties of the northwest the only remain
ing trade that Austin has any claim to.
The news now comes that the International
has purchased and shipped forty miles of
iron for their road towards Austin, which
win complete their road to the neighbor-
hood of Round Rock. When this road is
put in running order thus far, it is undenia-
bic that still larger portion of the trade
of the northwest will DO lost to US. Nor
viii it7chxnge the aspect of affairs when the
International is completed to Austin; be-
cause the worst part Of the wagon road to
these counties rs between this city and run
ming Brushy creek, and is avoided, and
twenty miles Of travel saved, by going to
Round Rock And it weald be folly to
suppose that q merchant at Lzmpasas or
Burnet, shipping goods from the East BY
the international, would have them deliv-
cred at Austin, twenty miles out Of the
Gay, and hauled on wagons twenty extra
miles over roads almost impAA4sble, at GER
tain seasons, when he could just IS cheapiy
have them delivered at Round Rock sta
ton, twenty miles nearer to him, and over
q far preferable road, and At less cost of
wagon transportation; aud the same argu-
ment holds good Of eastward bound freighfs.
There can be no doubt that the trade thus