The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-12
PORTUNEs OF aoUs ROY AVID OF
THE CITIES or TkXAS.

THE CITIES OF TkXAS.
Houston is happier than for months
and years past. There are brighter
days dawniDg, and property advances
in value, and railway builders and
managers smile benignantly upon the
ancient capital of Texas. The restora-
ton of Col. W. r. Baker to supremacy
in the conduct of the Central road is
not least important of current events
presaging the city's infinite good for
tune. Very certainly Col. Baker will
never forget, when serving his rail
way corporation faithfully, to promote
the commercial fortunes of Houston.
But this revolution IN the management
of the Central road, by which Mr..
Dodge was dethroned and Mr.. Baker
crowned, portends other events even
more potent in shaping the destinies of
Texas cities. While the direct road
from Houston to New Orleans pro-
gresses, "Paul" Bremond is smitten by
the lightning shaft of inspiration and
constructs a narrow gauge in 'conic"
sections towards Shreveport. Mean
while Commodore Morgan concen-
trstes the wealth of Texas, to the ex-
tent that it is controlled by the mighty
Central railway and Its branches, in
Southern faubourg of Houston at Con-
stitution Bend. The International
company, finding relief from restrictions
imposed by the Wharf Company at
Galveston impossible, and the..rsilway's
owners having bought the whole coun-
try about the mouth of the Brazos,
will ultimately have its southern
terminus, it is again asserted,
at Velasco. This consummation, if
we are correctly informed, does not de-
pend upon the consolidation, contem-
plated not long ago, by Dodge and
Grow. But the scheme of building a
city to outrival Galveston, the Brazos
river forty feet deep to constitute its
secure harbor and perfect roadstead, is
again discussed, even in Washington.
The next river and harbor bill that
comes before Congress will provide an
appropriation, it is alleged, fer the
harbor of Velasco. The depth of water
on the bar at Velasco is from twelve to
sixteen feet. 1t may be readily and
eheaply deepened. Capt. John Cow
don; famous as the protector of the
New Orleans and Barrataria bay ship
channel, has visited Velasco and states
that the scheme of these railway man
ayers and capitalists is easy of achieve
ment. Especially was he charmed
with the country along the Brazos and
with the matchless harbor which the
deep river is to constitute. The Gal
weston Wharf Company gives origin,
we believe, to this scheme involving
the diversion of the traffic and travel
of the International from that city to
Velasce. Houston, If these changes
occur, becomes the central railway
built metropolis of Texas and of the
Southwest. The whole commercial
wealth of the whole district, includ-
ing States and Territories, if changes
here defined occur, will be concentra-
ted at Houston and distributed from
that city. 1t must become, with its
road to the devil fish-encompassed
''Beach," to Morgan City, to New Or
leans, and with Bremond's and Cones
road to Shreveport and the Interna-
tional to St. Louis, and the Central
with its "wide-spreading branches"
grasping half the wealth of Texas,
with Houses Narrow Gauge compell-
ing Austin to send out one like it
toward Lampasas, and with the Sun
set road gathering in every resource of
Southwestern Texas s-with all these
resistless forces for the concentration
Of wealth and trade, Houston and its
suburban railway towns must become
not only the metropolis of Texas but
of the Southwest. Austin may be
profted by these events. The low,
fiat, dreary plain on which Houston
stands, hardly exempt from dangers
that make Galveston shudder when
eqmnoctial storms are brewing, will
never attract the many who 'live that
,hey may live." Health, local phys
ical facts, mountains, river, cedar
crowned hills and blossoming gardens
and farms and plains are enough for
Bene6cence to grant to one city, and
these are enough if We may have local
government worthy of such a capital
of such a commonwealth, to make
Austin grow in wealth and greatness,
,a1J.i ,,0seu With Housfon