The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
NECESSITIES AND FORTUNES OF
THE CAPITAL.

NECESSITIES AND FORTUNES OF
THE CAPITAL.
The railway system Of Austin is most
imperfect, and if it be not made what
it should be we lose commercial i'm
portance, save to the extent that the
county of Travis may grow rich and
prosperous. While Austin is the pres
eDt southern terminus of the Interna-
tional road, designed to constitute part
of an air line from New York City to
San Bias, on the Pacific coast of Mexi-
co, and while branch of the Central
road comes up from Hampstead and
Galveston to the State capital, it is still
indispensable to the prosperity of Aus
tin as commercial city that it have
direct railway communication with
northwestern counties Of the State.
The international, under its charter,
must be extended to San Antonio, and
then the whole country southeast Of
Austin will transfer its trade to st.
: Louis and New Orleans. 1t will cost
no more to ship cotton bale from San
Marcos to st. Louis than from Austin
to st. Louis, and no cotton bale once
on the cars will be subjected to the
cost of re-shipment at Austin. There
fore the palpable necessity for the
immediate construction of a mar
row gauge railway from Austin
roads we have make the country at.
tractive, rendering access to the
worlds markets easy and cheap, their
management and interests are such
that they proffer premiums to trade
with st. Louis, New Orleans and Gal
weston, and reduce Austin to the con-
dItlon of an interior retail trading
post. Towns and villages along these
great railway lines are given every IA
cility for successful competition with
the city. These railway towns are
owned by the owners and builders of
the railroads, and, therefore, freight
and passenger rates are defined with
reference to the promotion of the
growth of the village and against that
of the city. The city might, but has
not the spirit to help itself. Citizens
interested in the great railways or con-
trolled by them will give no encour-
agement or assistance to those who
would promote the cIty's growth by
constructing narrow gauge railway
towards FL Paso. The trade of North
western Texas must go north towards
Denver, over the Denver and Rio
Grande Narrow Gauge, rapidly extend
ed towards FL Paso, or come to Austin
or Waco or Fort Worth. The interests
of El Paso impel the people to seek
the shorter route to the sea and to the
exterior word through Austin. Nor
CAMS road from Indianola would be
extended instantly to Austin. From
this point shippers would have choice
between three competing lines to the
sea, and Austin would necessarily be-
come the depository for the CONNER
cial wealth of Central and Northwest
ern Texas. The local trade created by
narrow gauge extending only fifty
miles towards Ell Paso would be enor-
nous. All of this is now asserted by
towns and villages along the line of
the international. Therefore the de-
preston Of business and diminution of
trade in Austin. When it has been
insisted that the people must. help
themselves, they answer that Austin is
the capital, and capital cities must re-
ly upon States. The people of such
places are habitual dependents. They
are always devoid of enterprise and of
public spirit, and are ever the victims
of q spirit of mendicancy which para
lyzes their energies and prevents the
consummation of any task of public be-
nefcence. Whether the leading citizens
of Austin will confess themselves by
eheir lethargy in this behalf obnoxious
TO this criticism rutlro events must de-
termine. Very certainly. if the narrow
gauge towards FL Psso be not begun,
Austin will drag cut miserable life OF
stupid inaction. The International
will move on towards San Antonio.
Morgan will 90 thither for trade and
passengers for his Indianola road. The
branch Of the Central will be protrsct-
ed from Waco to FL Paso. The Gal
weston and Santa Fe Road will pass
through Bolton, and the narrow gauge
from Houston through the counties |
southwest of the capital. Instead of |
assuring the future msgnifcence of the |
capital by the execution of the easy |
task of starting cheap railway
which win build itself when once
indued with life, merchants, bank
ere, property holders and working
men of Austin fold their hands and |
pirate about poverty which bcgets each |
day, because we do not begin the /
northwestern narrow gauge, the pro-
rressive aggravation Of all its evils. |
We are less and less capable each day |
Of doing that which If not done assures
cur hopeless ruin. We are faithless to |
ourselves and posterity and deserve |
abject humiliation. But some man will |
rise up, capsule and worthy of leader
ship. and the rosd towards FL Paso |
viii be inauEurated and then all else |
win come that commercial wisdom con-
templates with satisfaction. and Austin
viii be worthy Of the wisdom Of the
fathers Of the Republic, who selected
this charming spot IS. the site for the
capital Of the mightiess future con-
monwealth Of the Federal Union.
WAsHrEeroS letter-wrters say that
fhe orpanization Of the silver men in