The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-11-21
The Narrow Gauge What
a CitIZ n OF Brown Thinks OF Il.
BnowNwoop. NoY. II. 1873

BROWNWOoD, Nov. IL, 1873.
Editors Democratic Stalesman:
Having recently visited your city,
and finding that a large portion of it's
most intelligent and enterprisiug citi-
zens are IN favor of building a railroad
from Austin by way of Lampasas to
BrownwoOd, ami thence to the nearest
point of intersection with the Pacific
road, deem it not amiss to give few
crude ideas TO your numerous readers,
and ask the serious consideration of
your citizens and capitalists on the sub
ject. There is no railroad that pene-
trates this section of country from any
direction. Now, let Us take map and
see what amount Of territory is tributary
to the route indicated, and what amount
and kind Of products are raised for
transportation, and see if the road will
pay good per cent. on the investment.
FIRST, rrn -hAua pact Of Williamson
and considerable portion of Bell and
COryell counties. Second, we have all
OF Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, San Saba,
Mason, McCulloch, C0ncho, Brown,
Comanche, Erath, Hamilton, E4stland,
Stephens, Shackelford, Taylor, Gala
han, Coleman, Runnells, together with
large part, If not all, of Tom Green
and the unOrganiZed counties beyond,
which constitute at this time the great
cattle and sheep raising regions of the
State, as we'll as that portion in which
lie embedded the richest mines of coal,
iron and copper. The counties afore-
said and the adjacent territory have a
population Of at least 80, 600, which is
annually increasing at a rapid rate, so
much so that it is not uncommon for
one county to double or even triple its
population in one year. These coun-
ties embrace the finest grain re-
giOn in the State, while cotton and
all other products do as we'll as else
where. A railroad now would
get the shipment of many thousands OF
bales OF cotton, many hundred thou
sand bushels of wheat and other grain,
besides beeves, mutton, hogs, wool,
hides, tallow, pee ans and other pro.
ducts, sufficient to make it pay well
In addition, it would bring lumber,
goods, groceries, etc, to supply this
vast and growing country, and it would
soon develop its vast coal beds and
other mineral resources, thus enriching
a company and the people.
The Fort Yuma daily stage line now
runs through Brentwood. This is a
gigantic enterprise, giving employment
to several hundred men, and makes
rapid speed from Fort Worth to Fort
Yuma, distance of near sixteen huB-
bred miles. The extension of a rail-
road to this place weuld make this the
terminus of said line, and the railroad
the recipient of all its benefits, as it
would be an artery of commune
cation, and hence OF trade from this
point to New Mexico, Santa Fe and
all the Panhandle country of Texas.
By careful examination of all the
surroundings, / do not believe that
there ia a portion OF the United States
where railroad OF 40 miles in length
would drain larger, more fertile and
growing country than this, or have
terminus that would concentrate
larger amount Of paying freight.
Again, this road would have no COM
peting line, while beyond Austin
several roads vie with each other
for freight and passage. BY the
time this road could be construc-
ted to L4mpasas, the gap IN the
Morgan road between Beaumont
and Brsshear City will be closed,
which viii give Austin two comDe-
ting lines to tine waters of the
Mississippi, and to the great pine
forests of Eastern Texas, thereby
placing this road, rs the outlet to
the Northwest. in a position 10
do ample good to the people and the
"a word 10 the wise is
sufficient" What say the capitalists,
and what says Austin AMI LsmpAsas
q. GooDwIN.