The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-28
BANKERS AND LANDLORDS AND
MERCHANTS TO THE FRONT.


The cheapest narrow gauge, safely
navigable for locomotive going twen
ty miles an hour, costs SO little, and
the burden incident to It's construction,
properly equalized among the people,
would be so light and the results 80
benefcent, that few doubt the accom-
plishment of the purpose OF connecting
Austin with Georgetowa. One of the
most ardent, Jealous friends of the en-.
terprise was the late Louis Horst. He
was q liberal subscriber when the
scheme was first submitted for the
practical approval Of the people, but
since it has been suggested that the
failure of the enterprise has been as
cribed to the fact that working people
and mechanics of the city have mani
tested most interest in the prosecution
of the task, one of these writes to the
STATESMAN that we must stand aloof
ard give the leadership aud active con-
troll of the scheme TO the bankers and
house and lot yaSrs and to merchants.
II the-silver msA will let go. the gold
bearing, enterprising bondholders, we
are told, seeing how readily their own
wealth may be doubled, will COM
bine and by "a trifing effort
accomplish task that would
prove most burdensome to the poor.
Let the land and property holders and
merchants of the capital constitute the
board of directors, and let them
choose superintendents and managers,
and having confidence in themselves,
and seeing that Austin is gradually
losing it's richest and best sources of
trade and wealth, thty will not fail to
cooperate. The following letter shows
how resolutelv Georgetown acts. The
annual profits of trade with Georgetown
and the intervening country and with
wide districts which this road, if once
tegun, would rapidly penetrate, render
Its construction on the shortest direct
route to Georgetown matter of un-
avoidable necessity. If any doubt,
let them inquire of tax assessors. Citi-
zens, under oath, value houses aud lots
one half less than three years ago.
Very soon the rich men of the capital
will be unable even to build this little
railway. Austin, even now, is rearing
two churches that will cost twice the
sum required to insure the completion
of this marrow way" to Georgetown.
There was never such a demonstration
of unparalleled popular goodness and
wisdom, and it is peculiarly
wise policy at this Juncture.
Earthly things, in this vicinity, are
rapidly bereft of all value, and it is
eminently proper to secure sure foot
hold in the better land. Meanwhile,
we cannot help thinking that common
practical sense is not wholly irreconcil
able with the oevou,est plety, and it
were wise if the people of the capital
provided for themselves two straight
and narrow ways, one of them leading
towards Georgetown. Read this letter
before the chamber of commerce:
GEORGETOWN, February "a, 1878.
Editors Democratic Stdtesmdn-O Our
people here are now engaged in max
ing the final su;vty from the Palm
Valley tn this place. Inside Of four
weeks they Will break dirt, and prose =
cute with all possible vigor the con-
structIon of the narrow gauge railroad
from Palm Valley 10 this point. What
desire to say is this: /; The people
of Austin have such interest IN this
enterprise as TO justify them in moving
in 1t, they han best 10 so at once.
Palm Valley, think, is TOO far south
east for line from here 10 Austin, un-
less, as is suggested by some, they OBJ.
tain permission from the International
and Great Northern Railroad Company
to lay an extIa rail on their road from
Austin to Palm Valley, and thereby
make connection with this place. 1t
occurs to me, however, that it is to the
interest of Austin to have an independ-
ent line, and the excess OF cost would
be more than compensated by the ad
ditional advantages derived from line
independent of all other railroads.
That our people here are going to
build their road is no longer debata-
BILE question, and while they are aux-
ious for the people of Austin to join
them, yet they are not going to wait
on their action. They feel they have
waited too long already.
Yours truly. w. K MAKEMsoN.