The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-14
RAILROAD 10 Georgetown and Bel
ton aRd kAmpaSaa.


The Sun wants the STATESMAN to
say if the people of Austin will Join
those of Georgetown in constructing
. narrow gauge railroad between the
two places. The question is hard to
answer, for years of urgent appeal upon
this. vital question has so far failed to
induce the construction of one single
mile OF road. We know well enough
that railroad to Georgetown would
be of vast benefit to Austin, and its
business men and property holders
know this same thing as well as we do
but as to how much money they
would put into the enterprise an
opinion can hardly be formed.
No consultation has been held up
on the subject and yet 1T should
long since have received attention.
A railway to Georgetown would di-
verge but little from the Lampasas
route, and the difference Ia cost of
construction would be made good by
$40, 900 that the people of Georgetown
stand ready to put into the enterprise.
Besides this road would follow q direct
route to Bolton, and in time there
would be two extensions beyond
Georgetown, one towards Lampasas
and Comanche and the other would tap
the rich agricultural lands of Bell
county, reaching 9 point at Bolton
where an immense trade would be Sc.
cured. The Sun has this to say on the
subject:
''From the best information we can
gather, the difference ia the dis
lance between Austin and Lampasas,
by the regular stage route, and Uia
Georgetown, will not perhaps exceed
five miles; but assuming that the dis
lance will be eight miles greater to
come by Georgetown, when we con-
alder the typographical features of the
sections to be traversed, the advantage
will still lie with the route by George
town. The route through the upper
portion OF this county would require
much greater outlay Of money for grad
ing and bridging. 1t is q rough, hilly
section, near the heads OF the water
courses, all Of which would have to be
crossed almost at right angles. ms tead
Of bridging one Brushy creek, as at
Round Rock. three streams of that
name would have to be bridged. Then
there are still the North and South
Gsbriels, and Mesquite creek to bridge,
with other uncomfortable streams,
affording, however, at times q suffi.
cient flow of water to make 1t neces-
sary to incur the expenses of bridging.
In no single instance on that route
could the company avail themselves of
the valley of stream in order TO avoid |
heavy grading. There is one advan.
tage the upper route would have-the
close proximity Of good cedar for
ties. But this would not COM
pensate for the. heavy grading
and bridging. On the other
hand, the people OF Austin need not be
told what the country 10 along the line
OF the International to Brushy. From
Brushy to Georgetown hardly any
grading is necessary. And If an arr
rangemeDt with the International for
the use Of its roadbed can be made on
fair terms, there 10 certainly no other |
means by which the people of Austin |
can secure so quickly or cheaply the
constructor of . narrow gauge road 50
Tar In the direction Of Lsmpssas. But
eYsn II they have to build the road to |
Bruahy ~ Round Rock, il will be by |
tar cheaper than to build the same dis |
lance over any part of the other route. |
From GeorEetovn to Lampasss, . dis
lance OF forty miles, the road would |
require but little grading, except from
Rocky to LAmpasas. and that would |
require no more grading than the best |
part Of the road on the upper route. By |
meeting rs ct Brushy, the trade Of Bell |
county is secured, no small portion Of |
which can be hoped for II the upper |
route IA used.n