The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-08-21
THE ssRvERLAsTING MARROW
G. U G Eo AN EYERLAS STING
BENEFIT 10 AUSTIN.
Some Facts About the Route for
this ROsd and the Country
Thro' gin Which &c Passes.

Thro' gin which &c Passes.
Our reporter. who has Just Travelled
over the route between Austin and
Liberty HI!l, Deserving it closely as q
proposed railway line, is satisfied that
q road bed can be constructed over
this route with but a rhs more ex-
pense thar over perfectly level coun-
try. From Austin north, running west
of the Lunatic Asylum along ridge
east o. Judge Hsncock's residence and
down into the valley below the hills,
seven miles north of Austin, q road
could be constructed almost without
the removal OF dirt. No bridge, and
hardly a culvere would have TO be
built IN this distance. HIRE the hills
would be approached near the Red
Store, and by careful engineering the
road, by deviousness Of course. might
soon be brought TO the level plain that
stre,che. all the way to Dodd's store,
about eighteen miles from Austin.
Here a small stream would have to be
crossed, requiring only an ordinary
wooden bridge. From Dodd's store 10
Bagdad, twenty-five miles from Au--
tin, there is slightly undulatiDg
country. Between the last named
places the public road crosses RuL
ming Brusby, which would ~,
quire only a cheap bridge struc-
ture, and this even might lie
avoided by diverging towards the
west, where this basin at the head of
the stream could be traVersed with
hardly any embsnkments and slight
trestle work for q short distance, or
with even a good culveri. Here the
road would approach B4gdsd, situated
In the midst of the
RICHEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL
farming lands ia Texas. a narrow
gauge road compile ted to B4gdsd
would at once become paying Insti-
tuition. A depot, even seven or eight
miles from Austin, would attract to
that point much produce for transport
tation, and another depot on the rIsh
table lands between there and Dodd's
store would attract much material
seeking transit to Austin and beyond.
From this second depot vast deal Of
wood could be shipped to the city.
| Upon the farms which dot these vast
table lands there are now growing
some of the most beautiful and even
luxurisnt orchards IN the State, and
there is no doubt 1t would become a
great fruit producing region. The soil
upon these high table lands is rich
chocolate loan, and during this very
dry Sc son they are yielding far more
than The prairs lands. The writer was
on one farm aSbut fifteen miles from
Austin, upon what is regarded as the
almost
| INACCESSIBLE HILLS
where thirty-five acres in cotton is now
producing thirteen bales of cotton.
Seven of these have been ginned and
packed, while three more are housed.
in the seed. The corn on this farm, al
on several Others in the same region, i:
yielding from twelve to fifteen bushels
to the acre. So we see that between
Austin and Ragdsd there are laud'
which produce the best of crops, while
u railroad passing through them would
vastly encourage their settlement, auc
soon greatly increase their production
The completion of railway to BsgdaC
would recover to Austin much of it
lost trade and the road would at once
pay twenty-five per cent. upon the In
vestment. At the outside the road t
Bagdad would not cost over $4,000 pc
mile, and from B4gdad to Liberty Hill
it would not exceed this sum. Tit
Gabriel must be bridged between thes'
two last named places, but this would
not increase the estimated expense o
$4,000 per mile on the whole road. A
Liberty Hill all the trade that nov
reaches Round Rock and Georgetown
from the region towards Lampasas
and to the north and northwest o
Lampasas, even as far as Concho aDC
Coleman, would be brought directl.
to Austin, and with this road
CONTROLLED BY AUsTINITEs,
the benefits resulting from trade pro
duced would enrich the people of TIL
city.
Not many years ago the wagon rost
from AEstin to L beriy Hill was grea
thoroughfare. Along 1t passed, annu
ally, millions of pounds of freight
Men grew rich even upon the traffic /
stage and wagon stands along it
course. Now not a stage ever rumble
: over the almost deserted way. Wag
oners, when they reach L'bert
Hill, rein their teams to the left
and move on towards Round Roc
and Georgetown. The old WACO
, grooves, worn by the con tant movin
: of wheels over this old way, no longe
! guide heavily laden csravanssrie'
J while from the once great thorough
? fare mountain cattle gather tends
a heritage. The road is deserted, an
q amidst these worn rocks and besi6
: unnumbered and unmarked mile-pos
q sad tale ia told of Austin. Il is or
Of rivalry in which the little tow
Z of Round Rock was the victor, an
the capital of Texas, not proud as
3 ought to be, was the yanquished.