Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1879-07-18
THE CENTRAL AND MONT
9oMERY RAILWAY.
Some Reasons for its EItension
from Wavasota to Brenham.

the arrival Of four car loads of
lumber from PlantersviIle on the
Central and Montgomery rail-
road. 1t also learns that this is
about the daily average, al
though the road has just enter
ed the edge of the pincries.
Since the BANNER suggested the
extension of this road to Brcn-
ham. month or so ago, the
matter has been very extensive
ly canvassed and iavorably
commented upon. The univer-
sal opinion, not only in Bren-
ham, but at Independence and
Washington is, that it should by
all means be extended to Bren-
ham. There is no doubt but
that the lumber traffic alone
would go a long way towards
paying the running expenses of
the road if it did not pay them
entire. The extension of the
Santa Fe road to Bolton and
ultimately far beyond, will open
up an immense territory to be
supplied withlumber and should
the Montgomery road be ex-
tended here it would make
BRENNAN one Of the most im-
portant lumber markets in the
interior of the state. AT pres
ent the lumber supply Of Bren-
ham is drawn from Hockey,
Beaumont, Orange and even
Calcasieu; all distant points as
compared with Montgomery
county, the nearest point, Hook
ly, being nearly twice the dis
lance; at the latter place the
lumber has to be wagoned from
IS to 20 miles. AT present, lum-
Der is sold here at from sIS to
$50 per M. Gentlemen who
are thoroughly informed in the
matter say that lumber can be
delivered in BRENNAN from the
Montgomery pineries at from
$40 to SI2 per M. 1t is also
suggested that by the erection
of saw mills at this point and
bringing the logs here there
would be a still greater reduc-
ton in the price, as the logs can
be handled at much less ex-
pense than lumber. In addi-
ton to the lumber interests the
benefit of a direct connection
with the International railroad
giving us an outlet to the north
and an additional competing
line would reduce freight and
passenger tariffs. To show
the result Of competition It is
only necessary to state that
while Brennan pays $3.50 a car
load for freight, Austin, o5 miles
farther distant, gets the same
car load for 500.
1t being conceded that the
extension of the road mention
ed is much needed and would
be Of vast benefit to Washing
ton, Independence, Brennan
and the neighborhoods through
which it would pass, the next
thing is to devise ways and
means by which it may be built.
1t is estimated that the extern
sion from Navasota to this place
can be built and equipped for
less than $4,000 per mile. The
people who want the road
will have to take the initiatory
steps themselves and will, to a
considerable extent have to de-
pend upon their own means.
Whenever people show a dis
position to help themselves and
give an earnest of their faith by
investing their own means, cap
italists will step in and help
them. Capital is proverbially
timid and is never invested I'M
less there be a clear showing for
profit. We are informed that
there is some four or five miles
of grading through the Brazos 4
bottom between Washington
and Navasota which could be
utilized for the railroad; and al
so, that the iron bridge across
the river at Washington could
at a comparatively small ex-.
pense, be strengthened and con-
verted into a railroad bridge.
These two items would very
materially reduce the cost of
the construction Of the propos-
ed road. If it is desired to
reap the full benefit of this line,
its construction should be COM
by the time the Santa
Fe road reaches this place. The
matter is in the hands of the