New-York tribune., 1880-02-29
1ExAs PROGRESS IND POLITICS.
eRRAT ADDITIONS TO THE RAILROAD sYsrEM-CON-
DITIoN OF THE TWO PAR1IEs-CoLoNEL A.
,oj,

GRRAT ADDITIONS TO THE RAILROAD sNSrEM-CoN-
DIT1oN OF THE TWO PARIIES-CoLoNEL A. II.
BELo's VIEWS.
Colonel A. II. Belo. Editor of The Gdlre8ton Aecs.
the leading newspaper in Texas. was in the city
recently, and was asked by TRIBUNE representa-
tive about the condition of business and politics III
his state He spoke first of the activity in railway
building which is sign of renewed prosperity
nowhere more apparent than in Texas.
Between 500 and TOO miles Of iron will be put
down this year." he SAID. "The Texas and IA
clfc Company will probably construct about ZOo
miles of track westward from the present terminus
of their main line. l cannot speak with exac'ness
Of their plans because we are not as well informed
in Galveston as 10 the future movements oi the
company as you are in New-York Mr. Pierce, the
owner of the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio
Railroad generally known as the Sunset Route, IN
tends TO build on toward the Rio Grande this sea
son. and will probably lay 100 miles OF new
track. Ii is believed that he will push his
road In a northwestern direction TO Fl Paso to
form junction there with the Southern Paclhc.
The International and Great Northern Road Will,
we expect be extended from Austin to San Antonio
n distance of eighty miles. The construction OF this
portion of the road Is part OF the Original pah anu
hos heen DELAYED on account of the hard times An
extension of the Waco Branch OF the Houston and
Texas Central Road will be built for distance 0l
nearly a hundred miles from waco, AnJuo H.,, 10
miles of road running northwest from dalvestO1
will be opened belonging to the Gull, CIlorad" ana
Sante F6 Company. The Missouri Kansas
and Texas COMPANY sre from 0"b"g penson and
/ suppose will lay nearly 100 miles this year
So much for the wide-gauge roads. lhere are
several narrow gauge roads Ill process Of Gonstruc
tion. One runs both east and west from houston:
The Corpus Christi and Laredo Road Is puttlhg
down forty miles Of track Another & starts IRON
Jefferson. and is called the East ana Nest texas
TarrnwC;aupe 1t will build fifty miles this year.
4 fourth from Texarkana to Tyler, Is nearly COM
neted You will see from all these enterprises that
we are thoroughly alive down III our corner Ol the
| country" ;.t ~ hh
| Improvement at Galveston r.
| Ut is reported that tine Government engineers
are Going to abandon the sunken gablon system
| upon which they have been working ior several
| wears past and have recourse to q wall OF rock
That would he a confession of the failure of the
| gabon plan, would 1t notT ..:.
| "Yes The plan has not realized expectations
| so much is certain" 49,, q,
| What is stirring in your State politicsT
| "Verv little. We haven't much politics III Texas
mat now People are much mOre Interested IN busi-
ness matters and In the deveopmentot OF the State.
| The two factions of the Republican party have
| healed their differences and will hold convention
in a few weeks to select delegates to Chicago. pro-
vided it is decided to keep the party organiza-
| tion. | believe Ex-Governor DAVIS still thinks II
| would be better for the Republcans to lie dormant
for the present and walt for the Democrats 10 dl-
| vide" ii. :. ,u o..o.
nous Democratic majority =. 80, .,. -
There is a good deal of friction inside the party
! between the progressive element and the extreme
| conservatives. The former think the manage
ment of the State Government mas not oeen ss NJ
eral and intelligent it ought to be. Complaint is
made about the abolition of the Immigration
Bureau and the cessation OF efforts to attract set
tiers to Texas and also about the failure TO use the
| magnificent school fund i'll building school houses
and enlarging our present limited educational facIli
| ties Ii is doubtful. however, if any open rupture
will take place in the party pending the Presidential
election A more likely result would be the success
of the liberal element in their efforts to shape the
| policy of the party and take It's management away
| from the BourbOns."