The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-03
RAILROAD NOTES.

Five million, seven hundred
thousand dollars worth of bonds of
various Texas railroads were placed
upon the New York stock exchange
on Monday of last week.
The Chicago, Texas and Mexican
railway, begun at Dallas some
months ago, has passed into the
hands of the Santa Fe company,
this organization desiring a western
outlet Independent of the Gould
system.
Work on the New Orleans Pacific
is progressing rapidly. The track
laying on the western end of the
road is being pushed forward at the
rate of two miles per day and on the
eastern end two and a half miles
per day. The management intends
keeping its Christmas promise if
possible.
From Victoria the New York,
Texas and Mexican railway will be
extended TO the City of Mexico, but
by what route has not yet been de-
fnitely ascertained, though it is
more than probable that it will
strike the Rio Grande very close to
the point that was intended by the
Galveston and Camargo railroad
projectors. Ii is said the road
will be completed to Victoria
by February next. Three iron
bridges tor the road are on the way
to Texas, one for the Colorado
river. at Wharton.
The Sunset road is now completed
about ninety miles west of san An
tonic, and the grading is about
finished to San Felipe, $50 miles 10
the westward. Mr.. Van Vie, one
of the contractors says that after the
Frio is crossed the only material de-
Laws will be at the Leona and the
Nueces. Material i'll abundance is
lying all along the track, awaiting
shipment to the front. The road
will pass about eight miles from
Bracket, and passes only about Il
half mile from San Felipe. Mr.. Van
Vie thinks that a town will be
started in the vicinity of the Eagle
Pass tap, adjacent 10 which is per-
manent lake of water and fine
country all about. The understand
ing is that the Sunset company will
continue their WORK as far as the
Pecos, where the Southern Pacific
will be met. Mr.. Van VIE also says
that he was informed by Captain
Hood, in charge of the Southern Pa
cific engineering forces, that the
company desired to push the road
through as rapidly as possible, and
would sacrifice much money in do
ing so. Also, that both the Sunset
and Southern Pacific companies had
now sufficient forces in the field to
bring the roads together within
eight months. Captain Hood is now
camped at the mouth of Devil s
river, but will shortly move west
ward toward the Pecos.
The following items of news re-
garling the Mexican Central rail-
way. taken from the It0o Republics,
will be found of interest: The Tajo
de Nochistongo is bonnd to live be-
fore the public and the question of
its safety be made the text for
many a newspaper article. In the
numerous papers of the city letters
periodically appear prODhesying all
sorts of dire evils sure to occur
sooner or later if trains are permit
ted to run through the Nochistongo
Pass. Since the recent terrible
Morelos disaster croakers have
sprung up by hundreds, and opinions
are freely ventured that the slaugh-
30, - ha
be nowhere in comparison to the
accident that is bound to occur to
some train while passing through
the ill-fated NochistOngo. The re-
cent heavy rains and the alleged
washing under of the embankment
have once more brought the croak-
ers,to the front. An Investigation
into the actual condition of the
Tajo de Nochistongo ought to
thoroughly set at rest these wild
reports concerning its safety.
Since the work of sloping the en-
bankment and filling in below has
been completed there is no safer
pass in the world than Nochistongo
to-day, and the many paragraphs to
the contrary can only have their or
| igin in the minds of their authors.
| 1t is only charitable to think that
none of them have ever seen the
pass. The heavy rains referred to
have made no impression upon
the filling, which has been most
thoroughly done, and the dirt wall
which formerly lowered perpendic-
uiarly above the track has been cut
away to such an angle as to render
q land slide impossible. In short
the Tajo de Nochistongo is as safe
as il can be made by human fore,
sight. Rails have been laid for GO
kilometres beyond Tula, making a
continuous track of over 152 kilom-
] etres from Mexico. 1t is expected
that the Central will reach Irapuata
distance of 351 kilometres, by the
end of the month, and by the 10th
of November the probabilities are
that not man will be working upon
construction between this city and
Irapuata. The Central railroad
company is given to the end Of
this year to reach Irapuata, when
there will be due from the govern.
ment subsidies to the amount OF
$2,375,0O0. The Central has recent
ly made contract for 10000 tons OF
rails at cost of S6,0O0,000.
| -s-