The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-04-21

SOUTHWESTERN
Tuesday morning at IL o'clock the fol-
lowing gentlemen met at Forster 81 Co.'S.
bank TO consider the practicability of pro-
jecting railway through the rich and pro-
porous counties lying northwest of this
city. Capt. Walsh, Commissioner OF Gen.
eral Land Office, DR.. NJ. A. Taylor, Col.
John Pope, r. Bertram, A. p. Woodbridge,
Joseph Harrell, Major A. J. McCreery,
DR.. j. j. Tobin, Leander Brown. Ed.
Christian, J. A. Hopper, Major Purnell,
p. Decordova. Col. John W. Glenn, Mr..
Swancoat. Alfred Smith, George Warren,
Mr.. Forster, Mr.J K. Graves, and Mia.
Rhomberg, the two latter gentlemen be-
ing prominent and wealthy citizens of
Dubuque, Iowa.
MIR. FRANCIS b. FORSTER.
in few timely and appropriate remarks
set the ball in motion by stating the OBJ
ject of the meeting was TO consider the
feasibility of constructing narrow gauge
railroad Immediately to Burnet, San Saba,
or Lampasas, and the counties northwest
of Austin. He stated that Mr.. Graves and
ROmberg were men of wealth and expe-
rience i'll railway enterprises, and that
with proper inducements, they were
ready to commence work at once to pro-
ject and equip line of railway from
Austin to Burnet or Lampasas or
such point or points as would
pay best and rebound to the material
welfare of the city OF Austin. This meet
ing is informal, and has been called to
exchange views and consult about the
best measures to be adopted to secure the
desired end. The people of Burnet are
anxious for the road, and have a letter
Mr. I Tnhnonn nf off
ing FIVE hundred city lots, together with
other property to the amount of 100000
to the road. Our visitors desire to know
what inducement the people of Austin
are willing to offer them to invest in the
enterprise, and build and equip the road
out fifty miles in time to carry off the next
crop. On motion of Captain Walsh
MAJOR A. ]. McCREERY
was elected president of the meeting.
He made a few earnest remarks, favoring
the move and expressed an earnest de-
sire that the project would be carried to
a successful contamination.
DIR. NJ. A. TAYLOR
| who has been most active in endeavoring
to get a road through the section OF
country alluded to, gave some valuable
and interesting Information in regard to
the practicability of building the road. He
was satisfied the citizens living along the
proposed line would contribute literally
in the way of lands, ties and labor. He
believed the road would be paying in
vestment, and that within ten years it
would rank among the most important in
the state. He, like Mr.. Forster, was in
receipt of letters from Burnet and San
Saba, offering liberal inducements to any
company to construct the road.
CAPT. WALSH
stated that there were eight or ten mil
lion acres of public lands subject to loca-
I .
railway company was entitled to sixteen
sections of land for every mile of road
constructed. Several other gentlemen
gave their opinions about the matter in
hand, and
MIR. WOODBRIDGE
suggested that a committee be appointed
to confer with Mr.. Graves and Rhomberg
and learn from the gentlemen when and
where they intended to build the propOs-
ed road and what inducements they eX-
pected from the citizens of Aus
tin. On motion of Captain Walsh
the chair appointed the following COM
mittee: DR.. NJ. A. Taylor, chairman, F.
B. Forster, r. Bertram, ]. j. Tobin, John
Pope, A. P. Woodbridge, Ed. Christian
Creepy was added to the committee, and
the meeting adjourned to convene at 4
o'clock.
The committee and Mr.. Graves and
Romberg Immediately held a meeting,
and after considerable discussion all
round, the two gentlemen stated they
were ready to commence work and build
the road provided the citizens of Austin
donate them $1,000 per mile, the same
amount to be paid upon the completion
of fifty miles of the road. If this was not
acceptable they were willing to under
take the enterprise if the citizens will
agree to join them and take 100000 in
Il II L
until O'Clock.
AT THE HOUR
named the committee assembled, and af-
ter consultation, reported that they be-
lieved $500 per mile, for one hundred
miles of road, could be raised here in
Austin by subscriptions of stock and do
nations. Mr.. Graves and RhOmberg ac-
cepted the proposition, provided dona-
tiOns and subscriptions promised by GER
tain citizens of Burnett county came up
to the amount indicated. The following
committee was then appointed to see
what amount of stock and donations
could be raised in this city and
to select ten gentlemen as incorporators,
like number to be selected by Mr..
well, DR.. NJ. A. Taylor, F. b Forster,
Col. John Pope, J. j. Tobin, R. Bertram,
X. M. Castleman, E. Bremond, Ed. Chris
tian, III. Hirshfeld, VIM. Brueggerhoff
and Leander Brown. 1t was decided to
take out charter Immediately, and the
young bantling, that it is hoped will
soon swell into strong manhood. was
dubbed, 1.-The Austin and Northwest
Railroad" Here certain mysterious
movements of Mr.. Forster attracted
attention, and in a short time he
had sparkling champagne set before the
guest, and the health of all present and
the success of the new enterprise was
drank. During this time the names of
j. A. Rhomberg, as president. and DR.. N.
A.Taylor, as vice president of the Austin
Northwestern railroad. were mentioned,
and undoubtedly the two gentlemen will
be selected. The committee and all in
terested will meet this morning at
Forster q Co.'s bank at half
past ten O'Clock. 1t is the desire of all
concerned that the meeting be full this
morning, rs incorporators will be selected
and the charter taken out to-day, so as to
enable Mr.. Rhomberg to leave to attend
to pressing and important business.
Mr.. Graves was compelled to leave last
night. These two gentlemen evidently
mean business, and say If everything Is
satisfactorily arranged they will have fif-
ty miles of the road in running order
within six months.