The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-28
Our Rambling Ann-sIossbacksr.
CoRsIcANA, Texas, July 81, 1881

CoRSICANA, Texas, July Il, 1881.
Editor Statesman:
Your correspondent left Austin
on the 9Th inst. for an extended trip
of business nature,and in the mean
time to see what prospects our
beautiful City of Hills might have
for the state university. At Hous-
ton much interest was manifested
regarding the. medical branch, and
various ideas, expressed. AT Gal
weston the same interest was
evinced in the medical depart
ment, each city desiring that
branch and nothing more. OF
course, travelling as private citizen,
with no credentials, / could not
vouchsafe much, and being in that
predicament vouchsafed nothing,
save and except a hearty good wish
for the prosperity of both. Each city
seemed more intent on the "branch"
than any care for Austin's
success. This was but natural, and
we did not quarrel on the point. A
majority of those with whom we
came in contact expressed a prefer
ence for Austin for the university
proper. The next point we reached
was the beautiful little city of Corsi-
cana, the most enterprising, go ahead
city in the interior, city which has
no less than fifteen brick houses in
course of construction, and two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars be-
ing expended in brick and mortar.
At the present time business is flour
ishing, money plenty and everybody
in good spirits. The Texas 81 St.
Louis narrow gauge Is running reg
ular trains from here to Texarkana,
a distance of 203 miles, and it has
but fifteen miles of iron to lay to
complete the line to Waco. The en-
terprlse shown by this young road
in building so rapidly, and
the all important step taken
by it in reducing the railroad fare
to three cents per mile, is the frs /
and important step to a revolution in
railroad passenger and freight
tariffs all over the state. Mark the
prediction. All roads will come to
it sooner or later, and the sooner the
better this is an age of progress
and the next road that follows suit
in reduction of fare will command
the respect, confidence and patron
age of our people, and the roads
that hang on to the exorbitant fare
or five cents per mile will be dis
tanced in trade and the good will of
the people. Under the impetus
given to railroads Texas now pos
sesses too many miles already of con-
structed road to lag in this partlcu-
lar, and with the land grant of the
state, railways will be considered
grasping monopolies if they
persist in keeping the rates
at five cents per mile, when
in other states without sub
sides two cents per mile fare is al
most universal. They must come to
it better for them if they do so
voluntarily, than to be forced by an
arbitrary act of the legislature,
which certainly will be the case if
they delay. If Governor Roberts
were to mingle with the people as
your correspondent has, he would
epbody the subject in his message
to the legislature at its next session,
unless action is taken before that
time by the railroads themselves,
which every friend of such enter
prises sincerely trusts will be the
case. Competition ought to regu-
late commerce, but if instead it pro-
duces combination, then let the
strong arm of the people, by law
enacted, protect the interests OF
the people. A word to the
wise ought to be sufficient
What corporation will follow the
example of the enterprising Texas
g. st. Louis railroad? The Austin &
Northwestern, of course, will, when
constructed, and this reminds me
that the construction of this road is
doing more for Austin among the
| people of the state, in the matter OF
the university, than anything else
She- is now considered one of tho
| enterprising cities of Texas, and al
Texans seem to take just pride in
her prosperity. Now let her old TO
gies unlock their Golfers and build
upon the banks of her beautiful
river manufactures of such pro
portions as will bring wealth to the
investor and give employment, {
home and happiness 10 one hundred
thousand people. Will they do it
or do they still want 5 per cent
per month on small loans tt
poor people as heretofore? L
so, God help their poor grasping
limitations Ofsouls,i.e e. patent insides
Let the STATESMAN continue t.
pour hot shot into them, volley anC
thunder, until they are driven into
the church of 'Wholyness" by them
selves.
The news of the death of Adju
tant-General Jones is received here
his old home, with universal sor
row. S.