The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-02
THE WATER POWER OF THE
COLORADO-MIL AND
FACTORIES

The STATESMAN takes a deep in
terest in all things calculated to add
to the material prosperity of Austin
and to the advancement of its COM
mercial interests. 1t has urged the
building of railways and mills, and
manufactures, and above all the
utilization of this vast water power
which passes our very doors. AS
Austin grows in architectural beau
ty the STATESMAN would have it
advance in business and CONNER
cial prosperity. Nature set a
charm upon these hills and
about the environs of this beautiful
river and its famed western tribu-
tary, that makes it treasured spot
in the hearts of Texans, and while
moulded domes and mounting
spires kiss these clear and beautiful
skies the busy hum of industry
should send tidings far and near
that the people of this Capitol City
respond in energy and toll and use
fulness to the distinctions conferred
upon it. 1t is for this reason that
the STATESMAN, a few days ago,
took special pride in tell
ing of the reorganization
of most creditable enterprise in our
midst, which now promises to prove
to the commercial and manufac-
turing world that these boasts
about favored location are not idle.
Austin now has one of the most
perfect Touring mills in the state,
in fact, as far as perfection is con-
cerned, one of the best in the United
States. The management of the
Colorado Mills is at last perfect,
and nothing is in the way
of proving that as good
flour may be made at Austin as
comes from St. Louis or any other
market. The opening of direct rail-
way connection between Texas and
California has given a new chan
mel for wheat supply, and the wheat
now being used at the above men,
toned mills is as good as any. Mr..
Koerber has been very fortunate
too in securing the services of one
of the most accomplished millers in
the United States, Mr.. Tom Code,
who is an adept in the production
of flour. Such facts as these
becoming known makes it
only question of time
when demand will be made upon
the Austin market for more home
made -four than these mills can sup
ply. They must then be greatly en-
arged or others must be built. The
water power supplied by the Colo
RADIO, is as the STATESMAN has often
before urged, enough to drown
many such mills as these, and we
hope that others will be speedily es-
tablished not necessarily Touring
mills, but cotton seed oil mills, cot
ton and wooden mills and manufac-
turies of all kinds. A few gen.
tlemen are now agitating the
question of establishing a
cotton seed oil mill, and using for
it the same power that moves the
Colorado Touring mills. Why this
enterprise should not at once be in
augurated is strange. There is
money in oil making, and Austin
being in the midst of a great cotton
producing region, could sustain such
mills with more profit than most
places. A number of cotton mills
have been established in Texas, and
all OF them are making money,
while being forced, because
Of their locations, to use steam
power. Here the water power can
lie obtained at smaller expense than
snywhere in the southwest, and why
in few years almost the entire cot
ton seed oil production of Texas
should not be carried on along the
banks of the Colorado river, in sight
of Austin, is difficult to understand.
1t would even pay the cotton seed
mill owners at Hampstead and
other places to move their ma
chinery to Austin to apply water
power. The dam at the Colora-
do Mills can be raised so as
to produce twelve or fifteen hun
dred horse power, and another
, and another dam may be con-
structed above the city, in all
giving five or ten thousand horse
power for moving machinery. That
is what the STATESMAN wants,
and what it has often urged; it
wants our mills enlarged and
the power used besides for
cotton seed oil production and
for moving woolen and cotton
mills; and then it wants an
other dam below Mount Bonne
and another below the mouth of
Bull creek, all creating power for a
number and variety of mills. The
STATESMAN is gratified that the re-
organization of the Colorado Mills,
under Mr.. Koerber's able manage
ment. is awaking the people to q
sense of what may be achieved for
Austin, simply by the utilization of q
great power that nature has pro-
vided at our very doors. The Aus
tin and Northwestern railway is
now sending its powerful little
engines toward the north,
to tap a rich agricul-
tural. grazing and mineral region
1t is an Austin enterprise of which
the STATESMAN is proud, and while
it opens up new fields for trade LEI
this trade be made permanent by
producing, through the agency OF
} manufactures at Austin, base OF
} supply and demand which may with
} stand all competition. This little
narrow gauge road will be followed
} by another and another, and to pre-
: vent them from running a trunl
/ line to deep water,s or some othel