The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14
LIGHT AHEAD.
Austin May Yet Be Released from
Railroad Pools.

In his diurnal rotation Friday,
a STATESMAN reporter discovered an
item of information which he believes
will bring thrill of pleasure TO every
reader in this city, and especially to
the business men and property own
ers, who are vitality interested in our
future commercial prosperity.
1t is a well known fact that for a
long time past the railroads running
into Austin have pooled their several
interests in the way of transportation,
to the detriment of the mercantile
interests of this city. The charges
on freight to and from Austin are in
many instances out of all proportion,
when compared with the tariffs
to other points along the. line. For
instance, cotton can be shipped from
Kyle to Galveston, via San Antonio,
for less than it can by way of Austin,
although the distance by the former
route is one-third greater. On all
kinds of freight there seems to be an
unjust discrimination in favor of 9TH
er places and against our own CITY.
This is wrong; but how is the wrong
to be righted? The citizens and the
business men of Austin and Travis
county have it in their own hands to
do as they will. If they will harmo-
nlously come together and make up
their minds to bring about the desired
result, they can do so, and every fair
thinking man will admit that the re-
suit will be beneficial. And here is
THE GRAND OPPORTUNITY:
The Santa Fe railway syndicate have
expressed their willingness and desire
to build branch road from this city
to some point along their line between
Mllano junction and BRENNAN, pro-
viding the city of Austin and Travis
county will cooperate with them and
lend proper assistance. They are wait
ing for some overtureS looking to that
end, and the citizens of Austin cannot
do better than at once hold meeting
and discuss the matter, so as to bring
it to focus. If some prominent bus
mess men will step forward and inau-
gurate the movement, we feel conf
dent that the citizens generally will
look it fairly and squarely in the face
and lend a helping hand, Tor they can
not fail to see the vast benefits that |
this thing would bring when eonsum-
mated. The Santa Fe men are in
earnest about this, and only want Il |
little encouragement to induce them |
to go ahead and give us the road. Ii |
would be complete revolution |
IN the transportation of local freights. |
Competition is the life of trade" and |
if Austin gets more. railroad egress |
md ingress, she will soon spring up |
INTO model commercial city. Ii she |
does not she will never be anything
more tkan the capital Of the state.
1t is also rumored that if this branch |
road is built to Austin. it will soon be
extended to Fredericksburg, which
will open up a still wider field for
commercial enterprise. If freights in
all directions are reasonably low, fac
tories will spring up, and general
prosperity will be the result. There
is no chance for manufacture, unless
there be ample facilities for sending
the goods out on the market. 1t is to
be hoped that the people of this city
will think seriously of this, and then
go to work and give us another rail-
road.