The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-27
The Buena Vista and Walnut Streets Folly.

The Buena Vista and Walnut Streets Folly.
Straws show which way the wind blows,
and the smallest events are often the turning
points in the futures of men and communities.
The controversies that have arisen out Of the
opening Of two outside streets Of our city
Buena Vista on the west side and Walnut on
the east side of the city--has turned away from
our city the possibility of securing the estab-
lishment Of the large workshops of the two
railroad trunk lines passing through to the
Pacific an the City of Mexico.
Buena Vista street was discovered just
about the time the International railway COM
pany were preparing to erect temporary shop ,
and after tussle with the city council the rail-
road men retired, and the city pushed this
street through the railroad reservation, cutting
it in two. The building Of the shops was at
an end, and we have heard nothing more
about them, only that there is talk of building
them at Laredo.
Walnut street was selected by the city coun-
Gil for the right-of-way for the Sunset road to
pass through the eastern portion of the city
The street had never been cut out, and in des-
ignating it the brush had to be cut away to give
the engineers a chance to take their
bearings. The road was built along this street
upon the grade furnished by the city engineer.
but was no sooner done than few individuals
began to agitate an opposition to the road,
| and Mr.. Pierce was bullied and outraged
about not maintaining crossings and arraigned
at the instance of one or two parties before the
recorder and fined. In the mean while the
matter OF establishing the workshops of the
Sun Set and Texas Pacific roads was under
consideration. Maj. Converse was in favor
of Houston, but Mr.. Pierce was thought to
favor San Antonio our citizens made an Of
fer of suitable site. But the Walnut street
agitators, did not cease their petty war on the
railroad. Mr.. Pauly was elected alderman,
on this issue and Maj. Converse was arrested
and harrassed until at the last meeting Of the
council he agreed to fill up the street in 20
days if that would settle it. But alderman
Pauly was not to be modified even by this offer.
| Now we hear that Houston gets these work
shops simply by building bridge over the
bayou.
Buena Vista street is not used. Walnut
street is only crossed by country roads.
Alderman Pauly is gratiied with his victory,
so are the Buena Vista street agitators, and
San Antonio loses the establishment of indus
tries that would have yielded half-million
or more dollars year to our income as a
community.
San Antonio, by reason Of its hcalthlulness
and its water power and its situation, is the
best place for the machine shops Of the rail-
roads of any point in the state, but the display
Of opposition, however tritiing it may appear
to the public in general, lost us the favor OF
the railroad men.
When Mr.. Huntington was here the other
day, and looked over the ground for suitable
location for workshops, the Walnut street
troubles turned the tables against San An
tonic. Major Converse will have his sweet
revenge on his Prosecutors lie would put
down tirSt-class pavement on Walnut street.
and furnish the aldermen of the fourth ward
| with parlor skates to travel on it, rather than
lose the qualification of establishing the works
| at Houston.