The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-02
Special kilograms.
HOUSTON.
Especial to the Statesman. !


HoUsToN, July 29-The train of colored
eNcursionists arrived home from San Antonio
tonight, and report that us the train passed
over the Cib0lO bridge across the Guadalupe
Richard johnson, one of the eXcursiOnists, was
Knocked of thr cars by Il bridge brace, John
son falling through the bridge. The train was
stopped and the unfortunate negro picked up,
but was found To be insensible, being terribly
bruised about the head. He was brought TO
Columbus, his home, and left there. 1t is
thought that he cannot recover.
Your correspondent interviewed Mai. 0lcott,
civil engineer of the New York, Texas
and Mexican railroad. and he was told
that surveying party was in the field
between here and Rosenberg, and Major
Olcott stated that the company was only wait
ing for Houston TO donate the right of way:
that Count Teliener did not ask subsidy, but
must be given certain right of way desired,
or the road would not come The citizens
seem TO be rather lukeWarm on the subject.
1t Is of the utmost Importance that the road
should be brought here, as all the coast coun-
ties which now send their trade to Galveston
would then pour their wealth into the lap OF
Houston. If the road is built it will enter
Houston from the west, above the head OF
navigation, in order to avoid the expense OF
building "a draw bridge over the bayou as
would have to be done should ii enter this town
lower down, and the terminus will be in the
fifth ward.
Mrs. Walter Sherman hitched her horse and
buggy at the corner of Travis and Congress
streets and went shopping. When she re-
turned the horse and buggy were missing,
thief or property.
The telegraph operators strike remains in
statu quo. The conduct of the striking oper-
atorS here eXcites general commentator, none
OF them having forgotten that they are gentle
men.
Col. j. R. Taylor, of Chicago is here to put
in operation arrangements for having his rail
road push d from Rosenberg junction to the
mouth OF the BraZOs. 1t Will be remembered
that he took out a charter i'll September, 1880.
for the BraZoS, Mound City and Northern rail-
road. Dppln HemDStpad
mouth of the BraZos river via. ROSenburg, and
thence to Columbia, to BraVoria and to NelaS-
co. Learning that Col. Taylor was in Houston,
and knowing that the building of this road
would add ten-fold valuation to the best lands
in the world, and make the city and port at
the mouth of the Brazos the best harbor on
the Texas coast, your reporter sought and OBJ
tanned an interview as follows:
RepOrter-Colonel Taylor, who are at
the head OF your road besides you?
Col. Taylor-Well, the officers are rs follows
Eoard of directors, w. z. johnson, secretary,
and J. r. and w. r. Taylor, W. W. Cannon,
and W H. Rogers, all of Chicago except Can
non. The officers are, b. ID. Damon, preSi-
dent; A. Underwood, treasurer; w. w. Can
non, secretary, all of BraZoria county, T Xas,
and myself, general manager and superin-
tendent.
Reporter-Are you going to build the road
Immediately?
Taylor-That depends, although think
will, If mistake not the sentiment of the peO-
Beporter-What do you mean by that?
t'aylor-Simply that am not going to build
til road for glory. know what such a road
WI do for the country through
VI IL L will run, ond 1 do nol
pp use to enrich everybody there unless they
ID little. The other railroads in Texas got
SEED II sections, or 10, $40 acres per mile. Ill
I'D my road to the mouth of the BraZos if
tpf Ople give thousand acres. From Rosen-
d. JUNCTION to the mouth of the BraZOs is
iXty-ive miles. # the people will give me
$4,000 acres of land, which is only as much as
other roads received for six miles, I'll build the
road. This surely is reasonable.
Reporter-Are you prepared to push the
work?
Taylor-Yes l have positive arrangements
made 10 begin by the first of September and
build one mile a day, if the conditions are all
met; if not III give up the charter and use my
money III other ways. Charter and all is
paid for and have enough left to live on, and
will give the whole thing up if | do not get 1000
acres to the mile. If l do, the road will be
built III a few months. Arrangements are all
made and l will deposit all the money needed
i'll national bank at Houston, to be drawn
out by Urea surer A. Underwood as soon as the
conditions are met. Imean business
Several solid men of Houston with whom
your reporter conversed on the subject, were
of the opinion the building of this road would
open up the mouth OF the Brazos and make it
the largest port in the state i'll less than ten
years. Only a small amount of work is neces-
Sary to maile the water deep enough for the
largest ships on the bar, and the river is very
deep and perfectly safe. No one doubts the
1000 acres to the mile can be easily raised to
build the road.
Never in the history of Houston were so
many costly and substantial improvements
going on. IL resembles Austins boom.