The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-09
River Rpmanee and Rnterprise.

lthNCl 1AVuu4HLC anu AlltCA UIAHCt
Any one who will take the pains to |
inquire will be gratified at the ro-
mantle interest exhibited by some of |
the citizens of Austin in contribut-
ing to their enjoyment, not exactly of |
a life on the ocean wave" but some |
thing of kindred pleasure, life on the |
Rio Colorado, whose anon clear and
placid or turbid and murky waters, as
the case may be, gently ripple or
fiercely surge along its winding and
majestic course from the hills to the
gulf. Either the gentle breeze and
pebbly bottom in combined resistance
play in musical ripples upon its shall
low waters; or, its profounder depths
are stirred by the fierce contention of
storm and flood into the no less mu-
steal but reSounding notes of the
oceans roar.
There is a fascination in water,
whether ebbing from springs, falling
in snow flakes, or CONCEALED into ice;
whether drilling from the clouds
or pouring down in volumes "as
though great auger holes had
been bored in the sky" whether it
courses through ripping streams or
majestic rivers; whether it wells up
into fairy ponds like that near Bar
tons spring, or accumulates into the
vast eXpanse of sea or ocean. 1t is
passing strange, then, that so fine a
stream as the Colorado should skirt
city like Austin without find
ing more VOtarieS to the
sports and pleasures Of boating
bathing, fishing, sailing, picnicing,
lOVemaking or otherwise romancing
upon its inviting waters, as they wind
through shaded receSses, rocky shores
or deftlS ''put-in-bay" retreats. all cal
culated to excite the most pleasing
interest and afford enjoyment even to
the most transient tenant. Some
even delight in holding life tenantry
upon the very bosom of the river, and,
in one instance, we Wot of the abode
in comfortable quartered boat, with
all the conveniences of home-a
bachelors home it is true-but move
able from shore to shore upon the
broad unassessed surface of the Col
orado. Unlike Barkis' abode it is not
"a boat stood on end" but
snug floating habitation, saved from
week after having gotten loose in a
storm and been lost for some time, till
it was discovered stranded high and
dry upon plantation below the city,
and was finally purchased for its pres
ent purposes.
The "City of Austin" is the present
name of comparatively snug craft,
lying at our wharf-if Austin can
still be said to have wharf as it did
when this boat, in river parlance,
piled actively between ''this port" and
Barton's creek and upper land
ings' on the Colorado, and was ex-
pected to coin money instead of
proving dead failure, as she did to
her enterprising owners. Among
other features at our wharf is hand
some sail and fishing boat belonging
to some gentleman of the land Office
who is known for his devotion to
aquatic and piscatorial sports. Mr..
Thompson also has neat little craft
which has no mean pretensionS as
pleasure yacht. But the nonpareil of
them all in the completeness of its
pleasure affording appointments will.
be the unique little steamer which
Mr.. CouShOn has about completed and
which will be admirably adapted for
pleasure parties, if such is his object,
on more comprehensive scale. 1t is
nothing less than nicely modelled
craft of about nine feet beam by
thirty-siX feet keel, to be run by steam
and wheel power, is comfortably
canopied and provided with seats for
about twenty passengers, and with all
draws only about three inches of
water so as to readily pass over the
ShoaleSt places. An excursion is con-
templated as soon as the festive little
steamer is finished, when we antici-
pate pleasure in being of the party.
In addition to these features of our
wharf, there is bathing establish
ment near the river bridge. which is
conducted by Mr.. Griffith, and as far
as it goes, is desideratum: and this
brings the writer to notice another
enterprise intended to meet the
further wants of the community in a
very desirable manner in the shape of
COMBINED BATH HOUSE AND GYM
NASIUM.
Quite a number of prominent citi-
zens of Austin have already contrib
uted quite freely to the Inauguration
of this enterprise by subscribing for
large amount of the stock necessary
to put it into operation. 1t will be
conducted under the charge of Prof.
G. Fl. Hammersley, gentleman spe-
cially educated and experienced in the
line of physical instruction. The es-
tablishment will be very COM
plete in its arrangements and
in course of time suitable provision,
perhaps, will be made for ladies as
well as gentlemen. To extend the
sentiment in favor of the under
taking and prevent any monopoly
of the profits, which are expected to
accrue to the stockholders, the price
of the shares is fixed at small figure,
the sense of the subscribers generally
being to contribute to physical and
social rather than mere monetary con-
sideration, and to this end to have a
large circle of contributors. The
enterprise, it is stated, has already as
sumed such measure of success as to
warrant call meeting of the pres
ent subscribers to devise means for
immediate organization. This should
be effected at once and the establish
ment put into operation as soon as
possible. THE STATESMAN wishes all
such enterprises success.