The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-15
Houston VS., Austin.

Texas has no fairer town than
her own beautiful capital city. 1t |
is a regal queen in the grand advan-
tages nature has lavished upon her. In |
all America there is no more beautiful
spot naturally. And yet even with
the advantage of being the capital of
d great state, being most favorably
situated IN every way to do an i'm
mense trade, and fasten herself on the
business policies of the state, yet she
does nothing, or comparatively moth
ing, other than a mere local business,
which compares with Houston, Gal
weston, San Antonio, Dallas and
Fort Worth, about as a peddler's
petty operations do to the business
operations of Lord s. Taylor, A. T
Stewart and other houses of that
class. There is an explanation, and
we seek for it, not to wound and pain
Austonians, but to point out a way
by which these things may be
remedied, and Austin take the place,
commercially, which these adyant-
ages entitle her to, but of which she
has been robbed hitherto by a notion
of mistaken economy, not to call it by
the harsher, but truer name, parsi.
moniousness. This difference in lib
erality and enterprise between Hous-
to and Austin has been beautifully
illustrated by the grand interstate
drill held there, and which closed SO
successfully the other day. c We have
as much money here as they have in
Houston, we have population not
inferior, we have facilities and access
cries which theycan never have, and yet
we play in the game of business sue
cess and business consideration away
behind Houston. Why is it? Is ii
because our monied men lack the en-,
terprise and liberality of those OF
Houston? Houston raised twenty
five thousand dollars for hel
late military festival. Gould
that sum have been raised
here2 The simple fact is, the expen
diture was well and wisely made
This affair was and will remain {
feather in the cap of Houston fol
years. The good effects of the affair
will last, and its fair fruits will b.
gathered in rich harvests for years t.
come. We need just that sort Of lib
eral enterprise here in Austin.
Perhaps the main difficulty her
is found in the fact that our ricl
people have made their money il
fortunate advance in real estat
favorably located, in cattle operations
or in governmental privileges, etc
and not in commercial or speculativ,
enterprises requiring those liberal com
binations which reach and ramify t.
the deepest depths, as to the outer cir
Gle of social life. We do not cavi
at the mode by which Austin ha
grown rich, but we do say that tn
conditions are changed completed,
and she must hold her trade, and viii
new patronage in active competition
with such business points as Houston
, and Galveston, and she must rely up
on the intelligently constructed an,
success-producing modes and comb
nations which the others have used s.
effectively.
, Before quitting this subject we wisl
most heartily to commend the actiol
of Houston throughout the en-
tire week of festivity1just passed
Her hospitality was superb. He
preparations upon scale of iberalit
both in expenditure and ample prepa
ration most commendable indeed. He
people of all classes and ranks in If
did well and Wed with each other t.
make the occasion one of pure pleas
ure to every stranger and every Wis
itor who came within reach of he
elegant and lavish hospitality. 1t wa
well done 1t was nobly done, an
we glory in the social distinction
the venerable old character-city of tn
state has legltimately and fairly VOL
and we feel not single pang of jeal
ousy, but would urge Austin to imi
, tate her virtues in this respect, an,
urge it earnestly.