San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-04-16
AUSTIN LETTER.
Carl SAYTHK.
AusrIs, April 18th, 1886

EDITOR FREE PRESS: HE Nine
teenth Legislature is thing OF his
tory, and while by many it has beer
criticised, it compares favorably will
previous legislatures, No grea
wrong has been done the people with
one exception-that OF the enactment
Land Law. II is hoped that the
Governor will have the manliness 10
veto it, yet il is claimed by the
friends OF the measure that he will
permit it 10 become q law without his
signature. The Galveston News
claims that tho governor is thinking
too much OF his race for United
States Senator to dare veto it, There
is no doubt something in this, or the
result might be different.
The question Of "Granite or Lime
stono," has been settled, and to the
disappointment Of the masses of the
people the Capitol will be construct
ed according to first plans and speci.
fications. 1t will be an elegant struc
ture even then, but to have been
made of granite as Blasting as the
hills would have been superlatively
grand.
A report grew current upon the
streets few days ago that the CAPT
tol contractors had thrown up their
job. 1t spread like wild fire and Gre
ated quite commotion among the
working classes. Colonel Babcock
was sought and put to quiet the re-
port by denying it in toto and stating
that the capitol would be built by the
contractors and within the time spec
flied by the contract. 1t finally set
ties all reports to the contrary.
The city is quiet and the hotels
and boarding houses look deserted.
There seem to be no servant girls"
now, though Austin is filled
class of "dead beats" unknown to
any other city in the state Some Of
them came here years ago, presuma-
bly, to get pull at the public crib.
They infest the Halls of every legis-
lature asking endorsements for pub
lie patronage with great confidence
and assumed dignity. In almost ev-
cry instance they are utterly unfit for
public service either by moral worth
or education, and the readiness by
which some members signed their ap-
plications is mystery. am proud
to state, however, that neither the
gentleman from Hays or Caldwell
gave their influence to such villainy.
The last few days of the legislature
members were busily engaged fixing
up their states. 1t is amusing to
watch these place seekers wrangling
with themselves. The sudden change
of the Statesman toward Mr.. Swain is
amusing to one who watches the
course of events carefully. During
the early days of the Legislature it
was particularly severe on Col. Swain,
but a change has come over it's
dreams. But as the Statesman has
generally been correct in its political
of men and measures I am
inclined to accept it now as ortho-
dox.
Market gardening near the city of
Austin has grown to be very pro6ta-
BILE. A proprietor of 81 acre mark
ct garden in the suburbs of the city
told me few days ago that he took
in $4,000 on his little farm during
the last year. There is no doubt of
the correctness of the assertion as it
has always been looked upon as a
highly profitable business. Irish po-
tatoes sell readily early in the spring
for three and four dollars a bushel,
and of the earliest varieties an acre
will produce about two hundred
bushels. They are taken off by May
18th and the ground planted in sweet
potatoes which yield is also very
large, and if the frost does not come
too soon, yield from two to three
hundred bushels per acre. They com
mand a good price the year round.
About December the potatoes are
dug and the land planted in mustard,
onions and turnips. These are sold
by March LIST, and the same crop is
planted again. During December,
January and February the land is
highly MANFRED from droppings gath
cred at the different stables in the
city. From twenty to thirty wagon
loads are placed upon every acre, and
the raridity of the growth of the veg
citation planted is remarkable. Horse
manure is heating in its nature and
rapid and vigorous growth.
An egg farm has recently been es-
tablished near the city. In my next
will give your readers an account of
its management and arrangement
Fowl raising is growing in popular