The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-16


TO the eastward of the land office, and
on the heights that crown the farther
banks of Waller creek, is the State Asy
lum for the Blind. This is one of the
largest institutions of the kind in the
south. The central building is three
stories, with wings of two stories, all hay-
ing
A FRONTAGE OF 270 FEET,
and containing seventy rooms,
halls and apartments. There is
over 100 pupils, of either sex
from all parts of the state.
1t is an eleemosynary institution, sup
ported by the state. One of the most
naturally beautiful places of interest In
the vicinity of Austin is the Lunato Asy-
lum, situated Cd an elevated plateau,
some two miles north of the city, and the
dome of whose main building is visible
from Capitol hill, looking up from the
green foliage of the magnificent park
surrounding the asylum. The buildings
are of brick and stone, large, massive and
roomy.
The total number of patients treated
for the year ending October 81, 1886, was
773, of whom males 426, females 345.
The total cost of running the institution
during the same period, was $4,000, or
about $168 per head.
The Lunatic Asylum buildings are two
to four stories in height, and, from first
to last, cost the state 100000.
The institution for the Deaf and Dumb
of Texas occupies commodious buildings,
situated on the south bank of the river,
amid beautiful groves of oak and other
kraac md which looms mn xuitp Hra afraot
as prominent object in the picturesque
scenery on the river at that point. 1t is
reached from the splendid iron bridge,
belonging to the county, elsewhere no.
ticed.
The number of pupils, deaf mutes,
cared for is 100. The situation is so sal
ubrious that no death has occurred at this
asylum during the year ending November
1, 1886, and only 500 was paid for med
ical services during that period. The
Deaf and Dumb asylum commands mag
nifcent view of the city 1t is said that
Jefferson Davis, ex-president of the Con
federate States, in the presence of several
leading citizens of Austin, viewing Austin
from the site of thi, asylum, remarked he
had never in his travels seen such beau
tifIl natural location for city as there
was presented to him.
From the list of Austin's public build
ings must not be omitted the United
States postoffice, corner of Sixth and
Colorado streets, erected by the govern
ment about five years ago, at a cost of
$225,000. 1t is handsome four-story
stone structure.
AUSTIN AS A BUSINESS CENTER.
Austins business growth has steadily
kept pace with its commercial progress.
1t is the center of a healthy and increas-
ing trade. drawn from one of the richest
and most fertile regions of Central
Texas-containirg lands that, with good
season, make 30 to 40 shells of corn, and
one to one and half bales of cotton to
the acre. Besides, it is good stock and
grazing Countrywide soil being black
land or red, or chocolate loan, noted for
it's fertility. The counties tributary to
Austin's trade are Caldwell, Bastrop,
Gillespie, Williamson, Llano, Burnet,
Mason and Blanco. Being railroad
center, it is connected by rail with large
portion of this territory-and over the
International d Great Northern, the Aus
tin branch of the Houston d Texas Cen
trail, and the Austin & Northwestern Mar
row Gauge. The latter road at present
terminates at Burnet, 60 miles In the
northwest, but is soon to be extended
west to Mason, and penetrating rlch
stock and grazing region.
The city is directly connected with tne
fine agricultural region south OF the Coio-
RADIO, by magnificent free, iron bridge,
owned by the county OF Travis, ana
which cost the county $4,000. .
The annual shipments from Austin, OF
leading products in round numbers, are
as follows: Cotton, 10000 bales; valued,
S1,5OO,OOO; wool, 100000 pounds, value,
S125.OOO; hides, 100000 pounds, value
$4,000; lime, IS 600 barrels, value, Soo,-
900; grain and hay, $4,000; live stock'
100000.
The total value of shipments approx
mates S2,OO0,O00. Nearly 5O'ooo bales Oh
cotton are com pressed here annually.
The total value of the manufacturing
industries of Austin, including mourning
mills, ice factories, brick and marble
works, printing establishments, COTTON
CONGRESS, foundry and soap works, har-
ness and saddle making, patent medicine
manufactures, oil works, Cigar making'
copper, tin, zinc and iron WORKS. manu-
facturers of furniture, brooms,' ETC., ex-
ceeds S5OOOOO. In addition to these
sources of revenue to the commerce OF
Austin, oyer 100000 is being annually
distributed by the contractors OF the ne"
state ca, itol for the construction OF the
same. Also the money turned loose oy
the state in payment of services OF ON
oials in the various departments, ana IL
the purchase of supplies for the various
asylums and public institutions, estln a'eo
to approximate 100000.
BANKS.
Anstin is we'll supplied with banking
facilities. There are three nationa
hanks and two private ba nks, repres eat
inc an aggregate capital of $5Oo'ooo. ln'
banking institutions of Austin are alnone
Lhe most solid in the country.
CITY WATER SUPPLY.
This has much to do with the health o
citv, The citizens of Austin have WIN
out question, the purest water eI, sup up y,
of any city in the southwest Inc %, ~V =, NJ
are situated on the Colorado, and the ma