The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-27


commissioners, charged With the duty of
making thorough and exhaustive exami-
nation of the structure, with regard to its
capacity for accommodating the probable
amount of travel now, and in the near
futures; as, also, respecting its strength.
durability, etc. This report will be made
at the earliest practicable day, it being
the wish and intention of the court to
have the
BRIDGE OPEN FOR FREE TRANSIT
at date not later than the first to the
middle of June, prox.
In the event of disagreement between
the two engineers selected, in respect
of any of the requirements
named, they are empowered
to call in as umpire third engineer.
whose decision as to the matter disagreed
about shall be final and conclusive upon
all parties.
| To Judge FILLMORE and his faithful CO.
adjutors, the members of the commission
ers court is due the successful consumma-
ton of a purchase which will tell with
greater effect upon the
FUTURE PROSPERITY OF TINE CITY
than the new railroad which has just
slipped through its fingers, and over the
loss of which the eyes of its people are
scarcely yet dry.
Year by year, for nine years, the mer-
chant has seen his trade diverted from Its
legitimate market; the consumer has felt
it's effect in the increased price of country
produce, which must come into market
with the added price of an expensive toll,
or seek market where no such disadvan-
tage exists. Practically, the toll has
amounted to prohibition on the bring
ing in of produce in small quantities
thus
WORKING A DIRECT HARDSHIP
and injury on both producer and con-
sumner. The opening of the bridge to free
transit will extend the area of Austin's
trade for distance of fifteen to twenty
miles to the south, much of which
is rich agricultural region.
For its part, The STATESMAN is content
to take its share of credit in the general
good resulting to every citizen of the
country, and which has commanded the
best use of it's tongue end pen through al
the later years of its existence. In season
and out of season. it has urged the pur
chase of the bridge and its opening to free
travel as a mea sure of justice to the whole
county. and as almost a "sine qua nom O.
the existence of Austin, which contains
more than half the entire population o
J Travis county. Untoward circumstances
aided by contrivings which have not al
ways borne the verisimilituae of disinter
estedness, have hitherto conspired TO de
feat the measure, but in its own good tim
it has been brought to pass, and hence
forth the bridge is as free as the waite
that runs beneath it.
To have accomplished this at all, wa
something, but to have effected it withou
the
ADDITION OF A PENNY's BURDEN
to the taxes of the county Is a source o
deep congratulation. The very hes
authorities on county matters unitedl
testify that the rate of taxation in Travi
county cannot, in any conjecture of a
fairs now considered possible, ever excee
thirty cents on every one hundred doIa
value of property.
To County Judge Fillmore, to COMM
k sioners Ed. Christian, John w. Brown,
= G.. Pace and w. F. FIR lzier, as also to ii
@ bridge directory, especially to Messl
n Walter Tips and Eugene Bremond, VIII
< represented the company in the sessit
F. yesterday, the congratulations of the enti
d, county are due. 1t is believed the wisdo
ID of the purchase will become more apps
j. ent as the future unfolds its benefits, al
es that those who nurtured the project in
infancy and stood by it in its manho
re will be constrained to say at the last: Nv
re have builded wiser than we knew"