The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-29
Bring Back the Bridge.

u iA= E-i;oE q tie S;s;e=nAn:
As ne are settling down sin e the cleo
ton again In good earnest, let rs look for
moment az what We have done, or
rather what Se have permitted to be done
OF Or county commissioners in the mat
ter Of the location OF the new bridge.
Il was given as reason and truthtully
so that such bridge Eas needed % hold
the trade OF that vast fertile section OF
country lying southeast of the city, which
includes E large portion of Bastrop and
Csldzel counties, together with all of the
southeast OF Travis; and, aside from
this, if would build up trade AID
enhance greatly property values il
iae eastern portion OF the city, and last,
for settlement the beautiful wooded hills
lying just across the river and opposite
East Austin.
From where the new bridge has been To-
Gated viii any of these wants or eIpecta-
tons be realized: Not one. First-Why
is it that Austin gets so large trade from
these sections of Bastrop and Caldwell
counties: The answer is very simple to
one that has been over this productive
section OF country. If the farmer starts
east to Bsstrop with his load of cotton or
produce the sand in the roads gets deeper
and deeper until he reaches his destins-
ton with half load and q broken down
team. If, on the other hand, he heads in
the direction of Lockhart, he meets with a
like fate. But in the direction OF Austin
be sooa flds maelf on firm road. Now,
what inducement are We Offering these
people TO continue their trade relations
with Austin: The answer is,ve are building
them g bran new $47 COO bridge, and as
an additional Involvement for you to
bring your cotton and produce 10 your
Capital city, We are building the bridge
RICH. in the center Of the broadest and
deepest sand beach that is on the river
from its mouth 10 It's source. And nov We
are not running this road to and from the
bridge straight across this sand bed so
that you would have only about four
miles of It 70 pull through; bless you, no,
We are obliquing the road through it 80 as
to give you pull of seven miles in it in
stead of four.
Now, have in my life, heard seaseless
politicians, and other spread eagle
speechifers, wonder why it was that the
crowned heads and po:en'ates of the old
world did not throw aside their crowns
and robes and swim across the Atlantic
jus. to get to live in free America. But l
hardly think these people will
pull their loads through this sand
more thai once Just to see a new bridge.
lis an outrage to the Taxpayers and to
the citizens of the city to put this bridge
at aHy point except at the point where it
will prove to be of the greatest conven-
fence and the largest benefit to those who
furnish the money, which is the whole
people of Travis county; not few that
live and have interests down in the sand
bend. Good citizens all of them, but We
are not flush enough of funds just now to
squarder them in any such way. Then,
let the bridge be brought back and be put
across the river at or near Stones old ferry.
That is just where ninety-nine persons
out of every hundred in the city and
county want it put; that is the nearest and
only practicable route for those people of
sister counties to reach the city; that Is
the point that will meet the convenience
of nine-tenths of the citizens of our own
county; that is the point on direct
line from the city to the beautiful wood
land hills southeast of our city where me-
chanics, merchants and others could Sc
cure cheap building sites aud yet be with
in few minutes ride or walk of their
place of llbor or business.
But some Will say you, like the sand
beach folk, are interested over there. Not
at all: have scarcely speaking acquaint-
ance with any property owner over there.
The old bridge at the foot of Congress
avenue is my place of crossing the river.
A residence of more than thirty years in
Travis county, and, by virtue of having
acted as a county commissioner years ago,
causes me to feel deep interest in the
pablo roads and bridges of the county,
knowing as do that We as people can
have no permanent prosperity until We
have roads over which we can travel at all
times and bridges spanning our streams
at such points as will meet the wants of
the masses, not the wants of few.
COMMON SENSE.