The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-23
AN OBJECT LESSON.
The Wonderful Growth of Fair
view Park.
1t Should Inspire Confidence IN
the Future of Austin.

| The years from 1880 to 1885 marked a
wonderful growth in the history of our
city. Starting with population of little
over 10000 souls, in 1885 we claimed, with
good reason, too, $4,000. This new popu-
lation was composed largely of people of
some means-many had great wealth.
The cattle kings, so called in those days,
came among us dispensing their wealth
with open hands, erecting palatial resi-
dences, first-class business houses and, in
one instance, the finest hotel in Texas.
The University brought many families,
who settled here and erected homes on
every hill. Workingmen and mechanics
focked here, and they, too, taking adVant
age of the times, purchased lots and built
their homes. In 1884 not single house
fit to live in could be rented for residence
purposes. The meanest house of three
rooms brought a rental of from
| $l5 to $40 per month. The Avenue
was alive with people. The stores did a
rushing trade. Everyone happy, so We
think now.
| Then came the years of depression,
1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888; poor crops,
great drouths, failure of our wealthy cat
tie contingent, with but few exceptions.
Stagnation in every line of trade; houses
to rent by the hundred; failures of bust
ness establishments with large stocks of
goods; each year bringing no change.
Capitalists became shy and money hard
to borrow. Had it not been for the pres
| ence in onr midst of loan companies rep
resenting cheap northern money the
crisis of the last four years would have
ruined many families unable to borrow at
home. Foreign capital has tided US thus
far, and at the same time given
US lower interest rates. Some
thing must be done to rivive our
lost prosperity and at the same
time put it upon more substantial basis
than heretofore. How is this to be done?
Must it not be through enterprises estab-
lished right here by our own people,
started with individual or combined local
capital and backed by the cheap money
of the north? Will not enterprise sue
coed here? Are the conditions too hard?
Or have we nothing to base enterprise
upon? We think that no one will deny
that there are some living among US who
have bravely met every condition of
failure presented during this period, who
have held the opinion that Austin was
predestined to grow and to some day,
become a popular scity, and who have
during these four years, entered into and
carried successfully through enterprises
of considerable magnitude. Who among
US thought that Charles A. Newning would
be successful in his south side enterprise
when in 1885, over eighteen months before
a free bridge was established over the
Colorado, he purchased that mag
nifcent tract of land now widely known
throughout the state and much to Austin's
credit as Fairview Park. Did Mr.. Newning
buy his tract of land and sit idly down
awaiting the distant day when some one
else would, by their enterprise, enhance
its value? Did he reason that it would be
risky to commence operations at once,
pending the purchase by the county of
the bridge? On the contrary, he set about
at once to make a most complete survey
of his land, laid it off in lots and blocks
according to his own taste, firmly believ-
ing that, as his work of establishing a
park progressed, the question of free
bridge would come home to the people.
He established line of omnibuses which
carried Southsiders to and fro across the
bridge at 5 cents per trip, including the
toll, which he himself paid. Six months
before the bridge was purchased he had
completed residence in the park at a
cost of $4,000, he had commenced the
building of bridges, grading of roads, the
laying of water and sewer mains, SO that
when at last the 10th of June, 1886, ar
rived and the bridge was thrown open to
the public, Mr.. Newning was ready for
active business. In less than three years,
Notwithstanding the unheard Of stagna
ton in every portion of the state, this en-
terprise has quietly pushed its way to the
front. Without any gushing advertisement
to attract the public eye its promoter has
secured the public attention by the ex
hibition of his work. Roads have sprung
up in every direction, thoroughly graded,
culverted, and, to some extent, macadam-
lied. A complete water and sewer system,
reaching any point in the park, was laid
in the ground at his own expense, the
water mains being afterward purchased by
the water company; large and commo-
dious boarding stable was erected, which
to-day stables thirty-ive horses, and per-
forms as good a service to the citizens of
the park as can be secured in town. Sixteen
of Austin's business men there own and
occupy houses, erected at an aggregate
back of the park, over fifty houses have
been erected, all occupied, an d the Avenue
is beginning to be lined with stores. If
you have not seen it go over there and
see the great work that has been acc ON
plished and is yet going Oh. Austin has
had the full benefit of this enterprise, the
public make general use of the roads and
groves in Fairview Park, and it has not
only become the recreation spot for the
citizens but their pride as we'll.
We should not underate the value of the
lesson. What, in this case, was considered
impossible, has, by determination, grit
and ability, been made great triumph.
Mr., Newning deserves his success. He has
given employment to many hands during
these hard times, for, when building had
quite ceased in the city, his work went
steadily on. We wish Fsirview Park the |
brilliant future its gallant struggle in the
past has gained it the right to expect.
PHARMACY.