The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-09-12
WHAT A STATESMAN REPORTER SAW
AND HEARD ON THE SUNDAY
EXCURSION.
The A. and N. W. Railroad-Smooth Track
Fast Time, Good Management-The
Towns Along the Line.
THE START.

cursionists, all of whom were in higl
spirits, intent on making the best of 6
good opportunity for enjoyment. Ate
some excellent music by the Mannins
Rifles band, the crowd boarded six cars
oading them down to the guards. TIL,
little engine moved off like thing O
life and was soon knocking off tim,
that would do credit to one of it,
standard gauge brothers.
Passing around the hill the roac
runs through the blackjacks, where
hundreds of cattle, showing the rich
blood of the Jersey, are seen grazing
on the rich heritage; thence out
through the rich prairie farms. The
rolling prairie is beautiful to behold
but its beauty is intensified as the eve
catches the dark bulwark of cedar-clad
mountains stretching along the west
ern horizon. The first station is
WATERS.
The town consists of two residences
one store, a windmill and water tank
The windmill appears to be the most
energetic citizen of the town. Leaving
Waters we pass through section Of
good farming land, until we reach
M'NEAL.
This is the junction of the Interna-
tional and Great Northern and Austin
and Northwestern railroads, and was
made famous in its infancy
by being honored by a
visit from a band of train robbers who
made one of the neatest and boldest
hold-ups ever known. The robbers
were hidden in a large cave wich can
be seen on the north side of the mar
row gauge road few yards from the
international track. They were fol-
lowed by officers of all the surround
ing counties, and even our petite attor-
ney-general mounted thirteen-hand
pony, and, armed with Winchester,
two pistols and copy of the Penal
Code, took the trail. The telegraph
daily announced arrests of robbers,
yet up to this blessed hour none of
the genuine robbers have been appre-
hended. The town consists of six
residences, a neat depot and the works
of the Austin White Lime company.
We now pass through rocky, post
oak country, fit only for grazing. ex-
cept an occasional spot, and few
miles brings us to
CUMMINGS,
town consisting of one lone house
and great prospects. Several miles
further, through much bet
ter country, brings us to 49,.
CEDAR PARK,
where we find one store, blacksmith
shop and one residence, the latter be-
ing the comfortable home of Mr.
George Chuck, a most excellent gen.
tleman, well known to travellers
over the Burnet stage road in olden
times. Several miles through coun-
try alternating between agricultural
and pastural, and the famous
BAGDAD PRAIRIE
bursts into view. Three miles to the
we see the old town of Bag
dad, while the intervening space is
covered with fields of corn and cotton.
almost as rank as in the old
fields of ancient Egypt. Within view
are the cozy homes of the Messrs.
Mason and Hon. J. H. Faubion, the
leader of the farmer element in the
last two Legislatures and who will
probably take more prominent part |
IN the next. We are now at
LEANDER,
md the band is playing a stirring air,
which brings most of the inhabitants
20 the depot and sets all the fractions
COW ponies to cavorting and pitching
1ut with every jump the dextrous |
'iders force their horses toward the |
rain until, vanquished, they stand |
With distended nostrils and quivering
tides, listening to the music. By the
lime the band stops playing the nervy
title animals have forgotten their
right and part with the music with
'vident regret. Leander is a thriving
own of about fifty houses, the bust
less houses being j. F. Heinatz, Hum
lie IL Chapman, the Grange store, ].
}. Speegle, and Messrs. Walker, gen
raj stores; M. J. Jennings, drugs; a
blacksmith and wagon shop, two cot
on gins and mills. 1t controls the
rade of quite large scope of rich
ountry and does a large business.
Justin merchants should sell Leander
II its goods.
Nine miles further we reach
LIBERTY HILL,
ne Oldest town on the road. 1t con-
aims over a hundred houses, with the
sual number of business houses, gins
ILLS, ETC., but no "gin mills" 1t is
richly local option town and has
cen for years. There is only one red
ose in the town, and that was i'm
Orted and is worn by Frank C ates, pub
shcr of the bright little newspaper,
lie Cyclone. An instance of the man
er in which Superintendent Leltna-
er has made himself so popular along
lie line of the road is here shown. In
eference to the sober habits of the
'ople he had well dug at the depot, 1
Id every time he passes over the road
gets off and takes a drink of
alter. 1t was charged against him