The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-14

lie square is adorned with q neat and
beautiful brick court house, which must
have cost at least $4,000. On high hill
near the town stands beautiful, superb,
tRo-story school building, built entirely
of native granite. This building can be
seen for miles around in almost all direc-
tlons and is an ornament to the town.
There are three neat church buildings in
the place already completed and another
almost ready for use. Our observation
has led US to believe that the schools and
churches of the place are well attended
and in afourishing condition.
We have never been in a quieter town
or among a more orderly community
of people than in Llano.
Both the town and county
certainly have bright future before
them. 1t is a we'll established fact that
Llano town is in the center of a vast de-
post of the finest magnetic iron ore ever
discovered in the United States. A
wealthy syndicate from Wisconsin have
spent about 100000 for iron lands in
Llano county, portion of which lies west
of and a portion east of the town. Ex-
tensive explorations by said syndicate re-
veal the fact that iron and manganese
exist in endless quantities in several por-
tions of Llano county. Lano county is
about seventy miles west of Austin, on the
west bank of the Colorado river, is about
1900 feet above the sea level, is we'll
watered, contains about $4,000 acres in
area, about 100000 acres of which is arabic
and the remainder fiue grazing land.
The vegetable products of the county
are corn, cotton, wheat, rye, oats, barley,
millet, sorghum, potatoes and garden
vegetables of almost every variety, all of
which, we are told, grow luxurianty on
the nice, rich, sandy soil of the county.
The soil of the county is red brown and
black-sandy and very easily cultivated.
From our own observation we are able
to say that Llsno county has in the Llano
river, which traverses the center of the
county, and the Colorado river, which
forms the eastern boundary of the county,
water power sufficient to run an almo t
incredible amount of machinery.
In regard to the minerals of the county,
it is sufficient for us to say that almost
every metal and mineral known to geology
is found in the county. And as to stone,
marble in several varieties, and very fine
granite, as fine as any in the world, and
the very best of soapstone, are all found
in endless quantities in the county.
The Llano people are now negotiating
WITH and feel sure that they will secure
the immediate extension of the Arkansas
Pass railroad to their place, which will
give them direoJ communication with San
Antonio, Arkansas Pass, and last but moi
least with the immense coal fields OF
Mexico. They also feel sure that they
will very soon get the Austin and North
western railroad, which will connect them
with the Capital City, and all points east
Several other roads are on the eve o.
building into that section of country, and
when they come will perhaps be induced
to build to the town of Llano.
The present indications are that LlanC
is on the eve of boom that will exceed
anything ever seen in Texas. The de
velopment of the resources of that count.
cannot help to benefit the whole surround
ing country, in fact the whole state. W
say God -speed the day when the smoke o
a hundred furnaces will curl above tn
rock bound hills of Llano. ~
Special attention is called to the Liam
house, Ben F. Beeson proprietor. 1t is
strictly first-class hotel, and all travelling
men who stop there say that it is one o
the best hotels in the west.