The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28
A BIG PURCHASE.
The Old Street Car System to Go
a Gllmmering.
Live, Enterprising, Wlde-awake
Business Men Will Put in
an Electrical System
at Once.

A big trade was oonsummated in this
city yesterday which betokens a new era
for Austin.
No more important trade could posi-
bly, have been made, for it brings to the
city business men of vim and energy
Men who will take a live interest in the
city's prosperity and who are fearless tc
act in building her up.
Yesterday Mr.. Thomas j. Hurley, presi
dent of the Fort Worth Loon and Oonstruc
ton company, for himself aud associates
purchased the Austin Street Car system
OF, Doctor Tobin,with whomIhe had been in
correspondence for some time.
While the price named has not been
quoted, 1t is understood as having been on
basis of 100000 for the property, the
consideration being spot cash.
The new company will be organized to-
day, of which Mr.. Hurley will be the
president. The gentlemen interested
with Mr.. Hurley in this enterprise are also
in the Fort Worth Land and Street Rail-
way company, owning the control of that
organization, which has 100000 full paid
capital.
The entire system in Fort Worth is to
be placed under electricity, with new cars
patterned after those in use on Broadway,
New York city, in time for the opening of
the Spring Palace.
The same system is to be introduced
here, and about five miles of track laid,
making a sort of belt line, with the inten-
ton of giving the citizens of Austin five
minute service.
To do this it will require fifteen new
twenty-six foot cars, similar to the Broad
way cars, and fifteen miles electrical line,
as now used in thirty-six cities of this
country.
To furnish the power for this vast sys-
tenn will require two ITO horsepower au-
tomato engines, twq ITO horsepower
steam boilers, three dynamos of 10000
Watts capacity. The motors on the cars
will be OF fifteen horsepower capacity,
al d the wires and dynamo power is to be
of sufficient capacity to operate the cars
at an average speed of fifteen miles per
hour under full load upon a level or eight
miles per hour upon grades not exceeding
per cent. The conductors are so ar
ranged as to prevent interruption of any
one part of the line interfering with any
other part.
No better evidence is needed as to the
popularity and profit of electrical systems
than to state that, since the introduction
of electricity on only % miles of the Bos-
ton system, they have increased their traf-
fic by about 10000 passengers, or 81 600
per day, all because of the rapid and con-
venient transit.
1t is estimated that the new improve
ments contemplated by the purchasers of
the Austin Railway will cost about $780,
COO, making with purchase money for the
plant, net investment of about 100000,
to say nothing of the franchise. Their
value to Austin certainly cannot be over
estimated.
, If Mr.. Hurley and his associates, will
work for Austin as they have for Fort
Worth, and they will, they will stir things
up.
1t is Mr.. Hurley's company building the
Fort Worth Spring Palace, building
whose floors will cover space of over
10000 square feet, surmOunted by thirteen
towers, the center or main tower being
about 120 feet in height, the whole to be
completed within thirty six days. Mr..
Hurley leaves to night for the mouth of
the Brazos, he being interested in that i'm
provement, returning to Austin on Satur-
day.
He is most agreeable gentleman, and
the business men of Austin will find him
as full of energy, enterprise and vim as
agreeable,