The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-14
BOARD OF TRADE.
A Burnett and Lampasas Railroad
Committee Before the Board.
The Majority Report of the Build
ing Committee Adopted AL
most Unanimously.

The board of trade held another meet
ing yesterday afternoon, with forty mem
bers present, to consider the matter of
erecting board of trade building, and
they were called to order by President
Saunders.
Mr.. Woodbridge, before the regular order
of business, introduced Judge Mathews and
Mr. W. A. Patterson, of Lampasas, and
Hon. W. H. Westfall of Burnett, com
mittee in the interest of building rail-
road from Burnet to Lampases.
Judge Mathews, chairman of the con-
mittee, took the floor and explained their
mission to the city.
He said: During the roll call of your
members, heard names of gentlmen and
business men who once sold goods in
Lampasas, but whose names 1 have not
heard for six or seven years. Austin
once had good trade with Lampasas,
but when the Santa Fe reached there
she lost it. Now, by filling a gap of
only twenty-four miles between Burnett
and Lampasas, she can regain her lost
trade and we are here to see what you are
willing to de-" He then explained what
had been done by the citizens of Tampa
sas and Burnett, and said that they were
ready to put up one dollar for every dol
lar that Austin would subscribe to have a
railroad extended from Lampasas to Bur-
net, He said Burnett and Lampasas will
raise $4,000 or $4,000 in cash and right
of way $4,000. The road had been sur
veyed and the estimated cost of grading
was $4,000. The balance of the suSscrip-
ton, should Austin raise $4,000, making
100000 in all,would tie and iron the road,
and the Austin and Northwestern Railway
company would furnish the rolling stock
and run their trains over it. Judge
Mathews stated that the people of Tampa
sas and Burnett objected to the road
being operated by the Santa Fe
and that they preferred that the Austin
and Northwestern control it, thereby
creating competing line. He was salts
fed that with the completion of the road
Austin would regain all her lost trade
and much more.
Doctor Westfall concurred in what had
been said and enforced the idea that the
construction of the road would rebound
very greatly to the business interest of
Austin.
Mr.. Tips said he had given some atten-
tion to the subject, and favored building
the road. He believed that, with the gap
between Burnett and LRmpasas filed,
Austin would gain not only the Lampasas
trade, but much of that of Goldthwaite,
Brentwood, Ballinger and San Angelo.
He said the distance to Lempasas via the
Santa Fe was 40 miles, whereas by the
way of Burnett it would be only eighty
seven. He thought the road would be q
very valuable one to Austin.
Mr.. Ira H. Evans suggested that it
would be we'll to get definite PROPOSE
tion from the Austin and Northwestern
people as to how they will operate the
road before action was taken. Mr.. Wool
bridge spoke in favor of the road, as did
Mr.. John McDonald, after which, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Evans, committee, consisting
of Messrs. Tips, Woodbridge and McDon-
aid, was appointed to cooperate with the
Lampasas committee aud correspond
with the Austin and Northwestern Of
ficials relative to the matter.
During the discussion Mr.. Woodbridge
stated that the Arkansas Pass had signitied
their willingness to release Austin from a
portion of her subscription on condition
of an extension of time, and he thought
the sum could be advantsgeousiy donated
to the Lampasas road. The committee
will report to the board of trade as soon
as they hear from the Austin and North
western people.
The question of adopting the report of
Messrs. Castleman, Saunders and Nc
Kean, relative to issuing $4,000 in bonds
to erect three-story board of trade
building, was then taken up.
Some discussion followed, when Mr..
John Mcdonald moved that the report be
adopted and the board of directors be
instructed to ask for plans for building
and ascertain if the bonds can be sold
should it finally be determined to adopt
that method to secure building.
The motion prevailed, with but two
dissenting voices, and the meeting ad-
iourned.