The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-11
INTENSE INDIGN ALTON ALL OVER
THE CITY AT THE ACTION
OF THE COUNCIL.
Col. Breckenridge Surrenders His Franchise
and Will Not Construct the Rail
rOad-The Council to be Asked
to Make an Appropriation,
that the Work May
Go On.

throwing cloud over the Doard OF
public works, distressing its ability
and honesty and refusing to grant its
request to open a street that the
council itself ordered opened months
ago, has borne fruit.
Col. George Breckenridge has en-
phatically declined to have anything
more to do with the construction of a
railroad to the dam, and the following
communication will be presented to
the council tonight:
AUSTIN, Tex, Dec, 4, 1890.
To his Honor, the Mayor, aud Board of
Aldermen of the City of Austin:
DEAR SIRs-We, up to this writing,
have no official advice as to what &C
ton your honorable body took upon
our communication of November 81,
1890, in which we agreed to surrender
the franchise granted us of right of
way through the city of Austin for the
railroad to the dam. We see in The
AUSTIN STATESMAN of the 4th inst,
that you have appointed committee
to consult With the Austin business men
to see if one or more of them would not
agree to build the road. This we re-
garded as an acceptance of our terms
of surrender of franchise, and that you
will and are now looking elsewhere for
its construction. This is final and
ends our connection with this enter
prise. We will remove from the streets
the cross ties and iron now obstruct-
ing them as soon as possible.
Respectfully,
G. w. BRACKENRIDGE,
and Associates.
j. T. BRECKENRIDGE,
Agent and Attorney in fact.
This letter, it will be observed, was
written Thursday and yesterday the
following telegram approving it was
received:
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Dec. 5, $780,
To John 7 Breckenridge, Austin, Tex:
Letters received. l fully approve
your course in every respect. Any
thing done in the future will be upon
new basis.
G. w. BRECKENRIDGE.
Indignation had been very great
over the action of the council, and
the publication of the above letter and
telegram in the Evening Capitolian
yesterday helped to intensity it.
In very truth, the people of Austin
were never so stirred up, and the COM
ment made upon the action OF the
councilmen whose votes caused the
disaster, for such it is, were anything
but hattering.
The irritation was hot, and in some
instances rose TO towering passion
when the thought flashed across the
public mind that the action of the
councilmen could be construed to cast
reflection upon the ability and hon
esty of the board of public works,
composed of men who are distin-
guished for their intellectual qualif-
cations, purity of character and hon
esty of purpose. While the peo-
pie recognize the superior ability
Of Alderman Ziller, who made the
great discovery that something was
wrong, and no doubt are ready to &C.
knowledge that his transcendent, I'M
paragoned genius is as far removed
from the board of public works as is
the sun from the faintest stars, they
could not help being amazed, dumb
founded and indignant.
What woeful mistake was made
when Alderman Ziller was left off the
board OF public works.
Had he been on it all this trouble
would have been avoided, the
railroad would have been hum
ming to the dam, and
the site of the great work would have
been veritable bee hive OF industry.
So thought the population as they
gulped down great chunks of indigna-
ton yesterday.
Members OF the board OF public
works were seen yesterday, and they |
were very sore, but hopeful.
One of them said the road will I'M
doubleday be speedily constructed, and
no interruption will occur in the prog
ress Of the work OF the dam.
He based his remarks upon the
council making an appropriation to-
night, which, it is reported, they will
be asked to do.
As the matter now stands some
folks take very gloomy look at the
situation.
Others do not.
No doubt, however, the action of
the councilmen who cast the dis
astrous votes Wednesday night will
cost the city thousands OF dollars.
This will be apparent when it is I'M
iersto0d that the outside figure Of Col.
BrackpnTidpe for Grackape If he CHARGED |