The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-10-23

cAuS. -
This fact is pfsysy we'll IT know v
those who have tried to avail tl..---.
selves OF the Insects habit of gather
ing honey all the day from every open
ing flower" as we'll as to some who
are innocent of any attempt to rob
the bee of its hard-earned hoard.
Amongst the latter can now be
classed a number of grangers who
Journeyed to Round Rock to see Wal
lace & Co.'s grand circus.
Arriving in that busting city said
grangers hitched their more or
less fiery steeds to convenient
posts and fences and proceeded to
take in the show, all unconscious of
the hostile inten tions OF colony OF
bees located in one of the city lots.
While the owners of the horses
were absorbed in the feats of skill and
dexterity OF the aero hats aud laughing
at the gags and quips of the clowns,
the poor animals were vainly trying
to escape an invading army of bees,
which without any apparent cause
suddenly attacked them in bittle
array. An eye witness of the scene
says it was one of the most agonizing
sights he ever witnessed. In most
cases the horses were securely fasten-
ed with ropes they could not break,
and became absolutely mad with
pain and fright. Others less strongly
secured broke from their moorings
and fled, at a gait only practiced on
the running track.
Two horses were stung to death
and many others were 50 injured and
crazed as the be greatly lessened in
value.
The most industrious and well be-
haved will sometimes neglect their
business and go on the rampage, and
at such times should be avoided.
ROADS.
The time fast approaches when the
people of Texas will be called upon to
vote for or against two important
constitutional amendments, and there
is chance that the one bearing on
public roads may not be understood
sufficiently to command support.
l would like to make its intention
plain, so that farmers can cast their
votes Understandings. As the law
now stands the taxing authority
commissioners courts-cannot levy
more than Is cents on the 500 valu-
alton for road and bridge purposes.
The proposed amendment provides
for road tax not exceeding 80 cents
on the 500 valuation, but that only
when any county by special vote
shall authorize the commissioners
court to levy such tax.
The adoption of this constitutional
amendment does not mean that every
county shall have its road tax doubled
at the discl elton of the commissioners
count, but merely gives each county
the option of taxing itself for road
improvement.
If the amendment should become
law there are many counties in the
state that would avail themselves o.
its provisions, but other counties not
needing or unable to afford better
roads, should not prevent those less
fortunate, but wealthy counties,
getting what they so much
need and Can afford
Ii the citizens Of any county do not
need better roads, or needing them,
prefer to wallow in the mud, all they
would have to do under the new law
would be, when the county election
was held, to vote against increaseo
taxation in Their ounty. Common
fairness demands that each county
should be allowed to manage its own
roads, and that is exactly what the
proposed amendment is for.
The intelligence and wealth Of every
county will vote for the amendment,
while the illiterate and the poor will
oppose it; at least this is the almost
invariable rule when progressive meas
ures involving the expenditure Of
public funds is voted on by the peo-
pie.
The vote on the Colorado dam, by
this rule, proved the intelligence and
wealth of Austin, and there can be lit
tie doubt that the same progressive
spirit prevails in the city on the road
question.
Let tho agricultural portion OF
Travis county put itself on record as
equal in intelligence and progressive
ness with its county seat, and help
forward the development of our great
natural resources.
There should be no standing still,
but steady onward progress, now
that move has been made; and i'm
proved roads are one indispensable to
that end.
Vote for the road amendment.
DALLAS FAIR.
This important annual event en-
braces the period between Oct. Is and
Nov. 2. That the present fair will
ont shine apv Of ito nredecessOrs docs