The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-03-06
The Proposed Railroad to the West.
To the Editor of The Statesman:

AUSTIN, March 3.-In view of the
widespread interest which is being de-
veloped with reference to the proposed
road into the counties west of us, it
may perhaps be worth while for us to
consider what line of road would be
most available and of the greatest ad-
vantage to Austin. Two principal
lines are proposed in general way,
each OF which has its respective
champions. The Austin and North
western is now completed as far west
as Marble Falls and has long since
been surveyed from q point about
three miles north of Marble Falls.
crossing the Colorado river and thence
up the valley of the Llano river to
the town of Llano. From Llano the
construction of line to Mason is a
comparatively easy matter, there be-
ing only one stream of any import
ance on the way, the Llano river. The
principal objection in the way of the
extension of the Austin and North
western railway beyond its present
terminus is the necessary bridge across
the Colorado. 1t is understood that
the owners of this road are unwilling
to extend unless this bridge is given
them, but in this they are certainly
pursuing a very short-sighted policy,
because if another road should reach
Llano In the meantime the Austin
and Northwestern people would be
practically forced to extend in order
to hold their western trade.
Perhaps another line would be
more advantageous to Austin from the
fact that it would carry us out into
counties in which we once controlled
the trade, but where we are RAPIDLY
losing ground. A line to Fredericks-
burg is practicable and would open up
to Austin large western trade which
the San Antonio people are rapidly
picking up, and all of which they will
ultimately get if we purposely keep our
capital and goods and resources
Such a road could be built
to connect with the International and
Great Northern at the Oatmanville
quarries and continued from there on
to johnson City, the county seat of
Blanco county, thence up the valley
Of the Perdenales and across that
river to Fredericksburg. 1t is under
stood that a staining offer has been
made by the Llano people to furnish
light OF way, depot grounds and grad
ng from Fredericksburg to Llano, and
his proposition could doubtless be
aiken advantage of and the line con-
'tructed to the future Iron CITY and
rom thence to Mason. By such a
Inc as this Austin would gain the
rade, or most of it, of some five or six
counties for years to come, trade that
would pay her handsomely in the way
# an income on the amount invested.
ohnson City, Fredericksburg, Llano
ma Mason, we venture to say, will do
heir part. 1t is for Au stin to tax
,he initiatory steps and show that sh
means business, and the rest of the
owl will fall into that graceful sys-
EN- of sinuosities and air line
tretches known as a railroad. Once
uild the line direct to Fredericksburg
nd the Austin and Northwestern will
its way in search of "new
'orlds to conquer" Austin might
manage in some way to get back the
rade OF San Saba county which she
My lost through her paramount in
ction. There is said to be corps of
lrveyors in that county at present
! the interest of the Fort Worth and
10 Grande railroad. On t. Llano.
[ason and Fredericksburg. Respect,
lilly, WESTWARD Ho.