The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-24
VELASCO.
THE GREAT SEAPORT CITY AT THE
MOUTH or TIE BRAZOg
Its Growth Has Been Phenomenal-A City
OF Over One Thousand Inhabitants
in Less Than Sixty
Days.
70 the Editor of The Statesman:


an assured fact at Velasco, the seaport
city at the mouth of the Brazos which
has one of the best and safest land
locked harbors in the world, | will
confine myself to the rapid improve.
ment that has been going on there in
the last thirty days, since my last
visit.
Although great many new build.
lngs have been completed since my
last trip, it was impossible to secure a
room anywhere else but under tent
and great many were content even
to get cot under u tree. Early in
the morning our crowd began to be-
stir themselves before it was light, Sc
eager were they to see the city.
was tired, and did not feel inclined to
rise so early, but in short time it
seemed like ten thousand saws and
hammers had been turned loose, and
as sleeping was no longer possible |
arose, and with the others, made a
tour Of the city. L counted fifty-one
buildings in course of construction
was informed by contractor that
contracts had been closed for the cree
ton Of siXty-tive others. Among this
number fOrty-seven are to be two
story buildings. Upon careful esti-
mate there are at least 100 carpenters
| ut xunpIy hnrn -,
formed me that the greatest drawback
they had was in obtaining lumber and
material fast enough. Yesterday the
foundation for business house was
laying, and before night the owner
had seven applications to rent it. One
enterprising merchant would not wait
till his house was completed, but
opened up under large tent.
The new hotel "Nelascon is receiv-
ing it's finishing touches and will be
opened October lst proXimo. 1t con-
tains one hundred rooms and when
| furnished will cost about 100000.
Two other hotels are, rapidly APP
preaching completion and every az
rangement is being made to accom-
modate the crowds that continue to
come. The Brazos River Channel
and Dock company have tried hard
to prevent anything like boom and
did not want to offer any lots for sale
until the railroad was completed, but
it is impossible to. keep the
crowd back, they come by every
steamer, a great many remain and
make their homes in Nelasco and
those who go away buy lots with
wi IS hnpn in thn fu
ture. 1t is q notable fact that no one
comes here that does not become en-
Unused over the future prospects of the
city of Velasco.
Contracts have been closed for COM
presses and elevators and they will
be built at once to handle all grain
and cotton as soon as the new railroad
is completed. Nothing has been made
public but it is generally understood
that arrangements have been
made with the Morgan line or some
other line of steamers to receive the
freight as soon as the new railroad is
finished.
Two pile drivers and a large force
of men are busy constructing wharves.
Messrs. Burkett a. Burns are
making rapid progress on the new
.ailroad. They have 100 teams and
arge force of men at this end of the |
.oad, and are advertising for more.
They are under contract to complete
the road by November /, or forfeit |
What they have done. Messrs. Sid |
Westheimer d Co. have also large
force Of men and teams at Chenango,
on the same road, and they expect to
have it finished in less than forty
days.
Mr.. Westheimer informed me that
as soon as the new road is completed
he will begin work on the electric
street railway, which will extend
from Neiasco to Surf Side, distance
of about three miles.
The tug Seminole came in yester-
day towing several barges loaded
and in the evening nine schOOners,
also loaded with cross-ties, came in
and sailed up the river to the wharves
at Nelasco without the aid of a tug.
Steamers are being loaded at New
York with railroad iron for the new
railroad with guarantee of Is feet
of water over the bar. Two vessels
from New York have discharged their
cargo and went to sea today.
A NEW BANK.
Among the new enterprises tn
have been established at Velasco
the bank Of Velasco by Messrs. j. M.
Moore and r. II. Erwin, the former
being president and the latter cashier.
Moore was formerly president of the
First National bank of Lampasas and
is well and favorably known. Mr..
Erwin is the late popular cashier of the
First National bank of Bellville. Mr..
Erwin informed me that the bank will
be nationalized soon. Velasco well
comes all such enterprises and pro-
gressive young men, and we predict
for them that their bank, under such
able management, will be success
from the beginning.
Parties are here arranging to start
two ice factories with cold storage.
One Ct the parties is from Fort Worth
the other from Houston.
Two livery, sale and transfer stables
are under way. One of the parties
from Bandera, the other from HOus-