The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-11-05
THE RAILROAD TO THE DAH LEASED
WITH OPTION TO PURCHASE.
The City Council Almost Unanimously Rsity
the Action Of tho Board Of Public Works
The Old Company Kicks Over
me Dash Poo.d

last afternoon at 3 o'clock, with the
following members present:
His honor, Mayor Mcdonald, and
Aldermen Anderson, Assman, Garlic
ton, Glass, Graham, Hume, Jackson
Ketchum, Linn, Morris, Nitschke,
North, Phillips, Platt, Schneider,
Schuber, Sutor, Townsend, Weyer-
man, Wrngfield, Hiller.
The object OF the meeting was to
hear the report otthe special commit
tee appointed at a meeting OF the
Board of Public Works during the
morning to draft an ordinance leasing
| the Dam railroad to Messrs. William
| Metzgar, of Illinois, Richard smell, of
! Kansas City, and ID. c. McMartin, of
| Des Moines, Ia.
/ Alderman North, chairman of the
committee, reported they had drawn
up an ordinance, but before submitting
it he would like to have some mem
bers of the Board of Public Works to
explain to members of the council
who were not at the morning
meeting the substance of the
lease and he asked Mr.. Frank Hamil-
ton to do So.
Mr.. Hamilton referred to an ordi-
nance passed by the council some
months ago authorizing the Board
of Public Works to lease or sell the
road. He alluded briefly to the with
drawal Of Mr.. Breckenridge from the
enterprise because of adverse legisla-
ton by the council, which compelled
the city to build the road, that mate
rial might be furnished Mr.. Corrigan,
according to contract. We have built
the road ut Il cost of 900,
| besides we spent a consid
cradle sum widening and building
street to the dam. About eight or
nine months ago these gentlemen
came here and offered to lease the
road, but a that time [ was not will
ing to lease, hoping to sell. The panic,
! however, as you all know, came on,
and it has been impossible to sell. |
feel that l made mistake in opposing
the lease, and l know that my action
has cost the city years loan of $4,000.
| regret it, but it cannot be helped.
An opportunity is now offered
to lease. and the lease money
will more than pay the interest on the
/
a handsome revenue. 1t will help
the city in every way. 1t does every
thing in favor of the city. There is
nothing but what is favorable to the
city's interests. II may do the pres
ent railroad some harm but don't
believe it. | am director of that
road and it's treasurer but when the
interests of the city are involved /
will always be found on its side and /
hope and know this city council will
do what is right and just. don't
blame the old railroad for wanting q
monopoly, L would want it too.
The lease is opposed to the mon
opoly. 1t is certainly to the interest
of the city to make it, and no man
| who has All interest in the welfare OF
{ the city can oppose it. We have
3 thrown every safeguard around it,
and the lease money will pay one
/ fourth Of the interest ON $400, 900
J worth of bonds. Now is the opportun-
ity to lease, and we should grasp it,
and I believe you gentlemen of the
council will do your duty.
Mr.. Shipe of the old company was
granted permission to give his
side Of the question, and
he did so in one of his characteristic
talks. He ably presented his side of
the question, and argued that to give
the new company the right to run u
parallel line to his would injure him,
and cause his company's bonds to de-
preciate rs per cont. He asked for
time for his company to make propo-
siton to lease and buy the dam road
hn ~
make proposition and you'll see us
knock those other fellows out. We
have carried out every promise we
ever made the city. We are here and
mean to stay here, and we ought to be
protected. We don't want you to
shoot this thing through. Give us
time to write to Chicago and we will
make you proposition. Ifyou don't,
it may result in our ceasing to build
the line all along which you see our
ties and material"
Mr.. Shipe, during his remarks, in
iected some sparkling fun which pro-
voked much laughter. He said:
"Mr. Hamilton has been my friend
he is my friend now, and in opposing
him feel as if was fighting my own
SON.
A voice: He is older than you"
ole may be in iniquity, but not in
years." said Mr.. Shipe in one of his
drollest moods, which brought down,
| in thcater parlance, the house.
. The Mayor-Mr. s;hipe, have you
anything more TO present to the
; council?
"No, sir. Nothing startling, but
all | want is a little time" and Mr.
Shipe with an injured air sat dow
and proceeded to look dismal.
Mr.. Hamilton replied briefly to y 4,
Shipe's objection, and sta te
he had tried TO lease and sell to hi
, company, but that they refuse ( g d
either. AS othe threat to cease yorE
Mr.. Hamilton said that he an d hi
! friends would take the road and bull
it. He urged the council to onfr1
the lease.
Alderman Morris argued in favor {
the lease.
Alderman Zilker saw bu one oil
lection, and that was the RI ,ht of wa
over the Avenue.
r Alderman Platt saw no .use in I'M
rying the thing. 1T look sas if thel
was bug under the CHI somewher