The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-30
FARM NOTES.
A sRoADsIDE ON THE SUBJECT OF
COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENT
a Talk on Potato Culture--Is Quality Bred
or Fed Into Govt
cussions Which All Farmers
Should Read
COUNTY ROADS


Won use 10 advocate better f''u7,
u} told up - scoru those moss
nq IS, and "sticI-in tboHnuds' WHO
could not travel at your gait. Now
you seem to have gone over TO the
enemy, or at least your silence on
road matters seems to Indicate that
you have become reconeiled to the
old state of things.
IN my opinion we need improved
roads more than ever, and this is the
time TO make them and not when the
mud lanes are axle deep. Last No
venlber we turned out "city'
county commissioner because he
did nothing to improve our
roads and elected one from the coun-
try who was supposed to know our
wants and would see them supplied;
but il looks like case of "out OF the
ffying pan into the fire"
While other precincts are having
their roads, bridges and culverts put
IN order, those of No. 2 have not been
touched, though needing work as
mucn US any other; and some of them
IN dangerous condition. Our new
commissioner may be an able man
and look well after other precincts,
but he is sadly neglectful of his own.
The big rain we had on April 10th,
washed out one of the main supports
of the culvert abreast of the poor
farm. On the upper Georgetown road
and left il in a dangerous condition.
IT has been in that condition ever
since Though our commissioner has
passed it eight to ten times a week
ever since the washout. If somthing
is not lone to repair the mischief the
county will certainly have bill to
pay fox damages to somebody's horse.
hope to see you again on the
stump for better roads. We need
them Us much as we do better crops.
FARMER No. 2 PRECINCT.
No. I haven't deserted my cOlors. |
am as firmly impressed with Il he adj
vantages of good roads rs ever was,
but could not devote the whole OF
my life to advocating better roads,
important though they be. Pm afraid
! lack the true missionary spirit,
which continues to labor on whether
converts are made or not. | can feel
no satisfaction in whipping q dead
horse or pouring water on Il ducks
back. Stanley, the African explorer,
tells how, during his trip through the
dark continent, he came across a mis-
sionary who for six years, in season
and out of season, had preached the
gospel to the natives, without the
slightest glimmer of a conversion
They listened to his preaching with 8
stOlid Indifference which would have
broken the heart of campmeeting
eXhorter. But he hung to them ano
got his reward.
Going into the chief square of the
village one Sunday morning he saw
the natives building bonfire on
which they threw their idols, fetishes,
ret raps, gin bottles and other sacred
bria-a-b rac. At the conclusion of the
fireworks the chief and about 800 OF
his tribe protested the new faith, TIC
the gIory of God and satisfaction of his
faithful servant, the missionary. Now
7 don't mean to compare the citizens
of Yravis county to the before men
toned Africans any further than they
resemble them in their indifference
Tho darkies appeared to be uncon
sciuuy of, and Indifferent to, their spir.
itual langer, while a large proportion
of on" citizens are in the same condi-
tiOu to their material interests in
public roads. 1t may be that the Git
tie loaven is leavening the whole
umN, and that some of these days
Their will be Weakening up and
Wholesale destruction of old idols, SUI
persiJions and prejudices.
Wide there are many enlightened
farmers like my correspondent, who
understand the value of good
highways, there are hundreds
of others for whom the pres
ent roads are too good. They
have widowed in mud all the days of
their life and like the hog, would not
oe "aisy in their mind" if deprived of
ii. As road reform, like every other
In this free country, must come
through the people, said people must
be made to realize their wants before
they instruct their representatives to
demand them. Now that have had
a rest, l will spit on my hands and
tackle thejob again another day.-ED.
POTATOES AGAIN.
While perambulating Austin's chief
avenue the other day was accosted
by its chief restaurateur, Salge. He
wore white straw hat and strgnge-
ly excited expression; the one on top,
and The other in front of his head
The Mt was seasonable and created
no surprise, and the expression l at
trihuted to the rush of business at his
wei 'Dnducted establishment. soon
fouul this to be correct only in part:
business was rushing, but Salge's
trouble was to find potatoes good
enoJ. 4 for his patrons.
COOK here" SAID he, 81 want to
give )u a pointer. Why don't you
teli ha farmers to raise more potatoes?
Here ave been all over the city try
ing t. Guy potatoes, and can't find a
busha fit for my customers, and not
ten bU lhels of any kind in the city.