The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-15
COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDGES.


1t is to be hoped there will be no
more interruptions to the completion
of the Bouldin bridge and that It's
construction will be hurried up to
finish before some other disgruntled
citizen will attempt to catch on it ny
Injunction. If it rained "manna ana
quailn in this country some one who
had mama and quail at home would
try to get out an injunction against it.
This is not the spirit of enterprise
that should animate our people, nor
does it exhibit any disposition to unite
as one man on city and county i'm
provements, but it does exhibit a
spirit that will retard all pub
lie enterprise. The county and
city OF Austin are 30 Identical
in interest in many things that there
ought to be a jealous cooperation in
effecting facilities for the common
good of both. The farmers OF the
county need good roads over which to
haul their corn, hay, oats, wheat and
cotton to market, and Austin is their
natural and most convenient place for
marketing their products. The mer-
chants of Austin ought to be just as
anxious and just as much interested
in having good roads to Austin from
every point of the compass in the
county. They want to exchange their
goods for the products of the farmer
either by the purchase of the farmers
products with money or the
direct exchange, which amounts
to the same thing, and this
very fact ought to bring about a ready
and active cooperation.
This miserable idea that seems to be
cultivated by some men of preju-
dice of the countryman against the
town and the prejudice of the town
people against the country people is
mean and selfish thing that ought to
be frowned down by both. The people
of Austin, if they consult their own
interest, will aid in furnishing all the
facilities, in the way of bridges and
good roads to the people Of Travis
county in order to make it to their in
terest to deal with this, their county
town. Austin certainly offers better
market for all kinds of country pro-
duce than the little country stores, for
these stores after obtaining the produce
of the farmers bring ii 20 Austin to sell.
If the produce was always brought
directly to Austin, the farmer would
save the per cent on the sales to at
least one middleman and the Austin
merchant can afford TO pay better
price directly to the farmer for he has
to pay it to the country store keeper.
Rents are not high in Austin and
there is great deal of competition
and it is natural that the country peo-
pie can obtain better bargains by
dealing directly with the Austin mer-
chant.
All these things taken into consid-
Grafton will show both the farmer and
the Austin merchant the many ties
that bind them in common interest
and there ought not to be any hag-
CLING and injunctions about roads and
bridges as between the two. A recog-
milton of an interest identical is a
bond of union and cooperation that
ought to animate the town and
the countryman to but one thing, and
that is rivalry as to which could do
most for the common good and pros
perity.
The fact Is, county Improvement
association of citizens of the city and
country ought to be maintained, to be
composed of the enterprising citizens,
with it's committee to inaugurate
needed improvements and to influence
the county commissioners and the
citizens to engage in these improve.
ments, o committee understanding
the obligations of the commissioners
and with business character that
would give weight TO all projects initi-
ated by the committee to induce citi-
zens OF both town and country and
the commissioners to Immediately
carry out its suggestions. BY all
means let us quit this carping injunc-
ton policy and go forward with all
needed improvements.
THE Waco News says the AUSTIN
STATESMAN seems to be sailing with
out chart, compass or rudder. The
- ..... 49, l.nn .,ot nn.,nn