The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-25
THE NEW TOWN OF ETA.
A Mass Meeting Of Suburbanites to
Securc Street Car Facilities.
MEETING HELD At SHEPHERDS DAM
Last Night 20 Consider the Feasible
ity Of an Extcnsion Of the Lines
Of the Electric street railway.


Thcre was hot time ln tho new town
last night.
The new town Is Eta, which is thriv-
Ing suburb Of Houston, located Just at tho
south end Of tho Shepherds dam bridge.
about threc-auartors Of mile from Brun-
acr addition. In addition to having q
growing population, and newly created
postoffice. Eta has school. an academy
for colored people, which Is prcsidcd over
by Professor J. IL, Garncti. which matri-
cuistcs large number OF students an
nually, some Of whom ara boarders ard
some day pupils from tho city OF Houston
and its suburbs. Eta and those In the
vicinity desire street car facililes, aud
last night mass meeting was held to de-
termino what could bo done TO In
ducc tho Houston Electric street Halfway
company to construct ''no or read
through that portion OF the county. The
plan seems ~ be TO have an extension OF
tho Drummer line out the survey OF the
county road, cross tho Shepherds dam
bridge, and connect with the san Felipe
line. thus making belt, tho new track
necessary being about two miles. A ,om-
munication was sent to General Manaser
II. y. McGregor. advising him Of tho
meeting and inviting him to be present.
Tho meeting was held on tho bridge.
There were about fifty present, some from
Drummer and some from Eta. Mr.. ID. y,
shepherd, a large property owner In the
vicinity. and MIR. Antoine A, Drummer,
founder of tho addition which bears MS
name. were present MIR. Harry c. Chase,
secretary OF tho Houston Electric Street
rat Mnx a tai as
thas company. MI. Shepherd was made
chairman OF tho meeting, Rev. j. G. Mid
yeti being selected as secretary. MT.
Shepherd stated tho object OF The meet
Ing to DO TO promote an electric car limo
through tho town OF istta. by building an
extension 10 the Drummer line 10 tho san
Felipe line. He explained that by quitting
In this bolt, tho street car company would
have an increase In business aud also
benefit tho people OF tho towns of Erun-
ncr and Eta. and be benefit to the col
orcd academy which Is fast growing into
an institution of considerable prominence.
iIe said the towns In that vieinity are sure
to grow as soon as the present cloud OF
hard times In removed. lie asserted that
iltta liz the best ono OF tho suburbs OF
Houston.
Mr. Camps OF Eta suggested that mas
much us a petition had been forwarded to
General Manager MacGregor OF the Street
Railway company from tho pooplo VI the
communities affected, and as Mr.. Chase OF
the company was present, /. would be n
good idea to hear from his on the subject.
MIR. Chasc was introduced. lie said Mr..
MacGregor was unable 10 DO present and
he came TO represent him, hut that he was
authorized only 10 receive whichever prop
ositlon might he made There are great
many things To consider In tho extension
Of Il street car line" said Mr. Chase, "one
T., tb., u 4 hn al mt kpr ha
cost OF maintenance, another tho wear and
| tear Of tho property. and nnother the pa
| 'ronago that viii accrue IN account or
| the extension. At the present time We have
other extensions In view. and can not
say what we Will do on this subject for
| your suburb, We Will consider any prop
osition You might make, md meet With
| you and cndeavor to get together In some
way to bring about q street car service
| for you. We are not ready TO so into this
| single handcd. There must be some help.
| probably on tho plan adopted when the
| Drummer limo was put in
l.. l.. Roberts postmaster OF Etta--Wc
do not all know how the Drummer line was
| put in.
MI Chaise--Tho Drummer people were re-
quirod to give bonus OF half Of what
| was required to build tho line. In figuring
| on this scale we also want 10 know what
| wo viii get out Of It, Only per cent
| Of the citizens Of Houston ride on the ears
| II wa should build this limo for you II
would require 40, 900 fares TO pay tho sal
| airy OF motorman md q conductor for
| enc year. This docs not include the cost
| OF building the road and other expenses.
Mr.. Roborts--What does It cost to build
| tho roadg
Mr.. Cause.-The average cost IL 10000
| per milo.
Mr.. Midyett---r would like to ask what
L.
that OF Drummer and that Of San Felipe
Mr.. Shephord-It Ia about two miles. or
probably littls over.
Mr. Dam Dickson CT Drummer said he had
come to the meeting to do what hc could
| to help the people OF Eta get a gtrcet car
line. He had canvnssed the town OF I,run.
ner and found all In favor OF tho extern
slon. Ho had had no experience In build
| ing car lines and did not know the cost
| OF such an undertaking.
\ Mr.. Roberts spoke OF the 10000 fares md
| sg.d ha had been informed by Professor
| Garnett Of the colored academy II at II the
car line was extended that It would In.
crease his attendance from Houston $50
| pupils. This would bs $50 fares each way
per day. flyc days each week. which In
eight months would gyo 1900 fares
| Mr. Chase said It would be out OF the
| question to figure that 100 per cent ~ those
attending would ride on the cars.
Professor Garnett was present. Hes said
| no had been conducting the academy three
years, and during that time rs per cent
| Of HIS attendance had been from the city
OF Houston. 70 per cent at least. lie esti-
mated that fifty would riaio every Gay and
pay car fare each way This school was now
| ondeayoring 10 ind somo way to transport
| tho pupils Of the school.
| j. w. Eatson, chairman OF the board OF
| trustees Of tho school. said he believed the
| limo would be well patronized.
| Mr.. Roberts moved that committo con.
sistiDg OF two from Drummer and two from
| Eta and tho chairman be appointed TO tn.i
! vestieste tho question. decide what could
Do done. and confer with General Man
ager NacGregof.
Chairman Shepherd then took the floor
and proceeded ~ criticize the action OF the
county commissioners court In not opening
| tho road He said the action of tho county
officers in regard to the racd had been
| most extraordinary. In fact that they were
guilty Of fiagrant neglect Of duty. Il am
at loss for words 10 express myself," said