Mower County transcript., 1908-05-20
IMPRESSION
OF AUSTIN.
Short Visit to This Burg BY Editor
Of Wells Forum..Adyocate
Shows City Mature lin
Years and Beautyi

Went 10 AuStlu- LOI q very DT16FI WISH.
AS this was. the first visit to that
city for long time, in fact to go
over the town at all, the first inn
preston was it's lesson to other towns
may be of interest In the first
place one can get but little idea of
the town from the Milwaukee road
for when that enterprising road was
built it could not get bonus from
Austin that would be satisfactory to
the road and it proceeded to punish
the town ~(?) by building away out
but has found in all.these years that
it is only a sidetrack as far as the
town and the Southern Minnesota is
concerned. Why do they not re-
arrange matters and get nearby is
still question All. these little
towns on two or three lines would
be better for a union depot as we
can see by attempting a transfer at
Albert Lea or Austin. If we ever
have a cross road here at Wells, if
the council should be asked for any
rights in the streets they should re-
quire union station
Austin gives the impression that
it's affairs were in the hands of pro-
gressive men from the start as even
the older buildings seem to- be pretty
good ones. Of course, it has, OUT
grown the time when a fine business
block joins hands with a shack and
the whole town feels like praying for
big fire. The town, was originally
laid out with an eye of beauty. The
streets present the same effect that
Wells does in having. been laid out
with boulevards, but in the wide
streets in Austin the grass by the
sidewalk is fully twenty feet wide
The houses are not set close together
either, but there is an appearance
of room for all to breath It would
seem as if any man in Austin might
swear at the children if he felt in
clined and not be heard by the neigh
bors. It adds to the looks of a town
to give plenty Of room for streets
and yards.
Then too the stores have become
more exclusive or they always were
so. Every store looked into on the
main street seemed to be exclusive
wares and not big emporium on
small scale. This would give the
owner of the place chance to branch
out on the legitimate line and extend
it at liberty. This would give him
the capital to do business with and
he would not be forced to carry prac-
tically duplicate Of every store in
town. In this way much finer
variety could be carried than in these
wider lines.
The main street from the Mil
waul1ee depOtis paved with brick.
It is the same make of brick used in
the sidewalk by the Park hotel. This
street is three-quarters of mile long
and then to be added to- it are the
other main streets through the town,
for the street to the depot is not the
main business street at Sall. It's
| chief object in life is to make con-
nections with the> Milwaukee road.
The bulk of the business is on a cross
street at right angles with this one.
The Cedar river adds a pretty touch
to the place and enables the city to
make use of power cheaper than
otherwise. The city has a fine park
near the electric light plant, run
ming to. the river. It is really one
of the neatest parks we ever saw in
a small town.
| rs
Taken altogether the town shows
itself to be well developed and OF
sufficient age to be a better town
than it would be otherwise. The
trees are large, many elms being
used in the first paintings and they
are Of good size now. The buildings
are good, considerable care is exer.
cised in the yards both as to the
grass and the shrubbery. When
Wells gets to be as old a town a:
Austin we hope it will be as pleas
ing to passing visitors. 1t has every
promise of it now, A little effort ir
harmony between business men fo1
the next twenty-five years will pu1
this town further along there is NJ
doubt.
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