Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [121], No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 23, 1975 Page: 1 of 12
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Bastrop Public Library.
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Musings
By J. Troy Hickman
REGULATETHE
utilities?
It always becomes necessary,
soldier or later, to regulate a
liix business that gets a
monopoly of some essential
product. Our grandparents had
to deal with the railroads We
have to deal with various utility
firms which sell us power, fuels,
or communications. The answer
has always been regulatory
commission.
Free enterprise is our chosen
way of life, but it is no good
unless there is a true
competitive situation. Monop
oly does not permit compel i
lion. Franchised monopoly is
the least competitive of all.
The individual customer
simply is no match for a big
corporation.
Free enterprise is our chosen
way of life, but it is no good
unless there is a true
competitive situation. Monop
oly does not permit compel)
lion. Franchised monopoly is
the least competitive of all.
The individual customer
simply is no match for a big
corporation which sells him
something he must have, lie
has no leverage to trade on.
The company sets all the terms,
and the customer can lake it or
do without.
Inevitably, this makes for
onesidedriess. The company
becomes less and less respon-
sive to the customer, and
usually more and more indiffer
ent arid arrogant. Corruption
and greed appear. Pressure and
resentment build up. The
company tries to handle it with
public relations advertisements
which say many nice things and
mean not hing
One day the public patience
wears out Someone introduces
a bill into the slate legislature
10 control these firms, and the
big business lobbies then gel
busy. Usually they can buy
enough legislators to stall the
bill Time goes by.
Another bill is tried and fails.
Then another But after a w hile
one is passed, and a commission
is set up to regulate. A new-
problem then arises, A tommis
a ion usually has from five to a
dozen members, and the
business lobbies exhaust every
influence to see that the "right
people" are put on the
commission.
Somet imes I hey succeed, and
then I he commission represents
the business, rather than the
people. This makes things
worse, for it !s easier for
business to buy and control a
down commission members
than to conlroi enough legists
tors ;o defeat a bill When the
commission is set up. it has to
be responsible to someone who
knows and cares about the
public interest The watchman
too, always has to be watched
A Texas legislative subeom
mittee has just turned down
the first attempt of this term to
pass a utilities control commis
sion bill. Not surprising either,
for business ami industry
iobbies have always controlled
most legislative processes in
Texas Hut other tries will be
made, and a bill will eventually
be passed, Ix-cause it must.
Most of us believe that free
enterprise based on true
competition ts the best econom
ic system on earth. The
economy of this country proves
it. Hut when competition is
bypassed by franchise monop-
oly or price fixing, then free
enterprise can be the worst
system, because then the big
man has the country by the
throat.
We say we don'! believe in
Socialism. Kegulative commis
sions look much like Socialism
of a limited kind. Most of the
Socialism in our country is not
here because idealists, theor
ists, and liberals brought it in,
but because big business lends
lo overstep its bounds and
throw iu weight around.
Socialist measures are invoked
only in sell defense.
The nation's biggest tele
phone company is in court right
now on an accusation of various
types of hanky panky, not yet
proven or disproved. Hig fuel
companies have just pulled the
neatest trick in history to gel
higher prices for their products
and increase their profits.
Power generating companies
which sell directly lo the
customer and/or sell wholesale
lo city utility distributers are
using various excuses lo gel
price rises, and much worse is
t hreatened.
Al! this is setting the stage
for the inevitable public
reaction which will result in a
little more of the commission
kind of Socialism, and we will
then hear a lot of breast beat
ing noises from business
corners, We shall continue lo
have just as much Socialism as
the lack of business responsibil
ity makes necessary.
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Activities Of ICA Listed
Since Organization Oct. 19
l-latablished March I, 185 3
Lance Trigg
Wins First In
Deer Contest
The directors of the Ha strop
County Soil and Water Conser
vat ion District awarded prizes
to the winners of the popular
District Deer Hunting contest
at their regular meeting at the
8.C.S, office Thursday night,
Jan. 10th.
First prize winner of $25.00
was awarded to Lance Trigg of
the Hills Prairie Community.
Lance's deer had an antler
spread of 15V* inches. Second
place winner was Victor
Waneck from Ko.sanky, with an
antler spread of 15'/< inches,
third place winner was Darrell
Hutson, whose deer was taken
on the Caldwell Ranch West of
Bastrop, antler spread of 15
inches.
All deer were judged on t he
width of antler spread and were
killed in Bastrop County. Most
of the deer were in good
condition this year because of
the excellent acorn crop. The
board of directors of the district
plan to sponsor the contest
again this year.
Mrs. Maynard
Benefactor 01
Museum
The members of the Bastrop
Countv Historical Society real
ized the accomplishment of
another project when the
(laeke Construction Company
of G Hidings completed a
combination drainage and re
taining wall surrounding the
back of the Museum, where the
bank drops off to the river.
Also the foundation for a new
storage room adjoining the
Museum in the back has been
poured. The present small
building just north of the
Museum, now used for storage,
will be turned into a kitchen of
an earlier era.
The members ol the Histori
cal Society, as well as the
general public, are indebted to
Mrs. Powell C. Maynard, who
so generously financed the
construction of the wall an4
new storage room, as weli as
the dirt fill around the Museum
building. The last room addition
to the Museum was also
financed by Mrs, Maynard, and
this very attractive and usable
structure was named the Clara
Maynard Room.
Members of the Historical
Society and the many people
who use and enjoy the Museum
and who are proud of its
historical significance and
meaning to posterity, express
their heartfelt gratitude to
Mrs, Maynard, who has made
its growth possible. The
Bastrop County Historical
Society was organized in Mrs,
Maynard's home, and since that
time, she has been an integral
part of that group.
The Society is also grateful t
Hob Nauert for his plans and
advice, and to Mrs. G. P.
Herndon and Mrs. Earl
Denman who co chaired the
committee for the project.
Publicity Chairman
AND BASTROP COUNTY NEWS
Bastrop (Texas) Advertiser, January 2 3, 1975
Number 47
FAUNS DEGREE Mis-,
Alice liaisler, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Haisler of
Houte 2, Haslrop. received a
bachelor of science in home
economics degree from Haylor
University at the close of the
fall semester, December 20.
DEER CONTEST WINNERS First place
winner, second from left. Lance Trigg;
second place winner Victor Waneck. and
third place winner Darrell Hutson. At left is
Sterling Wilkerson, chairman of the SWCD
Board.
Answers To Questionnaires
Ideas For City Improvement
Out of the 900 questionnaires
recently delivered in Bastrop,
asking opinions of the citizens
regarding city improvements,
142 were returned, for a
percentage of almost 16%,
which is better than the
national average in a mail type
campaign, according to City
Manager Bill Cox.
"All in all. the questionnaire
was successful," Mr. Cox said.
">\ud we will be aware of the
wishes of the people and
attempt to do something about
them. The only items left off
this summary were obvious
crank complaints, like the
sentence finalizing question
number 6....1 added it so you
could be aware that such items
were recorded. 1 feel good
about the statements returned,
because a lot of them are very
beneficial as we plan our future
work activity. Most of the
wizens were sincere and really
thought about their answers. If
we ever repeat this question
naire, I am confident thai more
citizens will participate, and
better projects will be suggest-
ed for our Master Plan of
Action."
The people answered as
follows:
1.1 think the most important
thing needing to be done in
Haslrop is
;lI Clean up the City
15 Improvement of streets
11 New Industry
6 Condemnation of old empty
buildings; Improvement of
drainage
4 Keeping the prison away
from Bastrop
3 A dog leash law
I Replacing of all old water
lines; Stopping the shooting
of fireworks in the City
Limits; Locating of all utility
lines in alley ways
2. I think Bastrop's biggest
problem is
29 Apathy of the citizens and
I he lack of direction of plan
ing
II Dogs; Unsightly and empty
buildings
7 Lack of good jobs for minor
ities; Parking in the down
town area
Nothing for the Youth lo do;
The condition of the roads
and streets in the area
1 Too many Mobile Homes in
Hastrop; Too much Federal
control
3. I would like to see the City
Council consider the following
matters of importance
36 Improved drainage
throughout the City
31 City wide Clean Up
Campaign
18 Obstructions at street in
terser lion*
15 Construction of sidewalks
and curbs; Development of
recreational areas
13 Elimination of junk vehicles
12 Control of loose animals,
especially dogs
10 Improvement of City
streets; One way traffic on
Main Street downtown; A
paved parking lot for
downtown area
6
7 Installation of more street
lighting
6 Construction of a Civic Cen-
ter; Regulation of Utility
rates and companies; Restor
ation of al! Historical
buildings; The development
of the River Walk Park
5 Removal of ail livestock from
City limits
•1 More housing of all kinds;
Payment of better wage*
Placing of school crossing
guards on the Highway;
Riding of bicycles on side
walks
3 Improvement of downtown
buildings; Lower utility
rates; The purchase of street
vacuum cleaner; Passing of a
noise abatement ordinance
2 The use of drugs by youth;
Better control of insects
1 The promotion of a bowling
allcsy; Planned Youth activi
ties; I Way stop with blinker
lights at Hiways 95 21 inter
section; A bigger water line
on Lost Pines Avenue; The
relocation of utility poles now
in street rights of way; The
opening of a Public restroom;
Elimination of trash burning
in City limits; Enforcement
of a curfew law on Teenagers
4 I think the following City
service needs improvement......
19 Maintenance of streets;
Garbage and trash pickup
17 Maintenance of ditches and
rights of way; Improvement
of Police Department Patrol
ing
15 - No improvements neces-
sary at all
14 Water quality, storage and
lines; Development of new-
businesses; Control of traffic
7 Development of park area
with recreation facilities
5 Control of loose animals
Mouse To House
Ml) Drive Set
For Jan. 27th
N. R. "Sully" Simpson of the
Citizens State Bank has been
named Campaign Treasurer for
the January 27. 1975 March
Against Muscular Dystrophy.
tin Monday. Jan. 27th,
Hastrop volunteer marchers
will conduct a house lo house
appeal for funds to fight
Muscular Dystrophy and relat
ed nouro muscular diseases.
Mr. Simpson said. "The drive
here in Bastrop is part of the
annual nation wide effort to
fight Muscular Dystrophy. In
the interest of public service
and for the convenience of the
volunteer marchers and donors,
the Citizens State Hank of
Hastrop will act as depository
for the campaign"
Muscular Dystrophy is the
devastating crippler of young
adults. The thousands of Texas
residents afflicted by MD need
your help as the majority will
not grow to maturity unless a
cure is found.
Program On
McDade To Be
Given Friday
The Bastrop County Histori
cal Society will meet at the
Museum in Bastrop at 3;00
o'clock Friday, January 24.
The program will be on
McDade and Wi I be given by
Miss Jewel Hudier.
The public is invited.
NOTICE
ANNUAL MEETING
The regular meeting'of the
share holders of The First
National Bank of Bastrop,
Texas, will be held in their
banking room at 3:30 p.m. the
fourth Tuesday in January,
1975, being January 28, 1975,
for the purpose of electing
directors to serve during the
ensuing year, and transacting
of any other business that may
properly come before the
meeting.
Cecil B. Long President
By Mrs. Arthur Goerti
The following is a news
release from the State Office of
the Independent Cattlemen's
Association sent to the secre-
tary of the county organization.
A very successful meeting of
the chairmen and counselors
and board of directors und
organizers, was held in Austin,
January 4. A broad discussion
of what had been happening
during the past 90 days
included:
1 The first Organizational
Convention, October 19, 1974.
held in Houston.
2. Meeting with Senator
Lloyd Bentsen, October 29. to
obtain his assistance.
3. Meeting with Governor
Briscoe, November 20, to give
the Governor a thorough
understanding of the problems
in the livestock industry.
4. Meeting with the Banking
Commissioner of Texas, Robert
Stewart, November 22, to
discuss ways of assisting the
livestock producers with their
financial problems,
5. Meeting with Charles Cole,
of the School Lunch Program of
the State of Texas. November
22. to discuss using American
beef in the school lunch
program.
6. Several meetings in
Washington, D. C. December
2nd through December 4th,
with the Texas Congressional
Delegation, key Congressional
members, Agency heads, and a
scheduled meeting with Presi-
It's A Matter of Fact
W. W COX. City Manager
4 All services need improve-
ment; Electric power; Fire
protection; Sewer service
1 - Telephone service; Roaches
killed in manholes; Meter
reading
5.1 agree that City Codes and
Ordinances are important and
must be enforced for the good
of all citizens, and I will
cooperate.......
Dog Tag Law, 129 yes; 5 ao; 8
no opinion.
Traffic Control, 129 yes; 2 no;
11 no opinion.
Tree Trimming, 124 yes; 5 no;
13 no opinion.
Safety Codes, 119 yes; 2 no; 21
no opinion.
Building Codes, 114 yes; 3 no; 7
no opinion.
Litter Control, 135 yes; 7 no
opinion.
6. I have the following
comments to make
20 Entirely too many loose
dogs
18 I compliment the job being
done by the City
17 Hastrop is a good little City
14 Bastrop is too dirty for such
a lovely city
10 We need equal enforcement
of all laws
9 The City Council is a real
good one
7 I appreciate the opportunity
to speak
5 More city-wide attention is
needed; We need less
speeding and "hot rodding";
Clean up the river area
4 New Citizens are the ones
who really appreciate
Bastrop; All Control Ordin
ances need enforcement; The
Garbage Service is outstand-
ing; All restaurants need
health inspections; We have
entirely too many bars and
whiskey joints in the City
3 Too many old dilapidated
buildings are in the city;
Those who don't like Bastrop
as is should move out; There
is nothing wrong with live
stock and poultry in the city
limits: City equipment is be-
ing used too much off duty
2 Bastrop needs more civic
awareness; I am really
enthusiastic about the future
of Bastrop; I favor higher
taxes if services are im-
proved
1 Bastrop needs a new Jr.
High School; Too much
reckless driving in the City;
Bastrop needs a Welcome
Wagon; The PA system at
ball park is too loud. Keep
Bastrop a rural community;
The City should take bids on
all work being done;
1 We need stricter Builder
Codes; Only vicious dogs
should be penned up; There
are entirely too many cats
running loose; Disban the
local Klzn Kontrol
I. I would like So see some
sort of Control Ordinances
written on the following
Livestock and Poultry, 100 yes;
22 no; 20 no opinion.
Junk Vehicles, 125 yes; (> no; 11
no opinion.
Weeds & other Health Hazards,
131 ves. 7 no; 1 no opinion.
YOU are, without a douut.
one of the finest communities I
have ever been acquainted
with-and I can name hundreds
with which I have been
acquainted. This is a simple
matter of fact...when YOU
make your mind up to move,
you move. I don't know if YOU
have set a record, but it is
bound to be near one-it took
YOU less than three months
from the talking stage to the
point of being accepted by the
Texas Bicentennial Commis-
sion. This is a whirlwind of
action as far as I am concerned.
On September 26, 1974, I
contacted Mrs. Gene Brown
rigg, executive director, of the
State Commission, seeking
information about the deadline
for participation as a Bicenten
nial City. The week of January
10, 1975, several news media
announced the fact that
Bastrop had been accepted by
the State Commission as a
Bicentennial City. When Bas
trop citizens organize for
action, there seems to be a lot
of ACTION taking place.
On October 14th, the City-
Council accepted the challenge
of becoming a Bicentennial City
and Mayor James P. Sharp
appointed a "working commit-
tee" of 15 persons to set the
program in force. Since that
date a lot of wood has been cut,
and now the house is taking
shape. There were a few who
thought "Bastrop has waited
too long to be recognize' ,
others felt that "we don't have
time to get it all done by the
February deadline"....but it
"got done" and "we are
recognized" thanks to a lot of
real dedicated, hard working
citizens.
The attitude of the citizens of
Bastrop has bewildered peopie
across the State. Many have
told us, "To move that quickly
and make up all the lost time is
an impossibility", and at first I
had the tendency to agree. But
"we have to try" was the
challenging answer stuck in my
mind. I have read a lot of
programs and have attended a
lot of meetings during the past
twenty years....but just watch
ing you work at this project and
listening to you read the Goals
and Projects made the patriotic
hair on the back of my neck
stand up and cold chills aw aken
me inside.
I was reminded once again
that this is a great nation and
that the average citizen loves
the Heritage of America, and
will sacrifice during the
present, to help build a better
future for generations to come.
This is the theme of the Bastrop
presentation Bastrop's F.qus
tion Of Life....Our Past + Our
Present = Our Future!!
On November 11. 1974. the
City Council approved the
Gi>als and Projects along with
the members of the Committee,
and then the activity started to
boil. Since that date a lot of
people have attended a lot of
meetings and the next step was
the completion of the Applica
tion for State Approval.
Al the regular monthly
meeting of the City Council on
December 9, 1974. the final
Application was approved and
all Goals and Projects were
accepted for presentation to the
State Commission. On Decern
ber 17th, Genera! Chairman G.
P. Herndon, Jr., personally
delivered the Application to the
Arlington office of Ms. Brown
rigg. She was amazed and
complimented the Bastrop
Committee for "one of the
finest presentations to come
before the Commission" and
assured Mr. Herndon that
"there is no reason for this
Application to be turned down"
and now we know that "it has
all been worth it and a good
job has been done"...so we
await the Federal approval.
The Application includes
over 60 different Goals and
Projects and lists over 100
persons involved in the
presentations. Since the date of
the Application, another 75
persons have been added to the
list of workers and an
additional 10 projects have
been considered. This is one
program that will challenge
even the slowest citizen to walk
fast and when the whole ball
game is over will challenge the
poorest of all fans to acclaim
with pride. "The Bastrop Team
Really Played A Game."
I compliment YOU, Mr. and
Mrs. Bastrop.
dent Ford T. A. Cunningham
and P A. Albrecht ai*e visiting
-.dveral other states this week
talking to the presidents of the
various state organizations
about association with the ICA,
Wednesday, January 15, they
were in Alexandria. Louisiana;
Thursday, January 16, in
Memphis. Tennessee; Friday in
Nashville. Tennessee; Saturday
in Jackson, Mississippi; Sunday
in Birmingham, Alabama; Mon
day in Florida, and they plan to
visit other states if possible.
The organized counties will be
informed of the meetings later.
Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Ai
brecht, and B. B. Gayle of the
state office attended a meeting
in Beeville, January 8th and
heard a speech by Congress
man Abraham Kazen. A
thorough discussion was held
before the meeting with the
officers and Congressman
Kazen. The congressman's
topic was Federal Land Use
Planning, and he gave a
summary of the bill that was
defeated in the last session.
Congressman Kazen has taken
a stand opposing Federal Land
Use.
A copy of a newspaper
clipping taken from the Victoria
Advocate giving President
Ford's views on l>and Use was
given those attending.
A copy of this will be sent to
the iocal paper next week.
Local Peean
Growers Place
In Show
Clyde Reynolds and Charlie
Goertz both placed second in
the South Texas Regional
Pecan Show held in San
Antonio in December.
Mr. Reynolds' variety, a
Graking, won a red ribbon,
second place with a 53.19
percent kernel. Mr. Goertz won
a red ribbon second place with a
Brake variety sporting a 63.28
percent kernel.
There were over 555 entries
in the show. Participating
organizations were Texas Agri-
cultural Extension Service,
Texas Pecan Growers Associa-
tion, Atascosa County Pecan
Growers, Bastrop County
Pecan Growers, Bexar County
Pecan Growers, Dewitt County
Pecan Growers, Fayette
County Pecan Growers, Gon
zales County Pecan Growers.
Guadalupe County Pecan Grow-
ers. Kimble County Pecan
Growers, Travis County Pecan
Growers. Wilson County Pecan
Growers, Winter Garden Area
Pecan Growers.
SUNDAY GUESTS
Mr. and Mrs. Seward Gould
and daughter, Diana, and Mrs.
Hettie Cherry of Houston were
guests in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. A. Darden on Sunday.
The Wonder Bean
Soybeans supply about 75
percent of all the feed protein
and about 60 percent of all the
vegetable oil produced in the
United States.
Piney Creek Philosopher Comes
Dp With A Shrewd Plan To Whip
Both Inflation And Recession
Editor's note: The Piney
Creek Philosopher on his
Johnson grass farm on Piney
joins the battle against
recession and inflation this
week, in his own way.
Dear editor:
Now as I understand it,
there's sort of a race on
between the Democratic Con-
gress and Republican President
Ford to see who can get
credit for cutting taxes this
year to fight the recession. Mr.
Ford wants to give a 16
billion dollar rebate to tax
payers and Congress is working
on a slightly different figure.
Both would come to about a 10
percent refund on your 1974
income tax.
In trying times like this the
country needs complete har
mony without partisan bicker
ing and I have figured out a
plan to achieve it.
You see, as everybody
knows, not oniy do we have a
recession but we also have
inflation. It's a two pronged
prohlem and we ought to attack
it on bath prongs.
Therefore I have come up
with a solution: let Mr. Ford
give me a 10 percent refund,
and to keep peace and quiet in
Washington let Congress give
me one too.
I will then lake Mr. Ford's
refund and fight the recession
by spending it as fast as 1 can.
At the same time, I will take
Congress refund and sock it
away in the bank to fight
inflation.
Theres no sense in doing
things half way. What have we
gained if we whip inflation and
wind up with more inflation, or
if we whip inflation and wind up
with a depression? As any
economist will tell you we've
got to spend and save at the
same time to do the job, and
two separate refunds are the
answer.
However, there's no use
being short sighted about this.
Too long have we depended on
Washington lo do everything.
If two tax refunds from
Washington will get th ball
rolling in this two pronged
battle, think how still more
momentum could be added on
the local level.
Whv don't Bastrop County
officials join in this recession
inflation fight and give me two
tax refunds? What's the school
hung on? The town? Why can't
the stale legislature in Austin
get in on it too?
We've got to stop this notion
ol depending entirely on
Washington. If two checks from
up there will help, think how
much seven or eight from down
here will help.
Yours faithfully,
J.A
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Standifer, Amy S. Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [121], No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 23, 1975, newspaper, January 23, 1975; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238501/m1/1/?q=%22Places+-+United+States+-+Texas+-+Bastrop+County%22: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.