Heritage, Volume 6, Number 2, Summer 1988 Page: 13
38 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
In 1902 Austin entrepreneur Andrew Zilker founded the
Austin Brick Company in competition with the long established
Butler Brick Company. The very successful Butler
Brick Company won its clay from deposits along the river's
south side east of Barton Creek. Zilker decided to make use of
those same deposits where they extended to the west of the
creek. To do so he needed a means of transporting the clay to
his plant across the river, a location convenient to railway
service. The tower supported system was the answer.
The original system consisted of a concrete and metal
tower on the south shore, another on the north shore, a third
on the bluff and the plant. The Austin Brick Company
utilized the system until 1912 when in a twist of irony the
company was sold to the Butler Brick Company. The sale was
prompted by a disastrous fire which gutted the competing
Butler plant. Zilker, who had farmed out the operation of his
plant to others some years earlier, heard of the fire and
immediately offered his plant to his erstwhile competitors.
Butler Brick bought him out and operated the plant and the
tower system until 1942.
The system was occasionally used to transport plant workers
across the river. Mike Butler, grandson of the firm's
founder, remembers riding in one of the buckets when one of
the supporting cables broke. He had to descend from the
dangling bucket using ropes tossed up to him from the ground.
After the system was taken out of service the cables became
a sort of unauthorized slide for some of the city's youth to ride
on the way to a plunge in the river.
The building of Austin High, the development of Zilker
Park and other construction doomed the south shore tower
and the two towers closest to the old brick plant. Today only
the north shore tower stands in partial ruin at the water's edge.
Its cables have long since been removed and parts of the cable
guides, rollers, and supports are missing. The remnants' location,
somewhat scruffy appearance, and the lack of options for
adaptive use make it a poor candidate for restoration or
preservation. Even so, that which does remain of the 86 year
old system is so massive that it is likely to survive indefinitely.
In 1894 the citizens of Austin were treated to a deal by city
officials that probably has few equals in the annals of city
contracting. The city had requested a study of the costs to
light its streets electrically, the old gaslight system having far
too many drawbacks. The study concluded the price would be
about $126,000 for an incandescent system, about $140,000
for an arc light/pole system, and more than $153,000 for an
arc light/tower system. At the same meeting where these costs
were stated, a representative of the Fort Wayne Electric
Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana offered the services of his
company in supplying an arc light/tower system. The price he
quoted was $113,500. Further, the company would take
payment in monthly installments as the construction progressed
up to the amount of $70,000. The remaining balance
of $43,500 was to be paid by transferring ownership of a city
owned rail spur line to the Fort Wayne company when
construction of the light system was complete. The cityThese "other towers" lend much
to the city's unique profile but
recognition of their significance
is a study in contrasts.
divested itself of a little used narrow gauge rail spur which had
been constructed to transport materials to build a dam on the
river and received its light system for a cash outlay which was
less than half the study cost projection!
The original agreement called for 30 light towers, each
mounted with six 2,000 candlepower lamps. The Fort Wayne
Company guaranteed the illumination from these lamps
would be sufficient for a person within 3,000 feet of a tower,
and in view of it, to be able to read the time on an ordinary
watch on the darkest night. The company was so sure of its
ability to deliver that amount of light that it agreed to remove
the towers at its own expense if it failed to live up to its
guarantee. Amendments to the original contract added one
additional tower and its lights. The amendments involved
changes in the system and added nothing to its cost.
At the close of 1894, all 31 towers were erected and the
entire system included 2040 poles, 220 pole steps, 500 cross
arms, 10,250 pins, 10,000 glass insulators, 205 miles of wire,
186 arc lamps, and 213 transformers. Austin had a light
system among the finest in the country. The "Moonlight
Towers," Austin's "Crown of Lights," were in place.
The triangular framework of the towers is 150 feet high and
is made of wrought and cast iron. Each rests on a 15 foot high
iron pedestal anchored in concrete which makes the full
height of a complete tower 165 feet. They are steadied by a
system of steel cables. The framework includes both a handcranked
elevator and a metal ladder to accommodate servicing.
In the 1920s the arc lamps were replaced with incandescent
lamps and in 1936 these were supplanted by mercury
vapor lights. Each tower now puts out 13,200 candlepower or
enough to light about a four block area. It is doubtful that the
original guarantee of the Fort Wayne Company would hold
up today with the advent of wrist and digital watches.
This marvelous system is of course no longer Austin's
primary street lighting facility. As the city grew and more
conventional street illumination was installed the system
became more ornamental than essential but has continued in
operation because so many citizens want it so.
Unfortunately the system has suffered a winnowing of its
numbers. The towers and their support systems are by their
nature and positioning at risk of collision by motor vehicles,
open to damage from high winds, and, not the least, subjectto just plain rust and corrosion. By the late 1960s ten towers
were gone.13
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, Volume 6, Number 2, Summer 1988, periodical, Summer 1988; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45434/m1/13/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.