Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-02-19
DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS

Inc State OF Texas is now divided into thirty
I'VE counties, VIZ :-1alVeston, Harris Brazoria,
Managerial, victoria uourales, san Patrucla, Re-
iugio, UoAad, JACKSON, beNar Dastrop, Travis
.ayette, COLORADO, Austlh' ort Bend, Washington
pindll' hooertsoh, montgomery, tune giant county,
LioGrty JEFFERSON Jasper houston Sabine, Ma
cOsuocnes, hush, Odi augustine, ohelOy, (more
D,'II.'ariy known ds Stu'e Ldmdhd,l HARRISON
ooWfe, ked KVer' RAINING ana Lamar.
, VI these, Montgomery Is the most popuous of
u,e Interior counties, and Galveston the most pop
u'ous OF those situated on inc coast Galveston Is
.ne largest city OF Texas though Houston, per-
nlPs' contains about the same number OF lnhabi-
ANS me next Guy OF Importance Is San Angus
uie' III "nch are locateu the ashlhgton college,
WIN ABOUT one huhufed ana forty students, and
seminary win rom SHY 10 seVehty-hve. 1t has
population OF ABOUT niteeh hundred.
AusIin' the seat Oh uo.eThnlent' IN raVls coun-
~, al the loUt OF lhe nan oaca mountains, ana hg
uratlVeiy called the "CIy OF tne seven HIS Is
80 l'uo'ou III VIZ ~ oe III 'lle
If has nonnlaton of twelve or fffeen HUNDRED
and is rapIdlv increasing. The new constitution
p:ovides that the seat of Government shall con,in-
ne AT Austin until 1870 when should the State be
divided in The mean time The nrobabi,t, IL thot IL
will be removed farther east.
San Antonio de Bexar, near the extreme wes-
tern frontier of Texas. on the San Antonio River
is the oldest and best built town in Texas II was
settled about two hundred years AGO under the au-
spices of an association of Spanish Monks. and at
one time contained about fifteen thousand inhab-
tants But it has several times been nearly depop-
Mated within the last century bv the attacks from
the Camanche Indians. it never having been ade-
uuatelv defended by its inhabitants. or the Spanish
and Mexican Governments nor until its martial oc
cupation nv Texan or American citizens. The
town is built entirely of stone. and now contains a
population of about fifteen hundred. principally
Mexicans
The Aama, dsmantled fortress, the memora-
Bile scene of the lamented fate of Travis. Bowie
and Crockett, is situated on the east bank of the
San Antonio River, opposite the town, and contains
within its walls church in partial state of pres
ovation There is also in the city large Catho-
lie cathedral used by the Mexicans as place of
worship. This like all the churches in the yicini
ty of which there are FIVE is built in an ancient
style of architecture and rive to the STRANGER the
impression that he is WANDERING amid the C9stilian
edifces of old Spain.
There are two large public SQUARES in the civ Of
San Antonio one called the Military souare. infen
ded for military occupation, and the other the Civil
square, containing the public BUILDINGS of the mu
ncipal authorities
About five miles above the CITY are the sources
of the San Antonio River. These consist Of four
fountains" or springs the larpost covering near
" an acre. and the others smaller in size, The
water of the fountains is so TRANSPARENT that fen
cent piece may be seen at the depth of forty feet
The outlets to these fountains mite short dis
lance below. and at point about three miles above
the city. a dam of solid masonry is thrown across
the stream and aoueducts are from thence con-
structed on either side of the ryo, 20 onn,o,, tho
water from the main reservoir to the house: and
gardens of tLe citv and he nlan,o,lns H.,
These ooueducts were Constructed nerbons cen
turv and half AGO Inv the Cotbolic estoh sbroent
and nnder Tho Foundations tbon establisbnJ ,ho
proprietor of each hacienda was. as is said ner-