The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-19
rnE AcRICULEgRAz COLLEGE AT

This institution was located by legislative
authority in the latter part Of 1871. The
first commission appointed TO take its con-
slruction in lchargc entered upon its duty
more for the purpose Of swindling the State
than otherwise, and after little work done
upon the proposed building, snd consider
able amount Of money spent, the work was
temporarily abandoned. The original np
preparation towards putting this institution
into operrtion was s75. 600. The first board
managed to get nd Of $4,000, and left
everything in worse condition than
If they had never made an attempt at
anything. The little work that was done
was condemned as worthless, and the build
ing after the above amount had been
stolen or otherwise consumed was aban-
doned The last Legislature took the col
lege into consideration, and under its recon-
mendation new board Of commissioners
were appointed, and authorized to continue
ihc work. Last summer contracts were
made with competent builders to go ahead
upon it; the condemned work was removed
aud under the new contract a magnih.
cent edifco is being raised which,
when completed aud the institution
Is put in running order, viii be an
honor to the State. It will be recollected that
$50, 900 Of the fund having previously been
consumed, only $4,000 were left for pres
ent contracts. The contract for putting up
the walls alone covers an expenditure of
500, 900. The architect employed upon the
work has made his calculations, and esti-
mates that it viii take an additional expen-
diture Of $57, 900 to put on the roof and
otherwise finish the main building, put up
tho necessary out-buildings, fences, etc.
This shows deficit in appropriations ne
eessary to put in operation this under
taking Of s47, 900. A few days since Hon.
G. /. Goodwin, Of Bryan, introduced bill
to appropriate s7O, 600 Of the five per cent.
University bonds, now lying in the State
Treasury, towards completing the college
and farm. Without some such provision,
a work in which the State has already in
vested large sum must be abandoned,
and by such course that part Of it which
has been done win, in time, be rendered
useless The walls win soon be completed,
and the commissioners have already made it
known that no roof can be placed upon
them unless the State makes further provi-
sion. II seems to as now the course Of pru-
dence to finish the undertaking at the earli
est day possible.
The Agricultural College is located four
miles from Bryan, on the line of the Central
Railroad. The estate $500 acres, was
decided to the State by the county Of Brazos,
and is said to be a very fine piece of farming
land. It is mostly black loamy prairie.
Though the college Is not located near any
running stream, water is easily obtained at
depth Of thirty or forty feet below the
surface Of the earth. The wells are very
profuse in their supply of water. It is
therefore very reasonable to suppose that
with an artesian well of proper depth a
sufficient quantity Of water could be easily
obtained for every purpose which might be
required The present commissioners, un-
like their predecessors, are thoroughly iden-
titled with the interests of the State. They
are Col. A. s. Broaddus and Mr.. Spencer
Ford, of Brazos, and Mr.. j. H. Raymond,
OF Travis.