The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-12
exas Letter.
AUSTIN, Texas, Mar. %, '76.


Ed. Grange Advance:-As we prom
tsed to give your readers an idea or two
about the most beautiful city in Texas,
We will now proceed to do so. As the
stranger approaches the city from any
direction, his first impression is that it
solid substantial place. That i'm
preston is strengthened as he sets foot
IN Pecan street, or Congress avenue,
The business streets. At the head of
Fhe avenue looking north, stands the
;apitol building, an imposing looking
structure, but upon a closer view it pre-
peSts rather a dingy appearance, showing
hat it has stood the wear of many a
'norther.' 1t stands upon command
ng eminence, and view of Congress
venue, looking south, is about as fine
IS one can get in this or any other
country. AS we approach the capitol,
he first object of interest is monument
made from the ruins of the Alamo, San
Antonio. It stands at the south en-.
rance, and is to every Texan of great
interest, as it commentaries that men,
'rable day in 1886 when so many brave
aen were brutally murdered. On the
outh side of the monument is the in
cription.
"Blood Of heroes that stained ME; let
he stones of the Alamo speak, that their
mmolation be not forgotten"
Below is the name of "Bonham."
On the west side is: "To the God Of
he fearless and free is dedicated this
Altar, made from the ruins of the Ala
TO-" "Crockctt.'
On the north side is: "Thermopyle
ad her messenger Of defeat, but the
Alamo had none." 'sBowie."
On the east side is: "Be they enroll
4 with Leonidas in the host of the
lightly dead" "Travis''
On the base Of the monument is cut
le name Of those who fell at the Alamo
that memorable March 9th, 1886.
here are 1875 names as near as we
)uld calculate, though many of them are
efaced, making it somewhat difficult to
rive at the exact number. Consid-
= ing the historical associations, the
ones of the Alamo are very interest
e, whether viewed at Austin or San
.ntonio.
From the Capitol We stroll down to
re Colorado where stands the "Austin
factory" Of Messrs. Branet s. Co.
-oa Minnesotian who has so long been
;customed to a natural freezer for
veral months in the year, the manu-
cture of ice is a novelty, and a very
teresting one. We will rot attempt
description of the whole process, as it
somewhat complicated. The factory
as in practical operation, however, at
,e time Of our visit, and was turning
1t 10000 pounds per week of good
ear ice. The agent employed in freez-
gis ammonia, and the tanks are 80
ranged that every six minutes they
Ike out one cake Of ice weighing ex-
lily tweuty-one pounds; the cakes
eof a convenient size to handle, being
'out ten by twenty-four inches and
'out three inches in thickness. The
ermometer attached to pole and run
'wn into the tank in which the freez.
- is done, indicated 16o below zero
ID reminded Us so forcibly Of Mime
ia that we tried to make an arrange.
ent with the proprietor to let Us stay
while in that particular tank, but he
ally concluded that he could not stop
siness to crafty an individual snow
.gger.
The ice is sold at present at two cents
pound, with prospect Of u reduc,
n in price, as another party is starting
opposition factory. From the ice
:tory, we took genera! stroll about
e city, visiting the Texas Military
and other places Of interest,
d were very favorably impressed with
appearance Of the city. The pop
.tion at present is said to be about
1000. The buildings are principally
stone, and there are some of the finest
aries of building stone in the vicinity
Ut we ever saw. There are few
.nufactor;es in the city. We noticed
'eral planning mills, and in the east,
portion of towc we saw u couple Of
ob:oo .L>u,, ,.,o,:. -