The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-09-01
Tyler and Mr.. Douglas
Editor Statesman

1 EulJOr ClAlcrmdI
Mr.. James P. Douglas thinks, in
an article in Sundays NeacS, that in
the present condition of the univer-
sity fund, the university should be
located at Tyler, because the good
people of that enterprising place of
fer to give the state a school house.
The university is not offered at pub
lie auction, and the matter of its To-
cation is of greater concern than a
few dollars and cents. If properly
located, the university will prosper;
if put at the wrong place, it will
drag out miserable sort of exist
ence, accomplishing little or moth
ing. Neither $4,000 school house
nor 100000 university building
will make the university. 1t must
be patroniZed and sustained by the
people, and young men desiring to
be fitted for the pursuits and pro-
fessions of life will consider the adj
vantages offered. IfwhOlly inferior
to places outside of the state, they
will not stay at home. Do the best
we can, and let the people of every
section of the state unite in build
ing up the university, and still it
will, for years, fall below what
young gentlemen can, for the same
money, find elsewhere. 1t be-
hooves us. therefore, to afford, at
the outset, every advantage we can.
Among some of the advantages pre-
sented by Austin are the following
1. In the capitol buildings and SUI
preme court room are libraries worth
thousands of dollars. The value OF
the state library is not generally APP
preciated. 1t contains not hundreds,
but thousands of rare and useful
books that can not be found else
where in the state, and which the
professors and students of the col
lege would want to consult.
2. In the capitol will be found a
very large collection ofmineral, etc.,
the accumulations of years.
3. In the capitol and department
buildings are archives pertaining to
the history and organization of the
government from the earliest down
to the present time. Access to these
by the student and young man who
expected to make Texas his home,
WOulQ De desired.
4. Among advantages and con-
veniences, without which no such
institution as it is proposed
to make the university of Texas,
could be properly and successfully
conducted, are water and gas, to
say nothing of the lower rate of in
surance, safety to property and lite
i'll case of fire, can only be secured
by an abundant supply of water.
Besides large quantity of water is
wanted for bathing purposes and to
irrigate and beautify the grounds.
The water works at Austin which
have been in successful operation
for several years, have already a
large pipe extending to university
hill. The gas works are also in sue
cessful operation, and their pipes
reach within one block of univer-
sity hill, thus obviating the danger
and risk of explosive lamps. The
state will hardly undertake the very
expensive experiment of establish
ing water and gas works for the
benefit of one institution. Now
venture the assertion, that if the
whole available university fund was
expended it would not buy such a
library as is now in the capitol build
ing. The collection Of minerals
must have cost over $4,000. Voter
and gas are at hand at reasonable
rates. Building material of the best
quality and in great abundance
is within sight, and can be
used at this time in connec-
ton with the opening of quarrles
and the construction of machinery,
ETC., for building the new capitol
cheaper than at any other time. AS
against all these advantages, will
the intelligent voter weigh the cost
of single school house, even though
as much as $4,000. SUBSCRIBER.