The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-26
rHE srArE uNIvERsIrY.

and adopted by most of the Texas
press, The capital of a state, such al
least as Texas, must in time possess
advantages for the successful con.
duct OF a great institution of learn.
ing, equal to no other place within
its limits. Stretching frof6Iatitudc
20. so, to- Sc. 30 north, and from
longitude go 81 to 1O6o 4O' west, ex.
tending over territory from north
to south S25- miles in length, and
east to west 740 miles. an area OF
214,356 square miles, Texas NAV be
understood TO have the mosI
widely diversified interests, cen.
tered in no sense except at the
capital of the state. Every land
owner in the state derives his title
from the state. Though title NAV
be derived from an old Spanish
| grant, still the evidence of title must
! appear in the records of the General
Land Office, and the proofof land IT,
ties thus creates a community of in
terests, conferred in Austin. TO the
capital, too, from every por-
tion OF this broad territory, flows
the revenues, and the dis
bursements for executive and legal
and public free school aud varions
other purposes are made from here TO
every portion ofthe state. Business
calls for the occasional attendance
at the capitol of influential men from
every city and county, and every
community in the state, and the pur-
suit of information and pleasure
adds largely to these visitations. At
least once in every two years the
Legislature assemblies here, and the
capital is the constant resort of all
our public and best informed citi-
zens. Almost every man of means
who visits the state takes n look at
Austin, and from the capital city
visitors must in a great meas
ure, hereafter, derive inDres-
sions as TO the genius and
taste of Texans, The charming seen
cry of this. region is not surpassed
in grandeur by that of any
other portion OF the globe. Our
hills are not grand like the Alpine
ranges that mount backward from
Lakes Como. and ,Majiore, but there
is purity in these azure skies not
surpassed in Italy, and these ever
green hills and yelvety-green valleys,
with the pure streams of water that
wind amid them, are as charming as
the robes of nature were ever made,
and none behold them except but 10
love and remember. The purity of
these skies and the verdure of these
hills are typical of the life and vigor
and health of higher animal life.
Epidemics of disease are here un-
known, and, .properly cared for,
youth ought to attain manhood
in This climate, equal 10 that
OF the most perfect men.
Were it not that Influences of asso-
citation and OF cmatn so combine
to make Austin the most appropri-
ate place for the location of The
university, The STATESMAii would
not favor il, even from lis own
standpoint, but every demand
for, its location here may be
backed with forcible argument, and
If the people vote untrammeled
and nninfluenced by local considera-
tions, Austin must secure u larger
majoritythan was given TO it for
the seat of government. Those peo-
pie who visit the capital on business,
and those who come for pleasure or
for curiosity, would naturally de-
sire the states great seat of learn
ing TO be located here, for thus the
youth of the state, attending the
university, could be kept in con-
slant personal communion with
those most Interested in their
mental and physical advance!
ment. Those parents who have
had loved aud favored Off
spring away, understand the profit
of occasional personal intercourse
with friends, and will be
guided accordingly in their opin4
ions on this important question.
The patriot fathers of Texas, as
grand a set of men as ever fashioned
any nation into shape, understood
the strong points in favor of locat-
ing The university here, and, there
fore, they fixed its habitation, and
the magnificent site .or its location.
has been held inYioIate for all other
purposes for more than forty years.