The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-21
GOV. RonERrs FOR AUSTIN.
As the Site for the University, "First,
Last, and all the TImeo
Editor statesman

huitof oLdlesnlhn
1t will be Ofinterest to thousands
of voters in this great land never-to-
be-divided empire if the state uni
versity is located at our beautiful
state capital) to learn from the ap-
pended letter written by Gov.
Roberts over year ago to Profess
sor Cooper, that it has ever been a
cherished object of our able execu-
tive to locate the state university of
Texas at the state capital. A care
ful pernsal of the statesman-like ar
guments contained in this interest
ing letter can not fail TO convince
the unprejudiced mind that Austin
is undoubtedly the only proper
place for the location of the state
university. Following is the letter,
which the Waco papers would do
well to copy:
AUSTIN, March 81, 1880.
Mr.. Oscar H. Cooper, Huntsville
DEAR SIR-I have received your
letter of the 26th inst, propounding
| questions about a university for
Texas. The interest which L feel
on that subject induces me to answer
you promptly. Iwould be pleased
to see the subject discussed in the
press of the state.
The lands set apart for q univer-
sity are as follows: About 100000
acres that were surveyed in league
tracts, many years ago, in northern
Texas, being originally fifty leagues.
Part, of the fifty leagues has been
i from N he
amounts invested in bonds of this
state; and the amount of bonds and
notes of the fund is 100000.
In obedience to the constitution of
1876, the sixteenth legislature set
apart 100000 acres of land for the
state university, and provided for
its survey, which is now about COM
pleted in the extreme western part
of the state.
The said constitution requires
that "The State University of Texas"
should be located by vote
of the people of the whole state.
l am decidedly in favor of one uni
veIsity, except the branch of the A.
and M. college located near Bryan,
which is fixed there by the constitu-
ton.
"The University of Texas" proper
should be located at the seat of gov
ernment at Austin, where there is
now, about one quarter of a mile
north of the capitol building. tract
of forty acres of land embracing a
beautiful hill, called "College HILL"
which was set apart for university
forty years ago, or more, when the
city of Austin was laid off and made
the capital of the state. [ am in ia
vor ofthe next legislature passing a
law submitting the location of the
university to the voters of the state,
and to have one immense building
erected forthwith to be paid for
with lands. -.f.
want the one great building for
all purposes, without any stewards
hall or dormitories, just as it is at
Huntsville, with your school, and
let the students find their own board
and lodgings, and thereby interest
and benefit the city or town where
it is located, and let the stu
dents be under the police
government of the city as other peo-
pie, when they are not within the
college campus or building.
In this way a magnificent building
might be erected, and few profess
sors provided with salaries to start
with for the benefit of the present
generation.
1t was in 1889 that the fifty leagues
were set apart to build the universe
ty, and it will be forty years more, if
we wait to sell the lands for money
| and invest it in bonds and wait I'M
til it can be erected aud salaries of
| teachers paid by the interest alone.
am opposed to waiting any longer.
The posterity for whom this bounty
was donated forty years ago has
| come. We of the present genera
ton are the intended benefciaries
| Now, as for my reason for locating
| the university at. the capital of the
state, at Austin: The young men of
Texas who are educated at the capt.
tai will learn something more than
books. They will learn the history of
| the state and the character and lives
| of the distinguished men of former
times, and will see and become ac-
quainted by reputation at least, with
those who are controlling the affairs
of the state, with many of whom
| they may have to act in after life.
| They will there, also, more readily
than elsewhere, take in the knowl-
edge of the resources and attributes
of all parts of this extensive state.
They will also, by collecting at one
place for education, form associa-
tons and friendships with their
fellow-students all over the state,
which will be of great advantage, as
well as social pleasure, during their
whole lives afterwards.
Such an institution at the capital
would rradually collect people OF
wealth and of refinement of high
order, which in itselfwould be a most
valuable source of educational adj
vantage to students in the forma-
ton of character.
One school thus surrounded would
tend greatly to unity and shape the
character of the students from all
parts of the state upon the Texas
standard, which could not be the
case, SO much at least. if there were
several schools at different places.
All the students, being educated
at one high school at the capital,
would concentrate the affections of
the leading actors in the state gov
eminent in future times upon the
state as unit, with all its varied in
terests, and IN all its different local
sections, and implant love of state
pride that would rebound to its flu
ture glory and prosperity.
For the protection of the rights
and liberties of the people of Texas
in the future, great reliance should
be placed upon the building up of a
great state here, with a people
strongly united by ties of common
interest, a common patriotism and a
common character as Texans.
Therefore, / am ardently in favor
of whatever will certainly tend to
produce those grand results, one CEN
trail high school at the capitol, being
"the State University of Texas" will
certainly tend to produce them, and
as think, very greatly.
had not expected to write you
so long a letter, but this being a
cherished object with me, hardly
knew how to stop writing when
once started.
Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
o. M. ROBERTS.
After obtaining copy of the let
ter, which the governor kindly fur
nished us, a conv ersation ensued
| IN which Governor Roberts