The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-09
THE STATESMAN.
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
EXECUTIVE pEpARTMENT

G0V. Ireland IN answer yesterday
to the inquiry whether he had any
answer to make to the manifesto of
the removed members of the board of
managers of the state lunatic asy-
lum. intimated that he had no pro-
nunciamento to illuminate in such
matters. The law did not require
that he should furnish the recalci-
trant members of the board with his
reasons for their removal, but simply
that they should be spread upon the
records of his Office. He had no OBJ
iectionS now to these reasons being
pnblished. we give them as follows:
In the matter of the removal of
w. J. Burt and r. A. Rutherford
from office as members of the board
of managers OF the lunatic asylum
| assign as my reasons therefor:
1t was highly detrimental to the
institution and the public service
generally for DIR. Burt to go to the
public through the press as he did in
the interview with News reporter.
2. Such publication could effect no
possible good, but was well calculat-
ed to work irrepairable injury in I'M
necessarily irritating and offending
the superintendent.
3. The board of managers, led, as |
am credibly informed, by DR.. BUT
and Col. Rutherford, removed or dis
missed number of the employees and
assistants at the asylum without
authority of law, and refused to con-
firm or reappoint others after they
were nominated by the SupeIintend-
ent. thus leaving the institution with
out its usual and accustomed and
necessary assistance.
4. This same influence on the board
passed an order restricting the use of
the carriage and horse at the asylum
in such way and form as to preclude
the idea of the members of the board
using them, and then ordering the Sill
sserintendent to send the carriage to
town to convey the members of the
board 10 the asylum. thus showing Il
disposition to annoy the superinten-
dent.
4. The dlSagreeable state of affairs
has gone on till it has becomea crying
evil. ~
6. The breach between the superin-
tendent and these members of the
board has, finally, reached a point
that prevented the board, at its meet
ing recently. from going into the
office at the institution to transact its
ordinary business. f..
:. That entire harmony between
the board of managers and the super
intendent should exist is clear. w..
9. The executive has no control
over the superintendent except
through the board of managers.
This state of affairs between the
board and the superintendent has
been going on since about the lst of
May last, and as a last resort | am
forced, in obedience to an Imperative
public demand, to remove the men,
bers referred to.
JOHN IRELAND,
Governor of Texas.
STATE ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT.
Capt. J. IL. Britton, state railroad
engineer, estimates that there are
about 5000 miles OF railroad to lie l.
Spected in this state. He says II the
different companies will furnish him
with proper facilities, he will be able
to make the inspection, but not such
thorough one as the act requires.
There are over 500 miles OF treStle,
pile and truss bridges. About fifty
miles a day, as the roads are con-
:structed in Texas will be fair aver
age of the work of inspection, He
UIOpOSCO W ShiSs
pext week. When asked what road
he would inspect first, he replied: 81
decline to answer, so as to give no
road any advantage in such matters"
lde stated, however, in a general way,
that he would commence from the
northwest of the state, and work from
aihe north to the south and from the
west to the east. The inspection of
the trestling and bridges required tie
most careful inspection, as nearly all
railroad accidents in this country
were caused by defects in such con-
structions.
In answer to the inquiry, what do
you think of the railroad bill?" Capt.
Britton replied as follows: II don't
think it is sufficiently matured though
it may form the nucleus on which fu
ture legislation can frame an ade-
luate bill. / know the bill is looked
upon by great many prominent men
in Texas, many of them particular
friends OF mine, as a farce. L can tell
you better in two months from now
what think OF it. If l ealiZe it to |
be farce / shall certainly hand my |
resigna; ion to the governor and ask |
him to cast some one else for the lead |
ing character in the farce"
Capt. Britton made these state. |
ments with degr ee of emphasis that |
indicate his earnestness in the matter. |
THE BRANCH LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The board to select plans, ETC., for |
the new branch asylum to be built at |
Terrell, met yesterday noon in the |
hail of the house of representatives, |
where plans, with specifications were |
exhibited before the board and in |
presence of the architects themselves. |
The various plans submitted were |
proposed by the following architects:
i. z. Myers, of Detroit, Mich; j. n. |
Preston s. Son, F. f. Rutfini, John |
Andrewartha, Austin, Tex; J. Willis,
OF Memphis. and r. III. Adair, of Gle
burRe, Tex.
No action was taken further than
examination of the plans. ETC., and
discussing their various features,
with view of arriving at their re-
.spective merits; nor was any further
definite action taken at a subsequent
Getting of the board at o'clock in
the afternoon
Among those present were Hon B.
+. Frymier. one of the commissioners
who self cted the site at Terrell, DR..
Wallace, appointed superintendent of |
the asylum, and the governor, comp
troller and treasurer, who constitute
the members of the board who are to
select from the plans which have been
presented in accordance with adver-
tisement for proposals. The resident
architects were also present and the
Others present or represented.
The legislature, it will be remem-
be1ed. appropriated 100000 for the
branch asylum, of which amount
about $4,000 will be expended in the
construction of the building. The |
plans for so fine a building are neces-
sarily elaborate and interesting. Some
of them represent a structure of four
stories, with engine house and work
shops combined in the plans. To ex-
canine them all fully in detail, and
with proper regard to the specifica-
tions, so as to make no mistake in the
selection. will require great deal of
very careful consideration. AS a mis-
take Ia the selection might loose the
state good deal in money or other |
advantages, the board will take due
time for action and probably not de-
eide upon the mattor for several days |
or more robablya week.
LAND HERE AND THERE.
Here in Texas, as may be seen by
references to the land laws flying the |