The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-24
COMMISSIONERS.
THE DISTRICT AND HONORARY
COMMISSIONERS OF TEXAS
MEET AT THE CAPITOL.
Addresses by Governor Ireland
and Commissioner Elliott
What Was Done.

The convention of district and no
orary exposition commissioners m
&C the representative hall yesterd
ei4Aofnlng.
State Commissioner Elliott made
lengthy speech, giving an account
MS work and the progress towarC
enllsting the people in it. He paid
nigh compliment to the citizens
Galveston for their liberality in pr,
yiding building for Texas, and
Sanger Bros, of Dallas, who hay
agreed to furnish it. He indicate
The reasons that induced the plans c
furnishing the county societies, an
closed with complimentary allusion
TO Governor Ireland.
GOVERNOR IRELAND.
The governor made a shor
speech. advising the commission
erS that the meeting was called a
his suggestion to perfect plans, and tt
give the people information of wha
they are to do. lie said he felt pecu
liar interest in the exposition because
a portion of the people of Texas did
not approve the act of the legislature
making appropriation for the purpose
but the state has spoken in its sover-
eign capacity, requiring the governor
10 make the exhibit, and he had selec-
Ell The most capable gentlemen and
ia'teS to carry out the work. He ex-
pected Texas to be represented in a
manner that would eyince the grand
eur OF the state. He had confidence in
the agents of the state, especially in
The ladies', whose industry bids lair to
distance the efforts of the other sex.
lie urged the commissioners to active
efforts that the carpers and critics
may be effectually silenced by grand
success. He commended that it was
a great and progressive enterprise
the results of which would be worth
infinitely more to the state than the
twenty thousand dollars appropriated.
Texas ought to be shown to be the
peer of any other state, and if not
done the people of the state would
blush at the failure.
The Governor was very emphatic in
his demads upon the Importance of a
full exhibit, and was applauded.
COL. ELLIOTT
spoke again, announcing that
the Texas railroads had all agreed
to take and return articles for
exhibition as far as the state line; and
also acknowledged the liberality of
the newspapers in giving space free
which were perhaps properly pay
matter" He introduced
COMMISSIONER JOOR,
Of Houston, who indicated that he
had made considerable pro-
collection of Texas grasses, Towering |
nl0nfc ond woods. hn ha1inrA1
the impression abroad was that Texas |
was a treeless country. He had al.
ready samples of one hundred varie-
ties of trees in Texas, and believed he |
would get one hundred and fifty;
while Alabama, a well-timbered state, |
was able to exhibit only ninety-six
varieties. His remarks on Texas
grasses were pointed without touch
ing free grass.
COMMISSIONER BREWSTER
urged the necessity of providing funds |
to pay expenses of the honorary COM
They ought not to be |
required to pay for the privilege of |
serving the state.
COMMISSIONER BOOTH,
If Wise, made an interesting speech,
irving an account of what the people
+ his district proposed to exhibit.
COMMISSIONER WOODWARD,
# Indianola, representing the shoe
tring" district, also spoke of what the
society of his district was
oing.
COMMISSIONER KNOX,
f Gonzales, promised that the eighth
iStrict would make an exhibit that
he rest of them would not be ashamed
If.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS,
# the ninth district, reported good
progress.
COMMISSIONER KING,
# the tenth district, made strong
argument in favor of an exhibit of
grasses, plants and woods, and of in
ects and soil. He held that the peo-
,le and the honorary commissioners
lid not know what was expected OF
hem. There was no published infor-
nation of what is expected of the
public. Circulars of instruction ought
20 be largely distributed. He believed
he minerals, marbles and granite
should be exhibited, and remarked on
,he want of appreciation of the Texas
equal of the best in
America. That though a mountain
Of this Burnet granite is situated in
IN adjoining country sufficient to
build city as large as New York,
and as beautiful as Venice, the state
capitol is being built of soft stone.
He held that the honorary commits
sioners ought to be paid their expenses,
and that the surplus of the APP
should be distributed |
amongst the&. They were honorable |
men, and would expend it properly.
Adjourned fill three p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon session Col. Elliott
resisted the idea of distributing any
money to the honorary commissioners.
The small appropriation would prob
ably be exhausted in transportation
and other expenses.
Col. Booth thought district commits.
sioners could go to each county and
personally give information.
General Woodward held that there
were so many honorary commission
ers the distribution would amount to
only four or five dollars each.
COMMISSIONER GOULD,
of San Antonio, suggested that there
be a publishing agent TO gather in
formation from district and honorary
commissioners, which he might re-
duce to readable shape that the news
papers would gladly publish.
General Woodward moved to ap-
point committees to get up informa-
ton for publication.
This elected animated discussion,
one commissioner moving to lay it on
the table, as rejecting upon the chief
commissioner.
COLONEL KING
wanted the governor and Commits
sioner Elliott and Judge Brewster to
suggest to the railroads what would
be acceptable from them in aiding the
state.
Col. Booth resisted this idea. The
government could not supplicate the
corporations.
Col, King denied that his PROPOSE
ton would bear such an interpreta
ton.
COLONEL ELLIOTT
spoke of the difficulties OF getting and
furnishing information. He believed
that the exposition people of New Or
leans were as much at sea as to de
tails as we were here. He favored tn
the idea of Gen. Woodward, but as tn
committeeman would be too widel
To lion. w. e. Chandler,
separated, it was not practical.
Pronositlon withdrawn.