The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-20
THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
What it is, and What 1t Ought to Be-A
Fundamental hange in its Mode of
Government Essential to the
Future development and

Fundamental hange in its Mode of
Government Essential to the
Future Development and
Prosperity of Austin,
In The minds of many thinking, re-
flecting men change involving quite
new order of things is needed here
in the capital of the great state of
Texas. This change propc ses to aban-
don the present system of municipal
government, and turn Austin over to
the state legislature to con-
troll through body of duly
constituted commissioners. There is
nothing startling or rev olutionary in
this. 1t is not even a
NOVEL IDEA.
Numerous obSerVant men have long
since pointed out that this measure
was necessary to build up city wor-
thy to be in reality as in name the
capital of such state as Texas.
Texas itself is not to be regarded
from a comparative point of view. 1t
stands apart from the group of sister
states, with grander history than the
proudest of them can boast. its
position in the union Is
the confederation as the others, but
as an Independent republic that had
gained the admiration of the world
by the daring deeds of its heroic sons
In their successful struggles for an
tonomy: and to-day 1t stands ALI lul-
peTium in imperio, destined in the
sure course of years to take its pre-
destined place as the greatest of all
the states of the American union.
This is no arrogant assumption OF in
H1fnn UnnIfU hlIf q cnhar T1ro1i afinT1 Of
what the future will surely reveal.
But what has all this to do
with the opening sentences of this ar
ticle? 1t has much to do in explain
ing the particular conditions that
surround the case. Texas should have
its seat of government, a city in some
degree commensurate with the i'm
portance of the state. Austin as it
now is can boast of a population not
exceeding
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SOULS,
when ii ought easily to have a popu-
latiOn of hundred thousand. Vari-
GUS improvements unnecessary to de
tail, though badly needed now, might
easily be made if the state were given
possession of the city. 1t is not as
an ordinary capital. Here the
state owns property, already
very valuable, and the worth of which
at the end of another decade will reach
to many millions of dollars. Numer-
Gus blocks, the grand capitol building,
the university, the very streets, are
state property, and in these the people
of every quarter of Texas should feel
a peculiar pride. They do feel this
pride. But left to the management of
a local council of men elected in pot
house style, let their abilities be ever
$50 great, what can be expected? The
Improvements at best are but tempo
lrary. Nothing is done to beautify or
Iadern, and the same course of affairs
may be expected to continue indefi-
iitely until the state is given power to
administer municipal affairs, to tax
the property Of the city, and
I'd expend revenue wisely. Wash
i1gton City is governed by
congress, and in like manner
Austin could be governed by the leg
ishture. There is nothing selfish in
the proposition, for it is matter that
every Texan should feel concerns him
Individually. The property of Aus
tin, would be made to contribute to its
grandeur. The glory of Austin
would be the glory Of the state.
Strlngers Judging of the people and
thecountry by the capital as it now is
canform no exalted opinion of either.
Surrender the present charter and let
the state take control and in few
years the Oldest inhabitants would
notTecogniZe the place from the phe-
nonenal character of its advancement.
This done and the result is sure; we
would have here the fairest capital in
all tae land-the seat of government
of tAe happiest, proudest and most
PROSPEROUS American state.