The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-03-26

y
self introduced the first steam printing
press that was eyer in Texas. II was
during my successive administrations
as mayor Of Galveston that the island
was connected with the mainland by
bridge q mile and half across the bay,
and shat that fine systom was inaugu-
rated Tor raising the Strand and SO con-
stTueiing houses on the water front as
to form a sea-wsll for the protection of
the city against destruction by storm or
tidal waves. But coming nearer home:
When everything hung in doubt here in
1872 as to whether Dallas was 10 be pre-
served and made prosperous, or be SUI
perceded by rival town two miles dis
tant, ask William III. CASTOR and Gov.
Throckmorton and tho departed spirit of
Jacob NusshaumerifI did not,unknown
TO the public, aud without the desire or
hopo Of reward, successfully mediate
ia effecting the last act necessary to
place the Texas Il Pacific track whore 1t
is to-day. In the legislature of 1873,
when the same road held over
the people Of this state the right
70 $6000,000 in 30 years. in
terest bearing bonds, was not
the author OF that feature of the con-
promise which substituted wild lands Of
the plains in lieu of the bonds, and not
only lifted that mighty incubus from
tho people Of Texas, but saved to them
nearly 100000 acres Of land claimed
by the company Ask Gov. Tbrock-
morton and the Hon. Arthur II. Watts,
of the court of appeals, If this il not so?
Then glance at the map from tho Brazos
river TO El Paso-every town on the
line excepting Eastland being a re-
suit Of that measure for the develop
ment OF Texas AS to my being we'd
ded to old ideas-eXcept as to honesty
and sound morals-lt Is ridiculous, nv
mind Is over ON the present aud future,
utilizing tho past only for It's lessons in
experience and pleasant momories, re-
ali2ing that the May Flower preceded
the Great Eastern, Hat boats tho float
ing palaces OF the Mississippi, and that
oX-carts and pack mules preceded rail
roads IN Texas. la all my travels
have sought practical knowledge, and
In occurring In behalf of Mexico in New
York, Boston, Baltimore and else
whore, have been honored by mon AZ
auditors eminent IN this country, in
GLIDING LOngiollOw, who took meifOm
the lecture stand under tho shadow of
Harvard 10 sin ten with him unuor tho
tree where Washington mounted his
steed on that day in l775, when he 49,.
sumed command OF tho Continental
army. Visiting tho public schools of
that country the better 10 qualify my
sell TO DO my part In tho progress of
Texas, ] was honOred with seats among
the officials and addressed large audi
Onces At school exhibitions in Proyi.
dcnce, Hartford and state educational
institute az Easton, Maryland, besides
visiting high schools In New York and
many other places. All these things uc-
cured whom clouds lowered over Texas,
were uuheraldod a. tho time, and have
never been referred TO by mo, as / no..
garded them simply as educational
hidS ~ my desire for sound, practical
knowledge. In the same spirit | have
never alluded to the fact that / was an
invited guest TO the banquet givou by
President Juarez to tho Hon. WIN. III.
Seward in the Halls Of tho Montezumas
and made short address, As an invited
confederate. ! have simply preserved
the ptasidonts note As q pleasant me-
mOntO and have 10 vet.
Interviewer: Very we'll, major.
Now II is claimed by some that DR..
CfoWdus, being a man ct wealth, has
high claims 90 administrative ability.
while tho converse would be that, voiT
possessions being small, you would not
nave equal claims. What have YOU 10
say on That point?
Mai. Brown; have 60 say that Il Is
an insult to American intelligence. a
fopfoach upon the memory Of tho tour
prusldeuts, Jefferson Madison, Monroe
and Jackson, and three Oi the greatest
American senators, CLAY. Webster md
lien'ou, an Of whom died ia compare
tive poverty, ami 90 valid and carried
toitH logical conclusion, then 10 would
DO right Tor The president aud congress
60 ebdiraio their functions aud cbnsl.
tui5 low milll0uairus into % iuntOto
run lho government. / cOguisa la
Dr. Or0Wdus % good citiznn, who hv
strict attention 10 his private .n1irs.
IKE thousands uf others bv
tha same means, has acoumn.
lNtod q handsome properly. "A To
ms ability ia Tho infringement
OF municipal Affairs ] shall speak
SIMPLY facts from the record
/ was elected an alderman for The first
umo IN Dallas ON tho Sth ul lasr April,
ana sworn In ON tho 2lst devoted tho
intervening II days 90 AN examination
oil tue laws and records, In order to
qualiiy myself To serve tho people, who
hRui without my solicitation, elected
mo- ana stood Ia blank amazcmoht al
tho result Not au officer of the CITY or
cltlhrn IN possession Of the charter.
under which eur laws wore presnmed
10 DO nadO, hut 10 existed only i'm four
iraEmontary parts Ia tho private acts OF
the legislature, passed In 1919, 1879. 1881
and lsSi. found the city ordinances.
by the alterationsO OF several veara. in "A
comparatively unlntelligibla condition.
and ~ ordinances, affecting tho rights
.oI persos aud property, In "a written
hooki without printed copies. | found
thdt WI the resolutions, however i'm.
hor'sns Iol 10 years past, were strung
tht"SBh thousands OF pages OF
the journals, inaccessible to onicor.
uiu1en OF property holder, except by
chronological research 80 tedioua and
veN0tlous rs go have detorred. from
time TO time, hundreds of citizens and
many lawyears from tho attempt. |
found, on pressing those Investigations
NJ later period, that all the ufieial ma
pers accumulated since 1868, but chiefly
III la,nr years, thousands Ia mmbuT,
were ia promiscuOus packages, without
ofder, arrangements classification, lnbpi
or il.eN, The secretary, elected last
MAY met this bedlam OF confusion
erovor he turned, and no record, tat.
hiateu or otherwise, rs required hy Law,
showing the Indebtedness OF the civ or
inc condition OF the bonded debt. And
IN al these complicated masses of con-
fusion there was not an index To aud
secretary Parry IN his gloomy invosti.
cations through them, DR.. Crowdus was
an alderman from April, 1875 TO APRIL.
1919 three years, and mayor for two
years ending In April, 1883, aud such
was the condition OF our municipal
records and archives whgn no
closed his functions, aftOr "A snr-
vice, In all, ol i've years. This ia
All nave TO say on this hoad, with the
romsrk that hold that gentleman n
the highest esteem,and SUPPOSE hat hi.
heavy private business prevented thst
devotion 70 municipal affairs which h
more needed In the mayorslty OF Dailns
THAN IN any city with which have oyor
been acquainted.
iound ovory mombor Of the council
Wiling TO cooperate In bringing order
out OF this chaos. Some OF tho no elected
MENTORS had felt this incubus upon
wise city legislation. Since then a mum.
Der OF OK members have told mo of tha
dilleulties by which they had boon sur.
rounded In this regard and fhnir tpslrn