The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-01-21

| massacre of the command OF Col
Frank johnson, on the Nueces river
by the Mexicans; giving his reasons why
he cannot move to the relief of the Alamo
and furnishing a cypher for the use Of
official correspondence, signed by Fannin
and evidently written from GOliad, as he
surrendered to the Mexican army on the
10Th and was shot on the 27th of March,
1886.
6. Original letter from V. b. Young,
dated at Mount Sterling, state of Ken
lucky, January 8, 1886 transmitting the
above papers to the commissioner of in
surance, statistics and history, which is
made part of this record.
In testimony whereof | hereunto sign
my name and ailix the seal of this office
at Austin, Texas, this fourteenth day of
January, 1886. II. p. BEE,
Commissioner.
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.
Fora considerable number of days past
limestone from thu Oltmanville quarry
has been delivered at the capitol building,
and yesterday the masOns began placing
the same in position. Granite is being
hauled by rail daily from the quarries
Il
Burnet On Monday next the cutters and
iinishers will be put to work and soon we
may expect to see the material delivered
at the works in this city.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
Prof. Edgar Everhart delivered a lee
ture last night upon the subject of the
practical Value of Theoretical Investiga-
10 ;II,,,t,nt,l l., :,
was heard by a large audience. The next
one of these public lectures will be deliver
ed by Prof. Alvin V. Lane, on Friday
night, January 20, to which the public is
invited.
STATE LAND BOARD.
The following additional instructions
have keen issued to the grass commits
sioner:
you will take with you bound book
containing list of all lands sold or
leased, and will keep said book posted up
as to sales or leases when reported to you
by the secretary of the land board. To
receive prompt reports you will at least
once week notify the board of your
whereabouts and where letters will reach
you.
When convenient you will be present at
awards made by the county surveyor, or
other agent of the state, and report how
such leasing are conducted.
You will pay special attention to the
actual settler, who in good faith
is seeking n home and render
him all assistance in your power
to secure land. You will also specially
inquire into the applications of such as
claim to be actual settlers, who are in
reality seeking to disturb and annoy les
sees by nominal settlement within their
leases.
The board is determined not to sell
leased lands upon which the lessees have
placed permanent improvements, such as
buildings, water tanks or wells and when
application is made for the purchase of
such sections, you will, if possible, advise
the board of such fact at once. Maps
will be furnished you as rapidly as posi-
BILE, and you should report at once any
discrepancies you may discover between
said maps and the actual position of the
surveys on the ground.
You are authorized, at any and all
times within business hours, to examine
the books of the surveyor, or other agent
of the state, for the sale and lease of
these lands
The commissioners, armed with the
above, and much more of the same tel.-
or, to say nothing of maps and law, will
start out, in 4 few days, for their posts of
duty.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Superintendent Darden was having some
of the shrubbery in the capitol grounds
taken up for transpldnting.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
Certificates upon which to conduct bust
ness in this state have been issued by Gen.
Bee, commissioners, to the following named
companies; The Phoenix, Connecticut Fire
and Hartford Fire, all of Hartford, Con
necticut.
The reporter was shown through the
state library yesterday, by General Bee,
and was somewhat amazed at the large
number of interesting volumes accumu-
lated since the burning of the old capitol,
by which fire every volume belonging to
the state library was destroyed. Particu
lar attention was given to an examination
of the siXty-two volumes covering the sec
ond geological survey of the state of
Pennsylvania. These books with their
colored maps and charts, are valu-
able acquisition to the states records,
and are well worthy of care
full perusal by any one who cares to delve
into the mysteries of nature.
Replying to aquestion, General Bee in
formed the reporter that he was having
printed DR.. Shumard's report of his ge-
illogical survey of Texas. DR.. Shumard
was appointed state geOlogist, by Gov.
Sam Houston, and subsequently made his
survey, but never submitted an official re-
port Being an ardent union man. when
the secession convention deposed Gov.
Houston, DIR. Shumard resigned his office
and left the state. When hostilities
between the states began he took
service as a surgeon in the
United States army. After the war
ended he wrote mp his notes ON the Texas
geological survey and retained them.
Shortly afterward he died, and only few
months ago Gen. Bee purchased the
maOuscrip, nom Mrs Shumard, payng
$40 Tor the sarae The work + nov ia