The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-11-04
AUSTIN, The CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
TIE SITE AND SCENERY
CLIMATE-HO Tells, RESI-
DENCES-CHURCHES.
UNIVERSITIES AND HOOLS-
STATE BUILDINGS-BuS lSEsS
ENTERPRISES. ETC.
GENERAL REMARKS.

GENERAL REMARKS.
Every cultivated stranger who has Wis
tied the city of Austin since it was located
and thoroughly explored it, has forever
after, as long as he lived, sounded
its praise. Even Europeans have fire
quenty pronounced it's site one of the
finest they ever saw in any country. Stu
ated as it is on the north bank of thu
beautiful Colorado river, witt
gradual rise until you
reach the plains beyond, with IT.
ravines and towering hills, atfOrding room
for humble cottages and costly and i'm
posing mansions, it is certainly one o
the most delightful sites for the abodes o.
men that can well be conceived. Nature
having furnished it with drains, no stag
nant waters ever accumulate upon its sur
face, but all find their way to the river
below, thus leaving the streets and build,
ings high and dry, even after prolonged
rains. Transplanted trees and evergreen
shubbery, together with trees of natural
growth, afford an abundant shade. As
there are but few manufactures where
steam is used, and as these are limited to
the lower portion of the city, the
noise, smoke and hustle incl
dent to manufacturing towns, are
here avoided by those not in their imme-
date neighborhood. In fact, those who
do not delight in such surroundings are
never, of necessity, afflicted with them; for
the most comfortable residences are en-.
tirely beyond their reach. Those who do
not live upon the thoroughfares are never
troubled with noise or smoke, but live as
quietly as they would in country farm
house.
From the tops of the hills IN the city
and its surroundings the scenery is grand
and imposing. The near and distant hills
and mountains when clothed with their al
most perpetual verdure, present charm
ing and enchanting aspect such as is sell
dom witnessed in any country;
and this extends as far as the
eye can reach. The rise on
the south, or opposite side
of the river, corresponds with that where
the city stands. For magnificent building
sites Austin, on either side of the river, Is
seldom equalled and never surpassed.
million inhabitants could here build pala-
tial residences and still be in sight of the
new ca pitol now being erected. Take it
all in all, no finer sites for building costly
residences can be found on this continent.
The beautiful Colorado, with its clear and
limpid waters, curls around at the base of
hills, and finally disap-
pears from sight by reason of the high
lands above and below the city. Beneath
the soil of Austin there is limestone for
nation, which frequently comes to or near
the surface Through this the streets are
graded, and on this the buildings
are so firmly erected they can
the heaviest rains without any
danger of having their foundations
weakened. There are, however, many
portions of the city where the soil is so
deep excellent gardens and fruit can be
successfully cultivated. In fact, gardens
can be cultivated and shrubbery sustained
on not less than fourfifths of the area of
the city. In some portions of Austin
there is a dark soil which, when wet, be-
comes very muddy, but by far the largest
portion of the soil is light and gravelly,
and free from mud at all times.
Austin became the capital of Texas in
August, 1889. At that time it was an In
dian hunting ground, and for years after
ward these wild men of the forest and the
plain raided the grounds where this city
now stands, and they seldom came and
left without leaving behind evidences of
their hatred of the pale faces. The
growth of Austin was slow but steady
from that day to this. 1t now has a pop
ulation of $4,000. The city was named
after Stephen F. Austin, and its name was
suggested by our present Gen. w. z.
Hardeman's father, Hon. I. j. Hardeman.
Since the "cattle kings" commenced
building mansions here few years since
and the railroads reached here, ,the wealth
and population of the city have rapidly
increased.
THE CLIMATE OF AUSTIN.
The climate of Austin is delightful at
all seasons of the year. comDaratiyelv