The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-02-09
THU ARSENAL LOT.
Mayor Male Opposes Its CONVEX
sion to the City
On the Ground That It Should be
Reserved for a Mill
tary Post.
Action Taken by the City School
Board, Urging Its Cession
to the City.
Views of Messrs. Fillmore, Wool
bridge, Breckenridge
and Others.

The bill of Congressman Sayers, which
has passed the lower house of congress,
to make government title to the city for
the use of the arsenal lot in the Tenth
ward for school purposes, is opposed by
Mayor Male, Major Breckenridge and
9th srs on the ground that it should be re
served for military post, and that Gen,
eral Stanley approves its retention for that
purpose. Mayor Male informed Mr..
Woodbridge and Judge Fillmore, of the
school board, that this was his only reason
for opposing the bill.
Mayor Male contends that military
post here would be far more beneficial to
the city than a donation of the property
or the use of it by the federal government
for school purposes. He went to San
Antonio, he states, and consulted with
General Stanley, department commander
there, who expressed himself strongly in
favor of military post here, and said he
would do everything he could to secure
it. General Stanley told him that
it was the policy of Gen.
eral Sheridan to concentrate United
States troops in the interior of the state,
as they are no longer needed on the from
tier, where transportation of supplies is
costly and inconvenlent. General Stan
ley thinks the citizens of Austin should
urge congress to appropriate $4,000 for
buildings for the use of troops, ard that
congress would grant the appropriation.
If, Mayor Male argues, we can secure
$4,000 the first year, it will
not be difficult to get as much more next
year, and we will finally have as fine build
ings and improved grounds as they have
in San Antonio. Austin, as the capital o
a border state, would become an i'm
portant military post.
Mayor Male states that he told General
Stanley that if the arsenal lot here was
not large enough he would purchase the
lot adjoining if necessary and donate it
to the general government for that pur-
pose. 81 will do it," he says, "as the best
thing possible for the business interests
of Austin"
Major Breckenridge stated to the re-
porter that he was fully in accord with the
views of Mayor Male, and added that il
the federal government had no lot in thu
city he would gladly contribute toward
purchasing one if necessary to secure {
military post in this city.
Colonel DeGress, Captain Mather anC
others are understood to take the SAM
position as Mayor Male.
In an interview by The STATESMAN
representative with Mr.. A. P. Woodbridge
~ president of the city school board, MI
Woodbridge made the following state
ments:
"The school board for two years hav
been seeking to acquire this lot, becaus
it was eligibly situated for school build
ing for the accommodation of pupils o
the Ninth and Tenth wards. Ii acquire,
by transfer from the federal government
it would be a saving of $4,000 or 81 600 Il
the city.
At the suggestion of Congressman Say
ers we appointed committee over yea
ago, and Judge Fillmore, as chairman o
that committee, went to San Antonl
with a certified copy of resolution
which we had adopted asking for tn
transfer by congress of the arsenal lot t.
get General Stanley's approval as depart
ment commander, as usual in such cases
and as was done in Louisiana in the trans
fer of the United States barracks to tn
State university at Baton Rouge.
Judge Fillmore met General Stanle
who said: "Certainly, will recommen
that the federal government turn it owe
| to you as it is an abandoned post and tn
government has no use for it for militar
u purposes" He had supposed We woul
prefer lit for a confederate home, as ia
state had large fund for school uses, br
as such home had been provided for b
would recommend the application 70
Y educational purposes. And subsequent
he did forward it to the war departmer
with his approval endorsed on the appli
cation. 1t did not reach Washington
however, in time for Congressman Sayel
to get it through the house, but he he
done so now. Senator Coke said tht
when it had passed the house it woul
easily go through in the senate.
AS a military post the property We
abandoned twelve years ago, when mill
tary headquarters were removed frol
to San Antonio.
Feeling reasonably confident of gettin
the lot we appropriated $4,000 for scho
building for that section of the city, e,
pecting to start building there out (
that years scholastic income, and to a.
propriate as much more from the ne!
years revenue.
eff there was any reasonable prospe
of getting military post established he
we would forego our application for IL
lot for a school house, and make 9TH
provisions for one in that portion
town. l assume, however, that the prof.
cry will never be used for military pc
so near the one at San Antonio. I'll
board, of course, feels under obligation
to establish a school in that part of IL
city, and was naturally anxious to get IL
arsenal lot for the purpose, as it wou
save the city the expense of buying on
mayor Male was cognizant of o,
efforts to get the lot, as had suggested
him that we should cooperate in Il
matter, SO that if it could not be secure
for a military post, its use might
obtained for school purposes, especial
if granted for the latter the governme
could have it again, if it desired, f
military occupation"
In conversation by the reporter wi
Judge Fillmore, that gentleman said:
eve had an interview with Mayor Ma