The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-06-27
A TEXAN TOURIST.
Observations as He Goes Tho
Growth Of the South.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, June

CHATTANOOGA, lENN', JUNE ~ 1901
To the Editor of the Statesman.
No better indication of the marvellous
growth of the south can be found than in
the progress of its railway systems and
conveniences. Sitting here in this busy
city, after speedy ride from Austin IL
the most comfortable cars of lightping
express, can hardly believe, what my own
experience has taught me TO be true, that
only year or two ago these roads only
made two thirds their present time, and
that the south herself procured train of
greater rank than the old fashioned &C
commodation, one or two of which still
run into Austin. For ten years l
have made my annual pilgrimages as
student of insti utions from north to
south and back again, and each years de-
velopment of this section seems greater
surprise than ever, Our first stop was In
New Orleans, and even in this sleepy old
city We saw much progress. Here the stay
was devoted to the study OF institutions,
and much of it to that interesting edlca-
5iongl center known as Tulane univer
sity.
This institution occupies the we'll
ada pied buildings of the old Louisiana
university and Medical college. The first
and most striking thing ia the atmos-
phere of the place Is that it is
like all universities should. be, q
place of conc entration and cooperation.
The academic, scientific, medical and pre-
paratory bran ches lean the one upon the
other, and are collected under the direc
ton of one cult1red administrative hand,
that of VIM. Preston Johnson, whom we
may also claim as one of Texas noblest
sons, and who, as he remarked still owes
much patriotism and love to the Lone Star
stale. The molecules that compose the
body of Tulane, as 1 have said, seem TO be
made for cooperation, and as l looked at
the superb STATE library, the magnificent
geological collections, the noble work be-
iDg done in industrial training by both
boys and gils, felt that this cooperation
of university and school 81 stem, state de-
usrtment and educational, were features
worthy of emulation.
The material prospect of New Orleans
does not strike one forcibly, while the TN
sanitary condition of the place is not
good omen for the future, especially when
the citizens at a recent election voted
down the sewerage tax by large ma
jority.
not an impressive country, but the latter
city makes up for all deficiencies. The
growth of his place il beyond the de-
scription of my pen. Every year there
seems twice as much brick aud mortar,
and twice as much pluck and vim as the
year before. The head swims with con-
temptation of the future possibilities of
this constantly arcelerating growth.
HknN &, 49, 81
year her streets were mud puddles;
this year her asphalt Pavements are rs
fine as those of Washington city.
and plenty of them. The buildings are
Increasing in number and quality; the
whistles of new factories blow in each day,
aud this morning bran new electric
street railway gave evidence of the direc-'
ton of prosperity's winds. To-mor-
row will fud this untiring energy with
still newer projects.
WHAT CAN TEXAS GIVE US?
Chattanooga has not only sliced ali
local raw material, but Is reaching out on
all sides for new supplies. Kaolinite, for
the manufacture of aluminium. building
stones, ores, woods, etc, must be brought
here for finer manufacture. All the morn
ing at the board of trade l have been
answering inquiries about Texas re-
sources which these people wish. 1t is
strange that what is most asked for is
material of which my fellow Texans think
least. Building stone of contrasting
colors 10 especially desired. I told them
of our granite from Burnet, the
beautiful sandstone of Brown
county, the caen stone of Travis
and the red saudstones of Vernon, of gyp-
sum salt and cement. God speed the day
when our people will quit hunting gold
and silver, pretty crystals and simmer
ais" and turn to the development of
Texas humber but moro genuine re-
souTces-the structural and agricultural
and other industrial material of the
state.
THE EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT IN TENNESSEE.
Accompanying the great material pros
perity of this 9giou is an intellectual one
which may give Texas educators few
crumbs of comfor. The State univer-
sity, which for years had been hospital
for ancient and honorable gentle
men of family and iufuence, but
void of any of the live educational
soul of this generation, was placed
two years ago in the hands of DR.. Chas. |
Dabney, a young man of modern
scientific education and free from an
cient seminary Influences and methods.
Although he had never taught before he
was an admitted Investigator and he has
put SO much soul aud enthusiasm and
youth into the lately venerable institution
that it now stands ahead of all other
southern colleges. We AustiLites can
we'll rejoice with our Doctor Dabney in
the success of his worthy son,
Vanderbilt i also giving the southern
boy that opportunity which he only needs
to maiatsin his place in the civilized
world and ID endearing itself to the PEG
pie. Manual training, economics and |
scientific methods are making her young |
professors renowned and their students |
worthy citizens. But here is my train |
and must leave for that Mecca of the
educational south, the University OF Vir-
ginia. r. I. II.
xynt1