The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-15
ATHENS OF THE SOUTH.
THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS QUEENING 1T
AMID LOVELY LANDSCAPES AND
NATURAL ADVANTAGES
She Holds Out Hands Filled with Rewards
to the Student, Merchant, Manufac-
turer and Health Seeker.

burOuRH lcAdS CIllcS uuiihS OuhS eAiAN
July OF the current year have been
graphically portrayed in the columns
of the sprightly paper he represents,
writes of none of them as enthusiasts
tically as he does of Austin. Sum
ming up her prime educational facil-
tiles he declares "This array OF
splendid structures erected for the in
struction of youth entitle her to wear
the soubriquet of Athens of the
South
Praise from the pen of stranger is
apt to be more impartial than home
bred description, as well as more ele-
CANT, and for these reasons liberal
extract from the same correspondents
letter on Austin is here introduced:
There is an individuality about the
beautiful capital of the Lone Star
state which is as striking as it is cap,
tivating. All the rougher edge OF
western towns seem long since to have
undergone successfully the polishing
process until Austin to-day stands
forth as one of the most brilliant jewels
in the diadem of southern progress and
development.
Its citizens represent model COM
munity of intelligent, highly cultured
and progressive people its educational
facilities equal and surpass any city OF
its size in America; its imposing build
ings are fitting monuments to the in
exhaustible and incomprehensibly
vast natural resources directly tribu-
tary to it.; its business men fully
awake to the possibilities of such adj
vantages.
With foundation resting upon
these staunch pillars, which, when
ever properly understood, will form
powerful magnets in attracting the
most desirable accessions of brain,
capital and talent, Austin may well
look forward to a long reign of bright
sunshine of industrial prosperity. I'm
bued with pardonable modesty, Austin
has discountenanced every effort to-
ward creating "boom," and prefers
to rest upon its merits, and these
only.
Austin, like ancient Rome, is charm
ingly situated on seven hills, which
for II a most picturesque background
to one of the prettiest bits of scenery
found in Texas These slope gently
toward the Colorado river, which grace
fully winds through the scene, afford
ing most perfect drainage. The city,
with population of 10000 people,
represents the county seat of Travis
and the permanent capital of the
state.
In the very heart of this city stands
the most imposing structure of the
south, the
MAGNIFICENT STATE CAPITOL,
the peer of any edifice of similar char
acter in America. 1t occupies the site
originally set apart by the Republic
of Texas for its future capitol 1t is
located on this beautiful eminence in
the center OF the city, fronting the
south and facing Congress avenue.
The material used in its construction
is Texas red granite, which, in durabil-
ity and susceptibility of fine polish, is
equal to the red granite of Scotland.
Its form approximates that OF Greek
cross, having projecting center and
and TANKS, with rotunda and dome
at the intersection of the main CORR
doris. Its dimensions are: From east
to west, 562 ieet; from north to south,
2S7 feet, and the distance to the apex
of the dome is 321 feet The building
covers an area of q acres. The style
OF architecture is Renaissance, blending
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian or Classic
with modern designs. The basement
comprises sixty-three rooms used for
the storage of records and other pur-
poses. The first floor is occupied by
the executive departments of the state
government; the second floor by
the legislative, and the third floor
by the judicial; in the fourth
story there are number OF
rooms which are not yet sot apart
for any special purpose. The building
is lighted by gas and electricity and
heated by steam. The special archi-
tectural feature is the granite arch
ut the south front, which spans this
entrance, the height being 70 feet.
Underneath this architectural tri-
umph, resting on the floor of the YES
tibule and supporting granite bal
cony, are two polished granite col
umns, their ends being girdled with
bands of black and white Texas mar
BILE. On the dome stands the God
dess of Liberty. The statute is IA
feet high. In her left hand she holds
a large five pointed star, emblematic
OF the seal of Texas, while in her right
hand she grasps a sword, which rests
on the base, indicative of her sover-
eign determination to protect the lib
critics of Texas. This magnificent
structure, which cost the state $780,
600 acres of land, is the pride of Tex
ans and the admiration of her visitors
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
is situated north of the new capitol
on one of the highest elevations in the
the city. The buildings, imposing and
elegant, are located on the summit of
"College Hill" below which the city
with its palatial private residences,
magnificent public ediices, and Gothic