The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-05-07
THE ENCAMPMENT.
PROMINENT MILITARY MEN AND WIDE
AWAKE CITIZENS IN EARNEST
SESSION LAST EVENING.
A Report From Gen. Roberts and His
Committee Enthusiastically Received
and Austin Is in the Military
whirl-Committees
Appointed.

Last night prominent military men
and large number of prominent
wide-awake business men convened in
the spacious parlors of the Driskill to
discuss the
PERMANENT ENCAMPMENT
and each person present bad about
him confident look and fixed, set
tied determination to 60 in to win the
prize.
On motion of Mr.. George w. Cleve-
land Mr.. J. M. Boroughs was called to
the chair and stated the object of the
meeting was to discuss the permanent
encampment and hear the report of a
committee appointed last week to Sc
lect and suggest site or sites. He
then requested General A. S. Roberts
to make the report, which he did as
| follows:
LEE
At a meeting held vt the mayors office
| April 28, 1891, to consider the feasibility of
| securing the permanent location of the
Texas mill AIRY encampment at Austin, a
committee consisting of A. S. Roberts, j
| NJ. DAY, j. L. Peeler, j. M. Boroughs, q. w.
Cleveland aud G.. k. Furr, was Appointed to
investigate the matter and report back to a
subsequent meeting and it is for this pur-
! pose the meeting tonight was called and the
| following is the report of the committee, to
| wit:
cat the meeting of the Texas Volunteer
| Guards in Galveston in February last, a
committee was appointed to select perma-
nent grounds for the annual epcampment
OF the stare militia. This commit
tee, consisting of the following gen
tlemen, General II. b. Stoddard
Col. A. Faulkner, Col. G. B. Gurley, Col
Richard Coke, Capt. J. f. Shepherd anC
K. b. Green have advertised for bids from
places dc string The location of the encamp
ment. Not less than eighty acres of lan'
is required, and number of cities an,
towns will offer to donate from eighty to 10
acres of the most eligible locations in o
near their suburbs. Your committee con
siders it very important to secure the en-
campment for Austin, bel ewing as it doe
that it would do the city more good thai
anything ever proposed in proportion tt
cost.
We are informed that there are now abou
seventy militia companies in this state anC
that the number is steadily increasing
1t is the duty of the governor tt
order all militia companies in
the state into encampment once every yeal
and as the companies now in existence
number from 2 200 to $500 men and as n Nv
com panies are being formed all the time il
| will readily be seen that the amount o.
money which these men would spend here
in the eight or ten days they would remain
with u, every year would be an important
addi ion to the business of the city. Many
| thousands of other visitors would be with
us during these annual encampments who
| would in the aggregate spend a great dea
of money with our merchants, hoEels, livery
| men, &c. In word, the entire business Of
the city would be greatly benefited.
Your committee believes it would be
worth in direct dollars and cents great
deal more every year than the entire cost OF
grounds, &c , asked for, to say nothing OF
the many indirect benefits we
would receive by the perma,
nent location of the encampment
here. Aft careful study and investiga-
ton the following plan is proposed as being
| in their Judgment the most feasible.
That a stock company be formed to be
known as tue Austin Military Park COM
| pany," ana that shares be placed at SIC
each, stock to be fully paid up and to be
| nom assessable; that subscription to the
amount of SIC, 900 be obtained If possible
that options on such property as may be
deemed eligible locations for the military
headquarters of the state be secured and
| that these locations be rendered the state
upon the following conditions, to wit:
"That the location which may be selected
| be decided the state for its use and benefit as
a military encampment so long as 1t may be
used for that purpose" 1t being stipu-
lated in deed that should the state
| fail to use the grounds for military
encampments for two consecutive years
| that the property shall revert back to the
donors. and it is suggested that the right to
use the grounds as city park when not In
use for military encampments be also re-
served"
This park could be improved and beauti-
| fed by the city at small cost and could in a
few years be made so attractive as to be
| source of great pleasure and pride TO our
citizens and very attractive to strangers.
| We think all will agree with us that hand
some park or parks would be very beneficial
| to our CITY, and the establishment OF same
| is a matter which all our citizens should
| encourage and aid.
Should the property ever revert back to
the stockholders under the foregoing pro-
| visions it would probably pe worth more
than the original cost
Wewould suggest that donations of mouey
be received, should any prefer making do
nations TO subscribing to the stock.
In case a site should be selected by the
military committee costing less than $l0,-
| OOO the subscribers to the stock and those
who may make donations would only be
required to pay their pro rata share of the
price of property go selected, and should
no location in or near Austin be selected no
outlay of money would be required of any