The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-17

DeriOr attainments, in the vigor OF man
hood and rank in university circles
equal to those of much older institutions
of the South and North. The attendance
for the present year aggregates 42O young
ladies' and gentlemen, whose reputa-
ton for intelligence, close application, !
honorable demeanor, ambition and PRIDE
is subject of favorable comment gen
orally, which establishes for the instl-
tuition a character far above most uni
versities and justly guarantees TO II
the liberal support of the people. Accor-
ding to their own selection and choice
these students are taught in the liter
airy and scientific departments and in
the law department by % officers of in
struction the studies of English litera-
ture, philosophy and political science,
history, Greek language and literature;
Latin language and literature; Teutonic
and Roman languages; English phiOS-
ophy: pure mathematics; applied mathe-
MATES; physics; chemistry; geology and
pedagogy
Accessible to and for use by them in
the pursuit of higher education on the
lines indicated are the fine laboratories
and n well selected library of $1,000 vol
umes. Surrounding the institution on all
sides are the elegant homes of refined
families, where the students are admit
ted virtually as members and are given
paternal care.
Within the grounds is a cOmmOdiOus
mess hall. where the young men board
nt light expense. This is the donation
made by Mr.. George w. Breckenridge
of San Antonio, and is monument to
his patriotism, to his pride, to his phi
lanthropy and to his fine sense. By this
act he has placed finished educatiOns
within the grasp of the young men of this
state at the lowest possible expense. That
they avail themselves of the advantage
and appreciate it can be best understood
by witnessing the large crowd of fine
Young gentlemen who swarm in and
around it daily. 1t seems to be with
them hallOwed spot, where gratitude
and pride-the best element of manhood
hold SWAY TO the honor of themselves,
of their benefactor and of the Univer-
SHY.
In this connection Z IS also proper
TO acknowledge with gratitude the re-
CENT of the only other individual dOna-
tion made TO the University, consisting
of 3476 coins and 1876 medals of bronze,
silver and gold, presented by an old
Texan. Mr.. s. NJ. Swenson, now of
New York. When a youth he came TO
Texas, in poverty, from his native home,
Sweden. After years of honest toll,
manly frugality and sagacious investment
Mr.. Swenson amassed Il great fortune
and moved to his present abode, His
contribution to the University is last
ing and very valuable and as a cOnse-
ducnce his memory will be revered dur
ing the life of the institution by all who
may DatroniZe or be connected with 1t.
This great institution does not possess
sufficient revenues to efficiently mann
tain it. The state bonds owned by it,
amounting to $576,540, bear SD, 12S.GO
annual interest which together with in
terest on land notes, $2,624.O6, and lease
of it's lands, $S,GS9.20, constitute its avail
able revenue, on which 1t must depend
for support, except when aided by the
legislature. Aside from the 80 leagues
of land set apart to it by the Repub-
lie of Texas, the constitution of 1919
appropriated 100000 acres, and the
legislature of 1888 appropriated TO it
another 100000 acres of public DO
main. But little, if any, of this land
is fit for agriculture, and as consequence
Yields a. light, inadequate income. ii
il were leased Mt 3 or 4 cents an acre
it would go far towards making the Uni
versity independent. 1t has never been
leased to much advantage. Whlle me
commissioner of the general lanu once
has been faithful in looking after this
trust estate, it has been practically i'm.
possible for him to satisfy the regents, OF
the University with the results. They be-
lieve it can be managed to better account
through their direct instrumentallty. Al
all events, this great institution of learn.
inging, now fast reaching the hearts OF
the rich and poor alike, should receive
/ that legislative encouragement ana sup
mort commensurate with its inestlmablea
Importance in the educational fabric or
our state.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANIC
AL COLLEGE.
As branch of the University, the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College IS Ill
every way creditable. It's able president
and superior faculty manifest consum-
mate skill in its operation, and the grad
yates from it readily take rank among
/ the foremost citizens. AS charge upon
the public, this splendid institution is
worthy of every favorable Legislative
consideration that can be shown It.
TIE OTHER EDUCATIONAL IN
STITUTIONS.
The rapid development of the sam
| Houston Normal Institute, the medical
branch of the University. and the Prairie
| View Normal School has attracted wide
spread attention. Each of them is ably,
efficiently conducted and managed. and
commend themselves strongly to liberal
| Legislative aid and encouragement
TAX COLLECTIONS.
Great losses to the state are clearly APP
parent by an inspection of the tax laws.
| They consist, first, of the inadequacy Of
the laws in relation to the valuation OF
property; second, of defects in them
wherein the forced collection of ad valo-
rem taxes is practically II failure third,
in the inability of tax collectors. under
! the present system, to enforce payment
of the per capita or poll tax; fourth, in
| the lack of remedial writS to compel the
payment of occupation taxes; fifth, the
unusually excessive expenses incurred in
tax collections.
| ASSESSMENT OF TANES.
The constitution requires that the lcgiS-
lnture shall provide for equalizing, as
near rs may be, the valuation of all prop
erty subject to be rendered for taxation
and may provide for the classification of
| all lands rs TO value. in the several COun-
| ties.
| 1t is fundamental axiom in political
science, and Il constitutional demand as
well, that taxation shall be equal and uni
| form. This can he done only by levying
taxes upon property in proportion to its
| value. which the constitution declares
shall be ascertaincd by the legislature.
| The census of the United States for 1880
shows that the taxable values of real and
personal property in Texas aggregated
50 100, JI6 I66; that the real estate, with
the improvements thereon, amounted to
81 2oO, 111IIl For the same wear the