San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-05
PRESERVATION OF THE AALMO.
The City Fathers Only Following the Ef-
forts Made on Oleopatra's Needle,
Westminster Abbey, Etc

AM SAsJ -"sASAS SAAJ SSN~"AA-S VIC LII
forts Made on Oleopatra's Needle,
Westminster Abbey, Etc.
One thought, and one alone has
governed in the present work upon
the Alamo-that Of preserving the
venerable building. After coun-
selling with many people interested
in promoting this object, a con-
tract was entered into. calling for
the removal of the CRIME and dirt,
simply, from the edifice; with the
sole view of showing "the original
effect" And the contract further
stated, "Nothing is to be removed
of the original stone whatever; the
object is to bring into prominence
the Alamo Of the time of the
massacre"
OF course, in taking from the
front the cheap whitewash and
calsomine which has disfigured it
in recent years, the structure will
seem new in appearance for the
moment; but all this will be
changed In twelve months time,
when with the venerable look Of the
Alamo there will be restored any
thing OF grace and beauty it for
merly possessnd; brought into
striking contrast with its present
uptidinees and filth.
| The famous cleopatra Needle in
the Central park of New York,
after thorough inspection and con-
sultation held by eminent ar
chitects and scholars after its ar
rival in America, went through
just the process now being applied
to the Alamo. 1t was clesnied Of
extraneous matter, it's inscription
studied carefully, and in order to
insure its preservation it was final
ly given a coat OF material with
foundation OF wax. -
Any one who objects to tbst/ =,
moval of what is being scaled from
the exterior of San &santonio's
greatest monument AID treasure,
must be called i'm an candor, a
generator of rubbish; nothing
more. Westminster Abbey, Ches-
ter cathedral, and many other his
toric buildings have had workmen
upon them in recent years with
like purpose in view to the one en-
ployed to let this generation see
the Mission of 1886 of this city,
which, at one time was a fortress
of defence of Texan liberty, and a
little later, a mausoleum Of band
of heroes.
Two weeks since, the Alamo,
about which we boast so much and
do 80 little, contained lot of cleo
ton booths, showing the use TO
which San Antonians put their
sacred relics. The booths have
been removed to the city hall, while
at the same time there was carried
off the "historic" stove which had
its rusty pipe out OF a front window
causing smoke to discolor and
blacken walls once crimson with
patriots blood.
just here is an opportunity5'ar
the student Of archaeology and IL Z
generator of the glorious past to
ask few questions. Who was the
degenerate Alcalde that gave the
shameful order to open up the
noble pile where Bowie, Travis and
Crockett met their death, as q
polling place? And was it the same
man that allowed its hallowed pre-
cincts to be used as q police station
ard stables; the latter desecra-
ton continuing at this hour?
II the Alamo Is what we claim Ii
to be, namely, an antique gem Of
the first water, 1t may also be
asked why we suffer Its existence
to be threatened from day to day
by the infiammable material now
resting upon its very walls to the
north?
Having acted with calmness and
conservatism, after earnest counsel
with many persons studious of the
preservation OF the Alamo in q
manner in keeping with its histo-
ric value and associations, and
proceeding to the task itself, /
shall, of course, regret IL the work
now entered upon is not to be con-
tinued at this time. But, of this
IL am convinced, that the. labor
viii, proceed some day upon dust
the lines instituted by the present
honorable mayor ana city council
of San Antonio, who deserve all
credit for having resolved to sweet
en- with brush and water that
which has too long remained neg
Iactad fot11 ond uftarlxy disOropafuf
to thecitizens Of this municipality.
Now is good time then, TO re
member the Alamo"
The county cleEk<
rage license 90 ~
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