The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-20
A Ll,tl. Mar. Ancient Alstoty.

y
To the Editor of The Post :, :,
In answer TO your correspondent !. q, . va.
permit me TO say that the limits OF Houston "ere
extended by charter 10 Ave miles square Oy 'l
legislature under the administration OF T. = |
Davis. at the instance OF the then CITY eounOn
This was during the darkest days OF recon,
struetion when negroes and oarpetoasseis
In our city council and controlled our
ture 81, -.
Til. nuroose Of the enlargement then cas-
now was to provide basis for large oonu
isste. -. ...n
they issued the bonds in amount more tnan
sf.ooo,ooo and all that we sot out OF 1t was
market house, which was Afterwards ou'neu '"u
rebuilt bv the democrats for 100000.
At the time this carpet bag charter was 90
tanned which was passed August q 1870 no ono
| lived in the suburbs now sought 70 DC 'aNSN
! in. save few faraets who had no voice IN
the scheme, they being white people ana ue'"
oerats,
Texas IN 1874. the E Davis crowd we're
turned out at the points Of bayonets ana the
white people Of Texas, after long night OF mis-
rule came into power. ,l
/ Among the hrst acts Of III. Fourteenth IeB'e'
laturs Of date January 10. 1874 was me pas,
sage Of the following joint resolution OF oo'h
houses
Whereas It has been MADE known mat inc
MAYOR and aldermen Of the city o. Fruston' IN
Harris county have abused their author'F oy
contracting unnecessary debts against sara 9'sl
and IT'S inhabitants by the issuance oi INC oonuS
Of sad citv and otherwise, and contemplate IN
creasing s5id Indebtedness by the further issu-
Ance of such bonds and by other means 'he'e-
fore be it
Resolved b. the legislature Of the State Of
Texas That from and after the passage OF this
resolution and until thirty DAYS there after OF
until otherwise sooner provided by li" all power
-, IN ina nd aldermen
httrs OF said city b. the provisions Of an aet,
entitled An act TO consolidate IN one act ana
amend the several acts. incorporating the cry
OF Houston in Harris county passed August
!, 1870, or by any other Law. State or municipal
Ia contract debts against said city or its ihhahl-
tants to issue or sign bonds scrip, or any other
evidence Of Indebtedness Of or against said city
or its inhabitants. or Of delivering to any person
OF persons any Of such bonds, scrip or other IN
, dettedness now issued, or TO make or enter into
any contract whereby airy dcu; may be con
ratted against said city or its inhabitants, to'
any purpose whatsoever be, and the same II
hereby Suspended and be it further
Resolved, That no act done or to be done b!
. said mayor and aldermen. OF other officers o
, said city, in eontravcnton OF THIS resolution
shall be ever binding upon said city or any
: its inhabitants and he it further
Resolved That this resolution shall take ct
feet ard be in force from and after it5 passage
Il Approved January 20, 1874.
i Three days after this joint resolution was en-
3. acted, the legislature provided and passed ne'
charter for the city Of Houston, which, by al
tcle = section OF same, the limits OF the CIT
@ Of Houston we're fixed at three miles square,
g and have remained as thus fixed.
And article so, section So OF said charter
as follows
THAT the provisions Of the joint resoluiio
OF the legislature entitled A joint resolutio
2 suspendne the powers OF the mayor and aide
"a men and other officers Of the city OF Houstoi
in Harris county. in certain cases enumeratc
herein. approved January 3o 1874, shall not al
~ ply to the mayor and aldermen and othcc
named appointed or elected under this act
At This charter act was signed by Guy NJ. Brya
a speaker Of the house OF representatives, and
B Hubbard. president Of the senate and WI
d approved by Governor Richard Coke January :
1874, ard was certified 10 by George Clark, Sc
rc,ary of state on same day.
Is These proceedings were had during the sc
sion Of the Fourteenth legislature to which
respectfully refer II A. NJ" and Messrs, Grige
p Hoskins Eean Watkins ct al
- Hence, it appears that the monumental fra,
. AZ taking in the suburbs of Houston and bon
is inc them for the purpose nj making improv
"A ments within the city, as originally laid o,
~ was heavily sat down upon by the legislature
eNas ana was A"t p'u"s"t aoo"' "y 'i"oN