The Holbrook news., 1912-04-12

A s soon as plans, designed by
 M State Superintendent of Pub
 "A lie Buildings and Grounds A
 ~ A B. Conley, and approved by Governor Colquitt, can be car
 ried into execution. the historic Ala mo will present different appearance
 to visitors to Sen Antonio, and, for
 that matter, to San Antonians them
 selves. Governor Colquitt wants the
 old mission, where the seed that
 Sprouted into Texas liberty was first
 planted, to be restored to as nearly its
 original condition as possible.
 There has been for years differ ence of view as to just what was the physical condition of the Alamo on the 9th of March, 1886. and an even greater divergence of opinion as to the actual arrangement of the old con vent structure adjoining. But Gov ernor Colquitt is not willing for mere differences of this nature to longer re- tard the doing of a public work that should have been attended to long ago.
 At a cost of $50,O00 the state, sev- sral years ago. bought of Hugo 5chmeltzer & Co. the old convent property adjoining the Alamo chapel. This wholesale grocery firm had been using for commercial purposes part of ! property dear to liberty lovers ev- erywhere.
 Nobody thought any the less of. them under the circumstances, and uvh. %0 @k@ g%of "a take over the land and the old walls was crystaIlized. the price fixed by the Hugo-Schmeltzer interests was so sat lsfactory as to seem generous. The property bought for S50,000' would probably sell today for ten times this sum.
 It is the purpose of the governor to have the entire mission renovated and made to look just like 1t did when 1t was used by the Franciscan monks and the sisters who conducted the convent. Already the tenants who were using the old buildings have been busted. It is desired after all Ehe debris is removed, to make a park of the inclosure and to have it just as much of a beauty spot as is the re- mainder of Alamo plaza. Architects and landscape experts say this can be done within a very few years, and there Is not a San Antonian who does not hail the plans with pleasure.
 Nobody ought to form the idea that the Alamo chapel. the old church where the massacre of Crockett and Bowie and the rest of those dauntless souls took place, has ever been used except as a show-place, as the shrine of many thousands who have journey sd thither from all parts of the world It is true. however, that iradesmen for years occupied the old convent, which once formed the lar ger part of the mission proper It was not until few months ago that all these men were forbidden to use he premises.
 No other spot in Texas, and few anywhere in the world, are filled with l half the historic interest that at- aches to the Alamo It has been Known to historians for 75 years as | the cradle of Texas liberty" and it l deserves, in the mind of every Texan, LII the glory that has been heaped l ipon 1t. It is a matter of regret and | humiliation to every Texan that bet CT care has not been taken of the ,ld pile and all its adjuncts by the tate authorities.
 Story of the Alamo.
 Know the story of the Alamo? It's | inc stun for American men. It stands put in the historic pages of the ,ast century as the true expression of he Lone Star spirit
 It was on the 23d of February. 1886. hat General Santa Ana, with an army ,f 4,00O Mexicans, invested the vil- age of San Antonio. and stormed the Alamo. Texas had been declared fin state of rebellion. the inhabitants | lad been ordered to disarm, and the nvasion of Santa Ana had followed IS thunder follows the lightning flash. len. Sam Houston, the military lead 1T of the rebels" had no army. There were no railroad or telegraph lines by which to summon the scattered fight 'rs. But Colonel Travis, with Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, J. B. Bonham- :. Washington and 1sS Texas frontiers- nen, were in San Antonio when the 6exican army appeared. and at once Rr