The Calumet news., 1912-02-12
TEXANS WOULD
RESTORE ALAMO
HISTORIC FORT WHERE BRAVE
AMERICAN TROOPS WE'RE
MAssAcERED is BEING
REBUILT.

Austin, Tex, FcD. l2.--All OF Texas
Is Interested in the work that Is now
i'm progress for the restoration OF the
ancient and historic Alamo building
st san Antonio 10 semblance OF
what IL was originally, or at tho time
of the massacre Of the brave garrison
of Texans there by Santa Anna and
his horde OF Mexican troops three
quarters of century ago.
For several years there has ragged
a veritablc battle between the two
factions of the Daughters Of the Texas
Republic as to what disposition should
be made of the Alamo and one of the
features of this spirited contention has
been what were. the walls Of the ole
structure. While the main chapel
building is still standing in splendid
state of preservation the garrison
structure was remodeled and used for
business purposes many years ago,
thereby completely losing its original
appearance.
Governor o. y. Colquitt. finding
that there was no possible chance OF
the two warning factions OF the Daugh.
ters of the Texas Republic getting to-
gether on the proposition OF what
should be done in the way OF restoring
the garrison building, took matters
nto his own hands recently and IL
having the structure rehabllitated ac.
cording to his own ideas. He has
been making careful research int
historic documents bearing on the
Alamo and has satisfied himself upor
many OF the points as to what realll
composed its original lines.
Divergence OF opinion.
As an evidence OF the divergence
of opinion among people who have
lived in San Antonio for period of
fifty to sixty years. Governor Coiquitt
found i'm the course of his investiga-
say that the building which is now
being restored was two stories high a;
the time of the battle of the Alamo
while others are just as positive that
IL was a low. one story structure. The
governor has in his possession the
ground plan of the supposed origina.
lines of the fort He visited Sar
Antonio and directed tho tearing away
of the old superstructurc that was
built it is said, upon the original
! walls. One of the interesting discov-
! cries made In the work that is now
! In progress was the lnding of al
underground reservoir or a double els
tern which Is still in a perfect stat,
of preservation.
Information has reached the COVER
nor that the old records of the Fran
ciscan monks relating To the construc
ton of the Alamo are now In the ar
chives OF the state government a
Queretar. Mex. In speaking of thi
and other matters relating to rehabili
tation of the ancient fort, the COVER
] nor said:
"If these old records can be foun,
feel confident the entire matter cal
be cleared up. These records shoul,
disclose the exact location of all of tn
walls of the fort and also convey som
idea TO what use the various rooms o
compartments were put.
we have found the exact outline
of the old building proper. The ives
wall of the building has been raise,
and the entire building WAS enlarge!
for commercial purposes. We tool
the measurement Of the interior of tn
original building and 1t corresponds L
| the data we have. SO we arc assure
q
of this much at least. This buildinI
however did not have the many door
and windows that are now to be seer
in its walls. AS far as L can ascertain
there was just one arched door in tn
lower story on the west side. Their
were some windows i'm the upper por
tion. ON the south side there was ais,
a door which led into the open spac
directly in front, of the Alamo chape
and seemed TO be used in going TO ant
from the granary.
I'VE found the only door LEADING
from the south, side of this buildinl
into the Alamo chapel proper. Thi'
seemingly was to be used as las
resort in the event of a seige the de
tenders to take refuge in the chape
as a last stand.