The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-01-03
TEXAS AND ITS CAPITALS
The Rivalres of Houston and Austin as Capital Sites
When the Lone Star State Was Young
N in Cassnah

r, IN Cldssmdte e
4 NNNE NNHNEEIENGNGEaN
hibited to our view at once. We
approached the Presidents man.
sion, however, wading in water
above our ankles. This abode of
President Houston is a small log
house, consisting of two rooms and
a passage through it, after the
southern fashion. The moment we
stepped over the threshold on the
right hand of the passage, we found
ourselves ushered into what in
other countries would be called the
antechamber; the ground floor,
however. was muddy and filthy, a
large fire was burning. and a small
table covered with paper and writ
ing materials, was in the center;
camp beds, trunks. and different
materials were strewed around the
room.
I'VE first caught sight of Presi-
dent Houston as he walked from
one of the grog shops, where he
had been to stop the sale of ardent
spirits. We reached his abode be-
fore him, but he soon came, and
we were presented to his Excel
lency. He was dressed in a fancy
velvet coat and trousers trimmed
with broad gold lace, and around
his neck was tied a cravat some
what in the style of '76. He re-
ceived us kindly, was desirous of
retaining us for while, and offered
us every facility in his power. He
at once removed US from the ante
room to his private chamber. Our
talk was short, but the impression
which was made on our mind at
the time by himself. his officers,
and the place of his abode can new
er be forgotten.
| The initial capitol of the govern
ment here in Houston was a small
log house which has disappear ed,
but the residence of the President,
which is now nothing more than
small unpretentious clapboard
house with only two rooms, still
survives the changes of time, in
dilapidated condition. When the
first diplomatic agent from England
arrived in Houston and found the
President of the republic to which
be was accredited living in such
unpretentious quarters, he was in
deed astonished and doubtless
much disappointed. Houston at
that, although the capital of an in
dependent republic, was unworthy
] the name of a town, for nothing
more than tents and temporary
shanties of clapboards and pine
, poles were scattered along the
banks of the bayou. Even the
, substantial log cabins, which were
, so commonly built by the pioneers,
, were rare. 1t was far different
from the splendid city of to-day.
In the initial issue of the Tele-
graph, the first newspaper estab-
/ lished in the city, a racy account
7 of the editors experiences is given.
He says: Fortunately, we have
succeeded in renting a shanty,
; which, although like the capitol in
, this place, is
! Without a roof and without floor,
Without window and without a door,
, IN. B.-Our troubles have not
l yet ended. The shanty is falling
> about our ears, two massive beams
!. have dropped down upon the
2 stands, made a disgusting pi, and
. have driven the workmen to seek
safety outside. The devil alone
looks smilingly at the mischief"
In their lifetime Sam Houston
and Stephen Austin, two of the
: most noted men in the early his
. tory of Texas, were bitter rivals.
Their ideas in many things did not
: harmonize. Houston was naturally
e very anxious that the city named
, after him should be the permanent
L