USA > Texas > History of Texas : from 1685 to 1892, volume 2 > Part 38
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GOVERNOR HOGG'S ADMINISTRATION (1891 TO 1893).
James S. Hogg ( son of General Joseph L. Hogg, who died a Confederate brigadier-general at Corinth in 1862, ) was born and grew up in Cherokee County, Texas, and was too young for service in the Confederate army. He acquired a good education, learned the printer's art, conducted and edited a newspaper, became a lawyer, served as district attorney, and, from 1887 to 1891, by two elections served as attorney- general of the State.
In November, 1890, he was elected Governor by a very large majority. George C. Pendleton, of Bell, was at the same time chosen as Lieutenant-Governor. They were inaug- urated in January, 1891.
The measures enacted during the first session of the legis-
1
JAMES S. HOGG Governor 1890
497
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
lature in this administration embraced the creation of a rail- road commission and a law with regard to land-holding by aliens, upon which public opinion became much divided. They are now living questions in the public mind, and not considered within the purview of the historian, farther than to state the fact that Governor Hogg convened the legis- lature in extra session on the 14th of March, 1892 ( the pres- ent year), and, that body modified the alien land law in a manner, apparently, satisfactory to the people. On the creation of the railroad commission, Governor Hogg appointed United States Senator John H. Reagan, president of the rail- road commissioners. The vacancy thus made in the senate was filled by the temporary appointment of Hon. Horace Chilton of Tyler, but, at the called session in March, the Hon, Roger Q. Mills of Corsicana, then serving his twentieth year in the U. S. House of Representatives, was elected to fill Senator Reagan's unexpired term, ending in March, 1893. Wm. P. McLean and L. L. Foster were appointed the other two members of the commission.
32
CHAPTER XLVII.
MATERIAL PROGRESS OF TEXAS.
Texas became a State of the American Union, February 19th, 1846. No census had ever been taken, but by the terms of annexation, she was allowed two representatives in the Congress of the United States. The Federal census of 1850 showed a population of 212,592, under which she was entitled to only two representatives. The census of 1860 returned 604,215, under which she was allowed four representatives in Congress. By the census of 1870 the population had increased to 818,579 with a representation of six members.
By the census of 1880, the population was 1,591,749 and she was allowed eleven representatives in Congress. The census of 1890 gave a population of 2,235,513 and her repre- sentation increased to thirteen members, who will be elected for the first time in November, 1892. Thus it will be seen that in the forty years, from 1850 to 1890, the population increased from 212,592 to 2,235,513.
TEN OF THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES.
Whites.
Negroes.
Indians and Chinese.
Total.
Dallas
55,710
11,209
63
67,042
Grayson
. 46,309
6,709
73
53,291
Bexar
43,408
5,736
96
49,206
Tarran
. 36,777
4,808
48
41,142
Harris
. 23,622
13,613
14
37,249
McLennan
28,682
10,509
13
39,204
Travis
26,736
10,270
9
37,019
Collin
34,183
2,550
3
36,736
Galveston
. 24,396
7,039
42
31,476
Ellis
28,366
3,406
2
31,774
(498)
499
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
TOWNS AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
Under an amendment to the constitution, adopted in 1891, the legislature at the called session, March and April, 1892, passed a law providing for a registration of voters, and also adopted, in a modified form, what is known as the Australian system of voters in towns having 10,000 or more inhabitants ; this law to take effect at elections in such towns at the elections, in November, 1892.
THIRTY-THREE OF THE LARGEST TOWNS IN THE STATE.
Pop. 1890.
Pop. 1880.
Increase.
Dallas.
38,067
10,358
27,709
San Antonio
. 37,573
20,55C
17,123
Galveston
29,084
22,248
6,836
Houston
27,557
16,513
11,044
Fort Worth
.23,076
6,663
16,413
Austin
14,575
11,013
3,562
Waco.
.14,445
7,295
7,150
Laredo
11,319
3,521
7,798
Denison
10,958
3,975
6,983
El Paso
10,338
736
9,602
[The Registration law applies to the above ten towns.]
Paris
8,254
3,980
4,274
Sherman
7,335
6,093
1,242
Marshall
7,207
5,624
1,583
Tyler
6,980
2,423
4,485
Gainsville
6,594
2,667
3,927
Corsicana.
6,285
3,373
2,912
Brownsville
6,134
4,938
1,196
Palestine
5,838
2,997
2,841
Brenham
5,209
4,101
1,108
Corpus Christi
4,387
3,257
1,130
Greenville
4,330
....
....
Temple
4,047
....
....
Weatherford.
3,369
2,046
1,323
Bonham
3,361
1,880
1,481
Beaumont
3,296
....
..
. .
Cleburne
3,278
1,855
1,423
Abilene
3,194
....
....
500
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Pop. 1890.
Pop. 1880.
Increase.
Orange
3,173
....
....
Waxahachie
3,076
1,354
1,722
Jefferson
3,072
3,260
Decr. 188
Victoria
3,046
...
Sulphur Springs
3,038
1,854
1,184
Belton .
3,000
1,797
1,203
The suburban population of Dallas, including Oak Cliff, North and South Dallas, increased her population about 4,000, or a total of 42,000. The census of 1890 showed that only sixteen of the two hundred and forty-four counties then created had decreased in population. Fifteen were reduced by the creation of new counties, from their territory ; while Calhoun lost, by storms, in the destruction of Indianola, Saluria, and other settlements. The blanks in the table as to 1880 apply to towns not then incorporated, or which have been established since that date. The rapid increase at El Paso was caused by several populations concentrating into one, and railroad development. Several towns since 1890 have grown into importance. The more important of which are Velasco, at the mouth of the Brazos, and two or three on Aransas and Corpus Christi bays, the result of harbor im- provements now in progress. Besides, a number of promising towns have arisen in the pan-handle, on or accessible to railroads in that country. The growth of other towns in different portions of the State since 1890 has been rapid, and it is an encouraging fact that wherever new communities have thus been established, churches and schools abound.
RAILROAD PROGRESS.
In 1861, the railways of Texas consisted of the H. & T. C. road, from Houston to Millicam, about seventy-five miles, with a branch from Hempstead to Brenham twenty-one miles; a main line from Galveston to Houston fifty-one miles; a new and incomplete road from Houston to Orange on the Sabine,
501
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ninety-eight miles; the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio road, from Harrisburg and Houston, to near Colum- bus on the Colorado about eighty miles; and the road from Lavaca to Victoria twenty-eight miles, - total, three hundred and sixty-one miles. A few other roads had been commenced and some work done, but they were of no utility at that time, and thus the railroad enterprises stood until about 1867, when some extensions were inaugurated, under which the Central Railroad reached Red River in 1873. Its branch, from Bren- ham to Austin, was completed in 1871. From about 1871, railway enterprises received a new impetus in the State, and continued unabated until 1890, since which time owing to the financial crisis in the country, there has been a temporary cessation of actual labors in that direction. The mileage has increased since 1867 from 361 miles to 8,793 miles. There are trunk lines extending from the northeast corner of the State, where connections are made with other lines, west to El Paso, about 800 miles; up through the Pan Handle to Denver; southwest by different lines to Tyler, Palestine, and Houston to Galveston, and across from Palestine via Hearne, Taylor, Austin and San Antonio, to Laredo on the Rio Grande, and connection from Galveston and Houston, to Austin by one line, and by Columbus, Seguin and San Antonio to El Paso, 700 or 800 miles. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Rail- road, with initial points at Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, Rockport and Fulton, unites in one track at Gregory, and ex- tends thence to Kennedy near the San Antonio River, from which one branch extends by San Antonio to Kerrville, on the upper Guadalupe. Another branch at Yoakum, in Lavaca County, is again divided, one track passing by Gonzales, towards Austin, another branch extends to Houston, and another passes by Bastrop, to Cameron and Waco; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas constitutes another system, and has connections from Austin through Cleburne, Dallas and Fort Worth, with lines coming from the Indian Territory and
502
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the north. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, hav- ing Galveston for its initial point, crosses the Brazos at Rich- mond and then passes Brenham and Cameron, to Temple, in Bell County, from which place a branch is in operation via Bel- ton, Lampasas, Brownwood, Coleman, and Ballinger to San Angelo. The main line from Temple north, passing through McGregor, Meridian, and other towns, divides at Cleburne, one branch running to Weatherford. A main line, passing Fort Worth, Denton and Gainesville, forms connections with other roads in the Indian Territory. Another main line from Cleburne passes through Alvarado, Midlothian, Dallas, Gar- land, Farmersville, Wolfe City, to Honey Grove and Paris, and in the Indian Territory, the Paris line connects with the routes coming from St. Louis, as in fact all the roads crossing Red River from Texas connect with main lines north of Red River. The Missouri Pacific from Waco, passes through Hillsboro, Waxahachie, to Dallas, and thence, via Garland, Rockwall, Greenville, and other important towns, to a connection with main lines at Denison on Red River. It also connects at Tyler with the International and Great Northern road. The Cotton Belt, starting from Mem- phis and Little Rock, passes through Texarkana, Marshall, Longview, Tyler, Corsicana, and Waco to Gatesville. It also has branch connections with Dallas, Fort Worth, Farmers- ville, Greenville, and Jefferson. It is impracticable in this work to give such statistics on this subject as would be of permanent value, for the reason that new enterprises and developments, springing from increased population and capital, bring about changes so rapidly as to make any exhibit of but temporary reliability. Aside from this it is a fact that information of this character, modified to suit present condi- tions and enterprises, is being constantly published in pam- phlet form by railroad companies, real estate dealers, project- ors of new towns, and others interested in the development of the country ; but, before leaving the subject, it should be re-
503
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
membered that the wonderful development of Texas in these later years, especially in the western half of the State, would have been impossible but for the construction of railways, placing Texas on the half-way ground, through vast railroad enterprises, between the city of Mexico and the great cities of the north and west, between New Orleans and the cities of the Mississippi valley, as Chicago and St. Louis, and the cities of California, between the gulf ports of Texas and the new States west of the Mississippi and the cities of the Rocky Mountains.
THE HARBORS OF TEXAS.
Texas has a magnificent front on the Gulf of Mexico, about four hundred miles on a straight line from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the Sabine Pass. The drawback, though not seriously felt, until the commerce of the State assumed grand proportions, has been the absence of inlets to her harbors of sufficient depth to admit the larger class of merchant vessels. The only necessity has been to deepen the entrances to these harbors by a system of jetties (as has been successfully done at the mouth of the Mississippi), so as to admit large vessels. Galveston, for fifty years the chief port of the State, and controlling its chief commerce, while having a deeper entrance than any harbor on the coast, has been retarded in her progress from the causes named; but now, after years of inefficient action, under liberal appropriations by the general government, a system of jetty improvements is in hopeful progress, which, it is claimed by eminent engineers, will accomplish the desired results. Under govern- ment aid also, improvements on a much smaller scale are being made at Sabine Pass. At Velasco at the mouth of the Brazos River private enterprise and capital have already accomplished great results. The work is practically com- pleted and it is demonstrated that vessels drawing eighteen feet can enter that fine harbor, having a depth of water that
504
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
can float the largest vessels, and it is claimed that a greater depth will yet be secured by the scouring process of the waters.
The only other harbor of great importance in Texas, that of Aransas Pass, the entrance to that bay, is also the entrance into Corpus Christi Bay. Inefficient work, owing to small appropriatiens by the government, has been tried there for a number of years, but it is now believed, that by plans and arrangements inaugurated within the last year or two, the object will be accomplished of opening to large vessels another fine harbor on the coast. Private enterprise is also construct- ing a canal from deep water in Corpus Christi Bay through Mustang Island into deep water on the gulf. It is an experi- ment, however, and its permanent utility must await the test of experience. The geographical position of Aransas Bay is such that with deep water its chief sea-port, wherever that may be, would command an immense trade from southwest Texas and all of northern Mexico, excepting such as may be tributary to Tampico, destined with her harbor improvements, now about completed, to possess a port unsurpassed on the southern Atlantic or Gulf Coast. A country possessing abundant good harbors has inestimable advantages over any seaboard State without them, as shown by the positions of North Carolina and New Jersey.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
The first exemption law of Texas was passed in 1839 ; but on the organization of the State government, in February, 1846, the homestead exemption from execution for debt was embodied in the constitution, and so remains, the only change being in the value of improvements on town lots. As the constitution now stands, the homestead of a family, not in a town or city, to the extent of two hundred acres in one or more parcels, with all the improvements thereon, without
505
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
reference to their value, is exempted from forced sale, for any debt except for the purchase money, or for materials fur- nished for the improvements thereon, nor can the owner, with or without the consent of his wife, incumber it with a deed of trust or other pledge - his only power being to sell with her consent. Under the same guarantees and restrictions the homestead in a town or city may consist of a lot or lots, not exceeding $5,000 in value at the time of their designation as a homestead, together with all improvements, without reference to their value, provided the same is used as a home, or as a place for conducting the owner's calling or business. Whether in town or country the exemption from forced sale includes all household and kitchen furniture, all implements of hus- bandry, apparatus of a trade or profession, a family library, portraits and pictures, five milch cows, two yokes of oxen with the necessary yokes and chains, two horses and one wagon, a carriage or buggy, one gun, twenty hogs, twenty sheep, all saddles, bridles, or harness for the use of the family, and provisions on hand for home consumption. To each single person, the exemption includes all wearing apparel, tools, apparatus and books of a trade or profession, one horse, sad- dle and bridle, and all current wages for personal service.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
EDUCATION IN TEXAS.
The schools which the Mexican government was pledged to furnish the colonists were parochial and little appreciated. Neighborhood schools taught by the well educated among the colonists were well sustained wherever practicable and many sent their children to the United States to be educated. In 1832, Mr. J. W. Cloud established a seminary at Brazoria. In January, 1834, Miss Trask ( of Boston ) opened a boarding school for young ladies at Cole's Settlement west of the Brazos. In 1835, Prof. J. A. Prest taught the English, French and Italian languages in Brazoria. In 1836, Dr. J. W. P. Mc- Kenzie established a boys' school in Red River County, which from a beginning of sixteen pupils, had, in 1860, increased to four hundred and five. In 1875, by act of the legislature, it became a part of the present University of Georgetown, Williamson County. The same year ( 1836) a boarding school for young ladies was opened at Montville by Mrs. Ayers and Miss McHenry, and one for boys at the mouth of the San Bernard, by Lieut. R. W. P. Carter, " a school English, mathematical, scientific and classical." In 1838, Reverend Caleb S. Ives, an Episcopalian clergyman, in addition to his ministerial labors, established a female seminary at Mata- gorda.
In the first conventional assembly of the colonists in 1832, at San Felipe, in preparing their first memorial to the Mexi- can government, on subjects deeply affecting their liberties, the memorialists included a request for lands to be granted to provide for the establishment of primary schools. In 1836,
(506)
507
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
in declaring the causes which impelled the people of Texas to declare their independence from Mexico, was a complaint that the pledges of that government to sustain a system of pri- mary schools or provide by grant of land for a permanent fund for that purpose, had not been fulfilled. The subject of a general system of education received the earnest attention of the first congress of the Republic. By the first State con- stitution after annexation one-tenth of the annual revenue was appropriated to the use of free schools as also an ad valorem tax, an annual poll tax, one-fourth of the occupation taxes, and a special tax on property holders for school buildings.
Under the law of January 14, 1839, providing for the loca- tion of the seat of government, it was required that the commis- sioners laying out the capital should " set apart a sufficient number of the most eligible lots for a capitol, arsenal, maga- zine, university, academy, churches, common schools and penitentiary."
Under this plan the State University now stands on a beautiful mound near the center of the city of Austin and commanding a view of a beautiful scope of adjacent country. An act of January 26, 1839, provided that the President of the Republic (Mirabeau B. Lamar) should have surveyed from the vacant public lands and set apart for the purpose of university education fifty leagues (221,400 acres). These lands were surveyed in the counties of Cooke, Fannin, Gray- son, Hunt, Collin, McLennan and, at a later day, a part in Shackleford and Callahan.
Under an act of February 11th, 1858, $195,000 worth of these lands were sold by John Henry Brown, commissioner of the State, at public auction, and on long time, for interest bearing notes, in the counties of McLennan, Hunt, Fannin, Grayson and Cooke.
The constitution of 1876 required, as soon as practicable, the establishment, and maintenance of a State University to be
508
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
located by a vote of the people. It also added to the univer- sity land fund 1,000,000 acres and the legislature following added 1,000,000 from the public domain, and provided that all the lands then and theretofore set apart, and all bonds or money already devoted to that object, and the proceeds of all future sales, should constitute the permanent University fund, to be invested in interest-bearing bonds of the United States, State of Texas, or of the counties thereof, the interest from all which, as well as the interest upon the land notes executed by purchasers of the university lands bearing five per cent. interest and running forty years, should constitute the annual, available university fund.
The constitution of 1876 also provided that the State Agri- cultural and Mechanical College of Texas (partly based upon a uniform land grant by the United States to all the States ), organized under an act of April 17, 1871, and located near Bryan (College Station on the H. and T. C. Railroad), in Brazos County, should constitute a branch of the State Uni- versity. It also provided for the establishment of a medical branch of the State University which, on the 6th of Septem- ber, 1881, was located by vote of the people at Galveston. At the same election Austin was chosen as the site for the main University. These three institutions have been in successful operation since their first inauguration and have steadily gained in public favor. Dr. Ashbel Smith was first president of the Board of Regents for the State University.1
Of the normal schools of the State ( The Sam Houston, at Huntsville, for the training of white teachers, male and female,
1 The United States government in 1861 donated to each State and terri- tory 30,000 acres of public land for each representative they respectively had in Congress, for the establishment of agricultural colleges. Under this allotment Texas obtained 180,000 acres. This land was sold under Gov. Davis for 87 1-2 cents per acre, and Texas borrowed the money from the college fund, giving frontier defense bonds drawing 7 per cent gold interest annually. The State pays in interest annually on this loan the sum of $14, - 280 to the Agricultural and Mechanical College.
509
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
and that at Prairie View, in Waller County, for the training of colored teachers of both sexes) an account has already been given.
The Ball High School at Galveston is a superior institution of the kind, splendidly endowed by Mr. George Ball, an early citizen of that city, whose memory is endeared to the people of the island city.
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In January, 1839, with a supplementary act in 1841, there was set apart from the public domain, to each county then existing or thereafter to be created, four leagues (17,712 acres) of land, to be surveyed at the expense of the county . Under subsequent legislation, the proceeds from the sale of these lands, constitute a permanent auxiliary fund, the in- terest derived from which, as in the case of the State allow- ance, to be available for the annual support of schools in each respective county.
Under various laws enacted subsequent to the year 1850, the alternate sections of all lands granted to railroads, to the improvement of rivers and similar objects, were set apart as a public, free school fund. As sold, as in the cases before stated, the proceeds, whether in cash or based on interest-bear- ing notes, are invested in interest-bearing securities, as of the permanent fund, and the interest set apart for the annual support of the schools.
In addition to this, the State appropriated as part of the permanent fund, $2,500,000 of the bonds received from the United States.
By the report of the State superintendent of education, August 29, 1890, the total amount of the permanent State fund in county, State and railroad bonds, land notes and cash in the treasury, was $19,600,000 and there remained unsold, according to the best data, nearly 40,000,000 acres of common
510
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
school lands, the amount constantly fluctuating, as sales are made, or forfeitures occur. It is a moderate estimate that, within a few years, the school fund will reach $100,000,000. The annual available fund is interest on the bonds, interest on notes for land sold, rents for leased lands, State tax set apart for that purpose, and a one dollar poll tax, on each male person between twenty-one and sixty, equally divided between white and colored children, according to scholastic population of each.
All the larger and many of the smaller towns have exclusive . control of the common schools within their limits, and levy special taxes for the erection of school buildings, as any country district can do by vote of the people; under which plan the number of school houses in the State has been rapidly increasing. In most of the larger towns large and costly buildings of brick or stone have been erected, including one especially set apart for high school purposes.
DENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.
As the different religious denominations increased in num- bers and wealth they established institutions of learning. Four years after the revolution of 1836, they developed a deep interest in the subject of a higher education for the youth of both sexes. From that period until 1865 numerous institu- tions were founded and flourished until, by the disasters of the war between the States, their number was diminished and their growth greatly crippled. Others since that time have been consolidated with other institutions: In 1840 Mc- Kinzie Institute, near Clarksville, excellent seminaries in Mar- shall, San Augustine, Nacogdoches, Galveston, Matagorda and a few other towns, were in successful operation, generally under the control of some religious denomination.
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