New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 2

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

There was at first only one Texan department, that of Bexar, in 1834 there were three with political chiefs at San Antonio, San Felipe de Austin and Nacogdoches. The principal local officer was the ALCALDE, and there was a local municipal coun- cil known as the AYUNTAMIENTO.

The average Anglo-Texan then, came into little direct contact with Mexican officials and took little thought of Mexico. With the United States, on the other hand, the Anglo-Texan had very strong ties.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

In the United States were his friends and kindred, with the United States he had trade relations, to the United States if anywhere he sent his children to be educated.

Although the Mexicans in the first flush of their victory over Spain in the War of Independence had shown a very liberal policy toward Americans, it was not long before the old distrust founded upon inter-racial misunderstanding flamed up again and grew worse until it finally culminated in the Texas Revolution of 1835-36.

The Fredonian Rebellion of Hayden and Benjamin W. Edwards in 1825, President Guerrero's emanci- pation proclamation of September 15, 1823, the De- cree of April 6, 1830, the Texan Rebellion of 1832, the imprisonment of Austin in 1834 and 1835, in the course of his mission to Mexico City to urge the separation of Texas from Coahuila, marked succes- sive stages in the growth of this mutual distrust.

Finally General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna by a succession of tyrannical acts, notably the occu- pation of Texas with Mexican soldiers and the at- tempted arrest of a number of prominent Texans, brought the difficulty to a head.

Austin upon his return from Mexico in Septem- ber 1835, issued a call to the colonists to arm them- selves for the inevitable conflict. In less than two weeks after this call the Revolution actually began with the battle of Gonzales, October 2, 1835. Short- ly after this trouble Austin was made Commander- in-Chief. In November, however, the Consultation which met at San Felipe de Austin elected General Sam Houston as Commander-in-Chief and sent Aus- tin with Archer and Wharton as commissioners to the United States.

The war lasted seven months. Its most out- standing events were the battle of Gonzales, Octo- ber 2, 1835, the capture of San Antonio by the Tex- ans in December 1835, the capture of the Alamo by the Mexicans on March 6, 1836, and the massacre of the handful of Texans under William Barrett Travis who had heroically defended it against overwhelm- ing numbers; the massacre of Fannin and his com- mand at Goliad on Palm Sunday, three weeks later; the eastward flight of the non combatant Texans, known as the "Runaway Scrape," and the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, which ended the war.

The Texans began by fighting not for indepen- dence but for their rights under the Mexican Con- stitution of 1824. As time went on however, the course of events made independence inevitable and the Convention which assembled on March 1, 1836, passed a Declaration of Independence and later adopted a constitution.

Under this constitution an independent republican government with David G. Burnet as provisional president replaced the provisional state government consisting of a governor and council set up by the Consultation of November, 1835, whose dissensions had done much to weaken the Texan cause and invite disaster.

Texas remained an independent Republic for ten years, its independence being recognized by the Uni- ted States and several European powers. Mexico did not trouble Texas for about six years following the battle of San Jacinto. The two Mexican inva- sions of Texas in 1842 were partly in retaliation for Texan aggressiveness, notably the Santa Fe Expe- dition of 1841, and partly to emphasize the fact that

Mexico had never recognized the independence of Texas. Following these came the unfortunate Mier expedition, which ended the fighting between Mexico and Texas.

The annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845, however, angered Mexico so that the Mexican war, 1846-1848, resulted.

This war ended by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidal- go, February 2, 1848, which gave to the United States for $15,000,000, not only Texas, but the country which is now California, Nevada, Utah, Ari-

The Alamo, the Historic Place where Heroic Texans Fought and Died for Texas Liberty

zona, part of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, the Rio Grande being agreed upon as the Western boundary of Texas.

The question which soon arose between the United States and Texas as to the latter's boundary threatened serious trouble for a while; it was finally settled by Henry Clay's Omnibus Bill which gave to Texas its present boundary and ten million dollars for giving up its claim to the rest of the territory ac- quired by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Sixteen years after annexation the Civil war broke out. Despite a strong union sentiment in Texas, the chief exponent of which was Governor Sam Houston, Texas seceded from the Union and became one of

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the Confederate States of America. Because Texas was on the extreme western edge of the Confeder- acy there was little actual fighting within the State. Galveston was captured by the Union forces in Oc- tober, 1862, and recaptured by the Confederates on New Year's day, 1863. Sabine Pass was attacked but not taken by the Federals, and Brownsville was occupied for a short while. That was all.

After the collapse of the Confederacy, Texas was occupied by the Federals in 1865, the slaves were de- clared free, and a provisional government was estab- lished by President Johnson. In 1866 a popular elec- tion restored the regular state government.

In 1867 however, Congress rejected the President's plan of reconstruction and put the South back under military rule. From this time until 1872, the state was in a very turbulent condition. The dominant po- litical party, the Radicals, enfranchised the negroes and disfranchised many of the whites. In 1869 they

For the most part the basis of party alignment has been personal loyalty. Of late, however, the pre- dominance of principle over personalities has added dignity to Texas politics. The chief specific issue has lately been prohibition; viewed in its broader aspects, however, the struggle has been between pro- gressive and conservative ideas. The progressive element is now in the ascendancy and has enacted into law a number of progressive measures, notably statewide prohibition and the primary ballot for women. The influence of this party has also led to the ratification of the Federal amendment granting women full suffrage.

The election of 1918, while a sweeping victory for the progressive group, headed by William P. Hobby, who was elected governor, has been pro- nounced nothing short of a political revolution, the most important in Texas history since the election of Coke. Governor Hobby's opponent in this cam- paign was ex- governor James E. Ferguson, who the year before the election had been impeached, convicted and re- moved from of- fice.

The Terrell election law has been in use ever since 1906.

The constitution under which we are now living was ratified by the people in 1876. In the num- ber of its details, in the rigidity of its checks upon official action, it reflects the popu- lar distrust born in the unsatisfac- tory conditions under the reconstruction state gov- ernment.

The Fall of the Alamo, March 6, 1836. In this Battle the Complete Garrison of One Hundred and Eighty-Two Texans were Annihilated. The Alamo was Defended by this Little Force of Texans Under the Command of Col. Travis, Assisted by Crockett and Bowie. An Army of

Several Thousand Mexicans, Commanded by Santa Anna, Surrounded and At- tacked the Texans, Killing the Entire Force.

formed a new constitution and elected Edmund J. Davis Governor.

The antebellum ruling class naturally resented this reversal of the old order; they resented the harsh radical legislation; they resented the place of prominence assumed by the Negroes; they resented the difficult conditions of life naturally growing out of the abnormal state of things subsequent to the war.

One channel through which this resentment found utterance was the Ku Klux Klan, a secret organiza- tion formed for the purpose of holding down the lawlessness of the Negroes. Its first effect seems to have been genuinely on the side of good public order, unfortunately however it fell into the hands of men who took advantage of the opportunity which it afforded them to play the brute.

In 1870 Texas was restored to the Union. In 1872 the Democratic party gained control of the Legisla- ture and in 1873 elected Richard Coke governor; it has been the dominant party in Texas ever since.

The political history of Texas for almost half a century has therefore been practically the history of factional contests within the Democratic party.

In the course of the past half century violence and fraud have gradually been suppressed. Public or- der has gradually become better. The state finances have improved steadily since Governor Roberts the "Old Alcalde" put into effect his famous "Pay as You Go" policy. The state debt has been almost wiped out.

The state has practically quintupled its popula- tion in the generation following Reconstruction, while its wealth has increased about fifteen fold.

In the foreign part of its cosmopolitan population German and Mexican elements predominate.

One notable characteristic of this period is the rapid growth of cities and their progress in govern- ment and public work.

The economic development of Texas since condi- tions have become more stable has been very rapid. In the eastern part of the state farming and lumber industries are especially important; in the central western and southern, farming and stockraising are growing in importance. Manufacturing industries are also steadily developing.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

The oil fields, both the southeastern group dis- covered about thirty years ago and the northern and western groups discovered within the last few years, are becoming increasingly important in the indus- trial life of Texas and are bringing to the front so- cial problems, especially labor questions, which bid fair to become more progressive in the course of time.

When all is said and done, Texas still remains pri- marily a farming state. Fruit and truck growing have long been predominant in the east and the south, cotton growing in most of the lower river valleys. Rice growing in the coast country is a notable de- velopment of the past quarter century. Large areas in the West are being changed by irrigation projects from grazing to farming land; the Rio Grande Val- ley especially, is becoming increasingly important in truck growing. Cotton farming interests have suffered greatly of late years from the Mexican boll weevil, the eradication or control of which has con- stituted a serious public problem. The pink boll- worm is another pest which has lately developed; this constitutes so grave a problem as to engage the attention of the United States Department of Agri- culture and to have forced the convening of the Leg- islature in special session to provide for its hand- ling.

The railroad development of Texas is as yet in- complete, large areas being still remote from rail ways, even though the state ranks first in railway mileage.

The building of railroads began before the civil war, the period of most rapid progress being be- tween 1879 and 1893. Private contributions, gifts of city and county bonds, loans from the state schools, and grants of public lands were means used to encourage railway development.

As time went on and the need of regulation in the public interest becoming apparent, the Railroad Commission was in 1891 created at the instance of Governor Hogg. Its first chairman was United States Senator John H. Reagan, former Postmaster General of the Confederacy.

In addition to the boundary disagreement with the United States which was settled in 1850, Texas has had two boundary controversies with Oklahoma. The first was settled by the decision of the United States Supreme Court in 1896, awarding Greer County to Oklahoma. The other which concerns an important oil field on the Red River, is still pending.

Texas has suffered a number of public disasters from fire and flood and pestilence. Notable among these have been the epidemic of cholera and yellow fever, in the fifties and seventies; of meningitis in 1911-12; of influenza in 1918-19, the Brazos Floods of 1899-1902-1914; the Coast storm of 1900, 1915 and 1919; the West Texas drought of 1916, 1918; and the burning of the Capitol in 1881.

Nature, science, and human will power and re- sourcefulness however, have turned these disasters to account in making for better things.

Yellow fever at least has practically been con- quered. Galveston Island has been fortified with a seawall, and has out of its disaster evolved the com- mission form of government, which has proved such an improvement over the older form of municipal government as to impel cities far and wide to adopt it. Corpus Christi has in large part recovered from storm damage and is working to fortify itself against future disaster. The Brazos farms have

been productive enough in the good years to make up for the losses in the flood and drought. The West Texas drought was broken by the rains of 1919; the old capitol has been replaced by a new one, larger and more substantial, which has been in use since 1888.

The growth of the State's educational system while yet far from complete has been another outstanding fact in recent state history. Though the founda- tion was laid in the time of the Republic by the set- ting aside of public lands for the provision of reve- nue for the educational purposes and though at- tempts at actual installation were made before the Civil War the present system has practically grown up since the Civil War, and especially since the pe- riod of reconstruction.

The public educational agencies are the free pub- lic schools, the institutions of higher education, and the free public libraries.

The free public schools comprise schools for nor- mal children, for handicapped groups the institu- tions for the blind and the deaf and dumb, for de- linquent groups, the State training schools for boys and girls.

The institutions for higher education are the Nor- mal Colleges, the Grubbs Vocational College, the John Tarleton College, the College of Industrial Arts and the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the University. Most of the Institutions of higher education and the institutions for the handi- capped and delinquent groups are supported wholly by legislative appropriations except in so far as some of them are benefitted by Federal appropria- tions under the land grants acts and the later Smith- Hughes and Smith-Lever Acts; the free public schools and the University have endowments de- rived from the sale and lease of public land set aside by the Republic; the free schools also have special state and local taxes, some of them also have a certain amount of state aid from legislative appropriations, the University has regularly a legis- lative appropriation for maintenance.

In 1915 a compulsory attendance law was passed, which, notwithstanding its imperfections, is a step forward in educational progress. Following this and growing logically out of it was the enactment of the free text book law, which went into effect in 1919.

The growth of the higher institutions has of late been phenomenally rapid.

There are also a number of private and church institutions, the wealthiest of which is Rice Institute at Houston. Baylor College at Waco, Southwestern at Georgetown, Southern Methodist at Dallas, Texas Christian at Ft. Worth, Trinity at Waxahachie and Austin College at Sherman are the principal church colleges.

The free public library system of Texas, though one of the most vital parts of the educational system of any state, is only beginning. The period of most activity in the establishment of city libraries was between 1900 and 1915; it is only within the past ten years that developments tending to the welding of the whole into one articulated system have become significant.

The most important piece of legislation looking to this end has been the law creating a library com- mission, passed in 1909 and amended in 1919, and the county free library law, passed in 1915 and amended in 1917 and 1919.

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF TEXAS By ANNIE WEBB BLANTON Ex-Supt. Department of Education

P ROVISION for public education in Texas was included in the State Constitution framed by a convention which met at Austin in 1845. Not only were vast areas of land set aside as provision for a state permanent fund for public schools but lands to form the basis of a county school fund was allotted to such counties as had not already received from the Republic of Texas their quantum of land for the purpose of education. The state permanent school fund is now estimated to be $72,865,496, a sum for which for the scholastic year of 1918-19 produced an in- come of $10,252,619. The unsold school lands ap- proximate 800,000 acres. The county permanent school fund, including the value of unsold lands, totals $12,751,493.

In addition the state levies for public free schools and for the purchase of free text books, a tax of three and one-half mills, and appropriates also for this purpose one dollar of each pull-tax collected. For the scholastic year of 1919-20 the state provides a per capita apportionment of $7.50, totaling $9,- 253,440 for the 1,233,792 Texas children of scholastic age.

In addition, the state makes a special provision for the aid of rural schools by appropriating from the general revenues $2,000,000 per year. This is appointed to the weak schools, in proportion to their needs, special allowances being made for school dis- tricts which will replace old buildings with new, erect teacherages and purchase additional equipment and suitable libraries. Aid from this fund for the transportation of pupils and for increases of salary for rural teachers who will take additional courses of study and who will remain in the same position.

The value of public school property in the state, including buildings, grounds and equipment, is ap- proximately $50,000,000. There are about 16,000 school buildings in Texas, 6,000 of which are of one- room type. About 500 teacherages have been erected within the last few years.

In the public school service about 30,000 teachers are employed. The average annual salary, exclusive of remuneration paid to superintendents, principals, and other school ofcers, is approximately $500 per year. A campaign for substantial increases of salary is now under way.

A number of state colleges with which most of the public high schools are affiliated afford excellent opportunities for higher education. The main branch of the University of Texas is situated at Austin, with the Medical Branch at Galveston and the School of Mines at El Paso. The University is co-educa- tional in all of its branches. In the central part of the state, at Bryan, is the Agricultural and Me- chanical College for young men, which institution is also a military school. The Grubbs Vocational Col- lege at Arlington and the John Tarleton College at

Stephenville, both ranked as junior colleges, are branches of the Agricultural and Mechanical College. The College of Industrial Arts, for young women, is situated in North Texas, at Denton. The state has made provision for the establishment of eight normal colleges of the first class. Six of these are now in operation: The Sam Houston Normal College, Huntsville; the North Texas Normal College, Den- ton; the Southwest Texas Normal College, San Mar- cos; the West Texas Normal College, Canyon; the East Texas Normal College, Commerce; and the Sul Ross Normal College, Alpine. The other normal schools situated at Nacogdoches and at Kingsville, respectively, have lately begun operation.

The State University, the Agricultural and Me- chanical College, the College of Industrial Arts, and the system of Normal Colleges have respectively, their own governing boards consisting of from six to nine members for each board, one-third of the membership of each board being appointed biennially by the governor.

The state schools for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb are located at Austin. The state has also provided schools for delinquent boys and girls. The training school for boys being situated at Gates- ville, and that for girls at Gainesville, Texas.

For vocational education under the Smith-Hughes Act, Texas will spend in 1919-20, $120,198.45, which sum is duplicated for Texas by the United States ap- propriation. A special state appropriation of $25,000 is made available for vocational education in rural schools, to aid these schools in securing the benefit of the Smith-Hughes funds.

Group of Buildings at Baylor University, Waco, one of the Oldest Institutions of Higher Learning in Texas

The state superintendent of public instruction has general supervision over the public schools. From the state department of education are distributed blanks for school reports, teachers' registers and various supplies. The statewide system of free textbooks is administered by the state superintend- ent, and the affiliation and classification of schools is carried out under the direction of the State De- partment of Education. The state superintendent is responsible also for the state course of study and has in charge the direction of summer normal in- stitutes and of the certification of teachers.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS By DR. ROBT. E. VINSON Ex-President

T HE idea of a University for Texas was con- ceived in the minds of the fathers of the state about a century ago. Having thrown off Mexican domination be- cause, among other unbear- able burdens, Mexico had re- fused to provide educational facilities, the citizens of Texas immediately took steps to establish a public system which should include a uni- versity as the highest of its branches.

The Congress of the Re- public in 1839 made goodly appropriations for the pur- pose of the university educa- tion, and in 1858 the state legislature made an enormous addition to this appropriation.

The legislature of 1858 also passed an act whereby a university should be established, which univer- sity should be "an institution of learning-so en- dowed, supported and maintained as to place within the reach of our people, whether rich, or poor, the opportunity of conferring upon the sons of the state a thorough education."

The Constitution of 1876 further provided specific- ally for the establishment and organization of "the University of Texas." In 1881, by popular vote, the University was located at Austin; two years later its formal opening was held.

In the thirty-six years of its existence, the Uni- versity has grown in every direction. Beginning with the Academic and Law Departments, it has had added unto it the Departments of Engineering, Extension, Education and Medicine, and the Grad- uate Department and Summer Schools. The original University of Texas was housed in one building, which, incidentally, is now the west wing of the main building. Since that time the physical plant has grown until it includes nine large permanent build- ings and numerous temporary frame structures.

Texas Women's College, Fort Worth, one of Texas' Insti- tutions for Higher Education

Since the University was created by the state primarily for the State, it is the privilege and re- sponsibility of every citizen of Texas to make him- self acquainted with the facts as to whether the State University has lived up to its principles and whether the results that it accomplishes are worthy of the institution which its originators meant it to be.

The University of Texas was from the beginning meant to be "a means whereby the attachments of

Looking North on University Avenue from the Capitol Toward the University of Texas. The Main Building is in the Center

the young men of the state to the interests, the in- stitutions, and the rights of the state and the liber- ties of the people might be encouraged and in- creased." These words may be considered as an expression of the goal toward which the institution has striven and is striving. To the same degree that its functioning has been perfect has it at- tained the purpose set for it. Moreover, the worth- iest possible compliment to be given the institution is that its (students and through them other Texans) should feel an increased responsibility and love for the interests, institutions and rights of the state The severest criticism would rightly devolve upon it if there should be no evidence of this intensified feeling in those who come under the influence of its teachings.

This brings us as loyal Texans to the question: Are the students of the University of Texas by means of their attendance there more closely attached to the interests of the state ? It is possible to tell only by observing the positions of trust creditably held by ex-students of the University and by noting the response made by them when their support is needed to preserve some former benefit or secure a new good for the state and its citizens. Actual statistics are impossible to be had on so intangible a subject, but it is a self-evident fact that men and women who have been students in the State University have keener visions and are more capable and more eager than they otherwise would have been to pro- mote the interests of the state. .

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 2

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416