True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young. Page: 5
244 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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IN THE BEGINNING
I'SUPPOSE it must have been published many times, but If
so it has escaped my notice until the other day. I refer
to the original advertisement of the town of Houston by
the Allen Bros. The following is the document in full, which
appeared originally in the Telegraph, published at that time at
Columbia, on the Brazos River:
"THE TOWN OF HOUSTON."
"Situated at the head of navigation on the west bank of
Buffalo Bayou, is now for the first time brought to public notice,
because, until now, the proprietors were not ready to offer to
the public, with the advantages of capital and improvements.
'The town of Houston is located at a point on the river
which must ever command the trade of the largest and richest
portions of Texas. By reference to the map it will be seen
that the trade of San Jacinto, Spring Creek, New Kentucky,
and the Brazos, above and below Fort Bend, must necessarily
come to this place, and will at this; time warrant the employment
of at least $1,000,000 of capital, and when the rich lands
of this country shall be settled a trade will flow to it, making
it, beyond all doubt, the great commercial emporium of Texas.
"The town of Houston is distant 15 miles from the Brazos
River, 30 miles a little north of east from San Felipe, 60 miles
from Washington, 40 miles from Lake Creek, 30 miles southwest
from New Kentucky and 15 miles by water and 8 miles
by land above Harrisburg.
"Tidewater runs to this place and the lowest depth of water
is about six feet. Vessels from New York and New Orleans
can sail without obstacle to th place, and steamboats of the
largest class can run down to Galveston in eight or ten hours
in all seasons of the year.
"It is but a few hours sail down the bay, where one can
make excursions of pleasure and enjoy the luxuries of fish, fowl,
oysters and sea-bathing.
"Galveston harbor, being the only one in which vessels drawing
a large draft of water can navigate, must necessarily render
the island the great naval and commercial depot of the country.
"The town of Houston must be the place where armed, ammunition
and provisions for the government will be stored, because,
situated in the very heart of the country, it combines
security and means of easy distribution, and a national armory
will no doubt very soon be at this point.
"There is no place in Texas more healthy, having an abundance
of excellent spring water and enjoying the sea breeze in
all its freshness.
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Young, Samuel Oliver. True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young., book, 1913; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth24646/m1/5/?rotate=270: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .