Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 809 of 894
762 p., [172] leaves of plates : ill., ports. ; 30 cm.View a full description of this book.
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698
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
Sterling Price. As an evidence of his popularity
with the army and people, he was chosen, almost
unanimously, over three competitors as Representative
in the Confederate Congress in May, 1864.
He is the youngest living member of that now historic
body.
In the field bis duties were mainly those of staff
officer, but he was assigned to much special service,
and often of the most perilous nature, in
which he had many adventures and not a few very
narrow escapes. Gen. Price said of him, "He
is infinite in resource." In Congress he was faithful
and true, giving the best energies of his soul to
the support of a government which, like the tower
of Ushur, was already tottering to its fall. When
the end came, he took up life and business anew.
Unwilling to renew the struggle for subsistence in
the rigorous climate of Northern Missouri, he came
to Southern Texas, securing a home on the Lavaca
river. Here he introduced many improved farm
implements, blooded stock, and improved methods
of agriculture, of incalculable value to that section.
Energetic and progressive, he took an active,
almost initiative, interest in the formation of agricultural
societies in several counties, from which
beginning some of the most successful annual
county fair associations in Texas date their beginning.
Through his generous sympathies and active
efforts in behalf of a war-worn section and people,
he soon obtained an extensive acquaintance, and a
large circle of friends.
He was selected by Governor Roberts to make
the initial move that resulted in the great granite
capitol, that stands at the head of Congress avenue,
in the city of Austin.
The constitution of 1876 provided for the erection
of a new State capitol and set aside 3,000,000
acres of public land for that purpose. The location
and survey of so large a section became a
matter of importance, and required special abilities.
The trust was confided to Col. Norton, who,
accompanied by the surveyors and a small detail
from the frontier battalion of rangers, made surveys
embracing nearly all the vacant and unappropriated
public domain in the counties of Dallam,
Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Palmer, and Castro,
as well as a large portion of Bailey, Lamb, and
Hockley. IPrior to this examination and survey the
Llano Estacado, or "staked plains," were generally
accepted at the estimate placed on them by
geographers, viz., as "The Great American Desert,"
a region unsuited for civilized habitation and
valueless except as territorial expanse.
Col. Norton took a different view, and in his report
to Governor Roberts placed a high estimateupon the capabilities of the soil, and expressed a
belief that enterprise and energy would there
achieve good results at no distant day. Time has
already more than justified these statements and
opinions.
The plains are being settled and cultivated, and
many stock men regard them as among the best
grazing grounds in the State. Aside from the intelligent
observation evinced in this really able report,
the faithful labor shown in the long tabulated
annex, giving number of leagues, location, description,
topography, adaptation, etc., was especially
gratifying to the authorities and the public. The
law providing a Capitol Board and Building Commissioners
named the Governor, Comptroller,
Treasurer, Commissioner of the General Land Office
and the Attorney-General as the members who
should compose the former, and this board elected
the Hon. Joseph Lee and N. L. Norton as the men
to compose the latter. The relations of Judge Lee
and Col. Norton were ever of the most pleasant and
fraternal character, and the survivor, Col. Norton,
speaks of his friend and fellow-worker in terms of
tenderest regard. The board had executive and
discretionary powers, while the commissioners were
to be guided solely by the law and the contracts
made thereunder; yet, upon all deliberative questions
they practically constituted one body, and the
freest discussions and exchange of views prevailed
among them, and, as an example of their joint
labor, this entire body held a continuous session of
thirty-five days in preparing and adopting the form
of contract and detailed specifications under which
the work was finally done. Much of this time the
designing architect was also present aiding and
consulting. Plans having been solicited, a selection
was made upon the advice of Mr. N. Lebrun,
a distinguished architect of New York City, appointed
by the Governor upon the authority of the
Legislature. Pending the usual notice to bidders,
the commissioners began the search for material
suitable for construction. From their first preliminary
report on the subject, dated June 1st, 1881,
it is clear that they already realized that this was a
difficult and responsible task. They had found
stone in abundance, sound and strong; but stone
sound, strong and durable, of uniform color and
texture (such as filled the requirements of both the
law and the contract), of proper thickness of strata
for the massive building blocks and heavy columns
and pilasters in sufficient amount, had not been
found. The following is from the eighteenth section
of the enabling act: "The interior and exterior
walls of the capitol shall be of the most
durable rock accessible, which shall sustain a
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Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, book, 1880~; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6725/m1/809/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.