PARTY CONVENTIONS, ELECTION RETURNS, INAUGURATION OF
GOVERNOR LANHAM AND LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR NEAL, LEG-
ISLATIVE WORK, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CURRENT RE-

PORTS OF DEPARTMENTS AND STATE INSTITUTIONS,
IMPORTANT EVENTS, OBITUARIES OF DISTIN-
GUISHED DEAD, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT,
STATISTICS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

AND HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED

BY

C. W. RAINES

STATE LIBRARIAN

EDITOR OF "LUBBOCK'S MEMOIRS," AND AUTHOR OF A "LIFE OF SANTA ANNA"
AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TEXAS"

ILLUSTRATED WITH FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS

VOL. II

AUSTIN, TEXAS

GAMMEL-STATESMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY

1903

DEDICATORY PREFACE.

Recognizing the debts of gratitude due the explorers, pioneer settlers, soldiers and statesmen who in time past, each in their turn, contributed to the building of the stately edifice of the Texas Commonwealth, every era and emergency producing the men it needed, the first volume of this historical series was, as a general acknowledgment to the past, dedicated to the heroes of the Texas revolution, to whom we owe more than to any other individuals numbered among those who have lived and are

now no more.

With our institutions firmly grounded and liberty secure, the way has been cleared for still more mighty and effectual accomplishments. The principal of these, the urgent vital task of the hour, is industrial development. Upon the rapidity with which, and degree to which, it is attained depends not only the future wealth, but political and martial power of the State.

Men capable of pushing forward this great work are pre-eminently those who are now most needed and, as a recognition of their essential value, and of the fact that our own time alone is actual and the men of our own day of paramount importance and worthy successors of those who have gone before, the present volume is dedicated to an able, resourceful and patriotic living Texan, distinguished financier, and capable and successful captain of industry,

JOHN H. KIRBY, OF HOUSTON,

and to him, and his colleagues, the following lines are respectfully inscribed:

Dimly o'er the sky of Europe,
Twilight held its gloomy sway.
Slowly moved the wheels of progress
Through a rough and rugged way;

Till at last the beaming morning
Of a better day shone bright,
Dawning with its radiant glory,
Shining with effulgent light.

Destiny then broke asunder

(With a might Fate only can)

Ancient fetters that for ages

Bound the minds and hopes of man.

Time was ripe for wondrous changes;
Fullness then of time complete,
When across the western billow
Came the heaven-guided fleet

Of Columbus, o'er the waters
Steering onward, westward bound.

Earth's great future to develop

Needed, was the new world found.