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HISTORY
OF
TEXAS LAND
With a preface by
BILL ALLCORN
Commissioner of the General Land Office
[Illustration: GENERAL LAND OFFICE—THE STATE OF TEXAS]
AUSTIN, TEXAS
1958
[Illustration: The Old GENERAL LAND OFFICE BUILDING—BUILT IN THE
YEARS 1856-1857 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS]
The Old General Land Office Building, pictured (above) as it appeared
about 1890, is located at the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds in
Austin. It is one of the oldest remaining buildings in the Capitol City.
It was designed in December, 1854, by a draftsman in the General Land
Office, Professor Doctor C. C. Stremme, who enjoyed considerable
prestige in Europe before his emigration to Texas. In addition to other
honors, Professor Stremme held a title at the Court of Emperor Nicholas
I of Russia.
Maps prepared by Professor Stremme suggest his German homeland, and he
poured his rich background into the Old Land Office Building. This
structure is German Romance in style.
It was built in 1856 and 1857.
Thirty years after its construction, the building was the working home
of William S. Porter, who was later to gain fame as a short story writer
under the name of O. Henry. He was a draftsman in the General Land
Office, and there he turned out numerous maps of rare beauty.
Later, O. Henry used the Old General Land Office Building in one of his
stories, entitled “Bexar Scrip Number 2692”.
Statistically, the old building is 62 by 94 feet, outside dimensions. It
has 11,656 feet of floor space in its two floors. Its exterior walls are
two feet in width. It is characterized by star-transomed windows.
Moving into the Old General Land Office Building shortly after its
completion, the General Land Office occupied the structure until 1918,
when it moved into its present building.
A new building to be occupied by the General Land Office and the State
Library and Archives is now in the planning stage.
More information about the historic Old General Land Office Building can
be obtained from Mr. August Watkins Harris, an Austin architect, 13
Niles Road, Austin, who created the picture (below) and with whose
permission it is printed.
[Illustration: PRESENT GENERAL LAND OFFICE BUILDING, 1918]
PREFACE
Here is the story of Texas land.
And the story of Texas land is the story of Texas. This history begins
with the Spanish in Texas, goes through the period of the Mexican
occupation, tells about a courageous people who forced their
independence, set up a republic, and ten years later joined the United
States. The story of Texas oil development is also pertinent to the
history of Texas land.
Through the whole account shines the far-sightedness, honesty, and
devotion of early Texas leaders. By their efforts we enjoy much that
would not otherwise be ours, not the least of which are our two great
educational funds, the Permanent School Fund and the Permanent
University Fund.
Does it not seem proper that we treat the educational future of our
young people with at least as much respect as our ancestors? We should
continue to help these educational funds grow as much as possible now
while resources still exist on which to build them. Otherwise we run the
future risk of emaciated funds and no resources with which to develop
them further.
Section III of this booklet lists items of interest which may be found
in the General Land Office. We extend you a personal invitation to visit
the Land Office to see these historical treasures of Texas and the other
files which, collectively, spell out in detail the story of Texas land.
[Illustration: signature]
BILL ALLCORN
Commissioner
General Land Office