Out of the land of the Tejas Indians came the legends of "The Seven Cities of Cibola", fabulous cities of gold, to the North. They fired the imaginations of the first Spanish explorers. Never found, the cities still exist in the minds of men as early prophesies, perhaps, of the great and prosperous commonwealth that was to be raised up on these plains.
Fort St. Louis, on the Lavaco River, site of the first French settlement, 1685. Here came La Salle and his followers to live, marry and die, finally to be wiped out by disease, privation and violence. The heroic La Salle was cut down by one of his own men. So run the opening pages of Texas history, a story of heroism and hard luck, of tragedy and triumph, of pain out of which a great state is born. ​[The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939]
Conflict on the Plains of Texas.
Fortunes and affiliations of Texas rise and fall in the middle of the 1800's and the American flag rises and falls over the Lone Star State. In 1845 Texas is admitted to the Union, in 1861 Texas secedes, its men march off to war while its proud women care for the lands at home. In 1870 Texas becomes again a state of the Union and emerges in a new agricultural and industrial triumph over the difficult days of reconstruction.
​[The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939] - no color slide is available of this image.
When the early Spaniards saw oil smears on the streams and waterways, little did they suspect the richness of the veins of black gold that flowed beneath the tough hide of Texas. When the famous Spindletop well blew in at the turn of the century, this state began its move towards the front rank of oil producers. Today, Texas oil literally lubricates the world. Its rich natural resources are a generous contribution to the state and national economy. [The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939]
The history of Houston's deep water development is a story of Texas courage foresight and tenacity. Dating from 1899, when congress first approved a deeper channel, through 1910 when, despite some press opposition, a citizens' committee cut through red tape and political delays with an offer to share half the cost of $ 2,500,000.00. Today a greater port puts Houston and the great Southwest in touch with all the rest of the world. [The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939]
Roots of the famous Texas educational system go back to 1832, when land grants were sought for the futures encouragement of the primary schools. As early as 1836 it was proclaimed that "unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect continuance of civil liberty or the capacity of self government. Texas has never lost sight of this great tradition and today its citizens are ready to make their own way in a world where knowledge is power. [The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939]
Modern Houston
Eugene Montgomery, Texan who won fame in Chicago as a muralist and portrait painter, with Mrs. Montgomery and two of their three daughters, Carolyn, 18 months, and Patricia, 7. Mr. Montgomery created the murals which glorify Texas history and traditions at the new Sears-Roebuck store in Houston. [The Houston chronicle - December 3rd, 1939]