AUSTIN. The capital of Texas, and county seat of Travis County, 186 miles west by north of Houston. on the north bank of the Colorado River. which, in its lower course, is navigable for steamboats, and on the Houston and Texas Central, the International and Great Northern, and the Austin and Northwestern railroads (Map: Texas, F 4). it is about 40 feet above the river, and is well built, with wide and shaded streets.
Capitol Square (10 acres) contains the capitol building, of granite, which cost 83.500.000. and is the largest State capitol in the United States. Other prominent structures are the State land ofliee, county court-house, and the buildings of the State University. There are also the State asylums for the insane, the blind, and the deaf and dumb: institutions for the colored deaf, dumb, and blind; Saint Edward's College; Til lotson Institute (colored) ; several seminaries and academies. Two bridges span the river. and in 1893. a great dam, one of the largest in the world. was built 2 miles above the city, to provide water and power. But the dam proved a failure, being carried away by a flood.
(See DAMS AND RESERVOIRS.) The export trade in agricultural produce, live stock, cotton, grain, wool, and hides is very large; and an ex tensive wholesale trade in groceries, dry goods, drugs, provisions, etc., is carried on. The manu factures include planed lumber. flour. and tanned leather. The government is administered under a revised charter of 1901. by a mayor, elected bi ennially; a city council, elected one•half by wards and one half at large; and municipal offi cials, of whom the sanitary inspector, pollee, pound-master. bridgekecper, and hospital matron are elected by the council, and all others by popu lar vote. The water-works and electric-light plant are owned and operated by the city. Aus tin, originally called Waterloo. was in 1837 named after Stephen F. Austin (q.v.) ; was in corporated, and then made the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839; and later became the permanent capital of the State. The first free school in Texas was established here in 1871. Population, in 1890, 14,575; in 1900, 22,258.