mirabeau b. lamar suggested waterloo as the place for a permanent capital of texas.
mirabeau b. lamar suggested waterloo as the place for a permanent capital of texas.
who suggested waterloo as the place for a permanent capital of texas?
mirabeau b. lamar
shortly after the election of president mirabeau b. lamar, the texas congress appointed a site-selection commission to locate an optimal site for a new permanent capital. they chose a site on the western frontier, after viewing it at the instruction of president lamar, who visited the sparsely settled area in 1838. lamar was a proponent of westward expansion. impressed by its beauty, abundant natural resources, promise as an economic hub, and central location in texas territory, the commission purchased along the colorado river comprising the hamlet of waterloo and adjacent lands.
history of austin, texas
the subject of a permanent capital city had been discussed several times, but the continental congress could never agree on a site due to regional loyalties and tensions. new york city had served as the nation's temporary capital since 1785, but had never been intended to serve as a permanent capital. the city made numerous improvements in preparation for the new government, and the old city hall was remodeled by pierre l'enfant to become federal hall. the constitution said nothing about where the permanent capital would be. interest in attracting the capital grew as people realized the commercial benefits and prestige that were at stake. there was much maneuvering by interstate coalitions that were formed and dissolved almost daily, as congress debated the matter. more than 30 locations, including the hudson valley; trenton, new jersey; wilmington, delaware; baltimore, maryland; norfolk, virginia; and several locations in pennsylvania, were proposed as the site of the capital. in 1789, discussions narrowed to a site on the potomac river near georgetown, a site on the susquehanna river near wrights ferry (now columbia, pennsylvania), and a site on the delaware river near germantown, pennsylvania. both pennsylvania sites nearly won congressional approval as the site of the permanent capital, but divisions between pennsylvania's two senators, along with deft maneuvering by congressman james madison, postponed consideration of the topic into 1790.
presidency of george washington