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Short-lived title from Texas... Large map of the Brazos...
Short-lived title from Texas... Large map of the Brazos...
Item # 704742
January 02, 1892
VELASCO DAILY TIMES, Texas, Jan. 2, 1892
* Rare Southwestern "Boomtown" publication
* Possibly the first time offered anywhere (see note)
A rare title as it existed for less than six months.
Velasco was a town in Texas that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River four miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The town's early history is closely tied with the Battle of Velasco and the Texas Revolution.
Velasco was an important entry point for American settlers in Texas. In 1836 following the decisive Battle of San Jacinto, Velasco was named a temporary capital of the Republic of Texas by the interim President David G. Burnet. In 1837, the final actions of the Battle of Brazos River occurred there.
This title is not held by any institution as the only holdings noted were purchased by us. The prime feature of this issue is the terrific & large back page illustration which shows a: "Bird's Eye View of the Mouth of the Brazos River and Surrounding Country" which shows the towns of Quintana & Velasco and a notation of Houston being in the distance. This map takes close to half of the page. Displayable in itself.
Four pages, archivally rejoined at the blank spine, slightly fragile so should be handled carefully, good condition.
Note: This issue comes with a acid-free folder (gratis) for protection.
background: The Velasco Daily Times served as the high-energy megaphone for a "boomtown" that believed it was destined to become the next great American metropolis. Established in 1891 during the feverish development of the Brazos River mouth, the paper was less a quiet chronicle of local events and more a relentless promotional engine for the Velasco Terminal Railway and the deep-water port project. Under the guidance of editor W.H. Steadman, its pages were filled with bold typography declaring "Deep Water a Fact," meticulously tracking every steamer that successfully cleared the new jetties to prove the harbor's depth to skeptical investors. Beyond the maritime hype, the Times captured the raw, rapid transformation of the Texas coast, documenting everything from the construction of the grand Velasco Hotel to the daily influx of "excursionists" arriving by train to purchase real estate. Its lifespan was short but intense, mirroring the city's economic trajectory; as the silver panic of 1893 and the rise of Galveston stifled Velasco's growth, the paper's daily editions eventually faded, leaving behind a vivid, ink-stained record of a Gilded Age dream that was ultimately washed away by the 1900 hurricane.
Note: This issue comes from a small set formerly held by the Kansas Historical Society, a collection which, according to Gregory's 'Union List of Newspapers', is the only set known to exist.
Category: The Old West
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