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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
On Pettus return, Austin had loeated the site of San Phullippe; no house as yet built= 'l'he Colony was in great confusion, owing to his having assumed all power into his own hands, shewing no authority for his acts,-and his · ordering people offensive to him out of the Country, under the threat of personal punishmt - Pettus & Austin unfrn<lly on this account; but soon became reconciled, and findly - Things went on smoth~r now - Lands were now located - the Land office was opnd at San Phillippi - Austin had without authority, charged the settlers 12½ cts. per acre for their land; the people at first, thought that he wati so authorised to do; but on finding out better, they became outrageous at the imposition - He was sustane<l by Pettus & others in these ex- actions, they beliving that if not exactly lawful were indispensible. Buckner, old Mr. Rabb & others was on the side of the people - Party .spirit ran high - A party came to San Phillippee met the Political chief Austin. Austin had come to San Phillippi, in august 1823 - the Land office opnd until the fall- Solcedo came to San Philippee, in march 1834; enquired of the Colonists how they came on; he was told that Aus- tin had charged them 12½ cts per. acre- Solcedo told them that he had no right to exact it, that it was unlawful - This was the first time the people found out that they had· been imposed upon - They rose up in greath wrath agnst austin - when the party, above men- tioned crune to San Phillippi, they met Solcedo, (the political Chief) at Bexar then the only Departmt.- The quarrell was settled by Sol- cedo's establishing the rates to be paid, which were as follows - 192.52, for one League, & in proportion for smaller tracts; this price was continued until the adoption of the constitution of Coahula & Texas when the fees were reduced, to ------ Austin feeling the fees to be too low, added 50$ more to it without authority-some paid it; some refused- Those who were dissatisfied at havig paid the 12½ cts per. acre, on the first openg of the land office, were told by Austin that he would return the amount, on application-some applied, but many did not Trust Lands - Numbers who were unable to pay their Land fees. would clear their lands out on. halves; that is give one half to any one who would survey & pay the fees on the same: Austin being the sole Judge, could not make such an arrangement with the applicants - he accordingly got his brother James. Brown Austin to clear out Lands for him. that is Stephen F Austin was to have one half of the emi- grants Lands, for clearing it out of the 0ffice for him; but was to hold it in his brother's name. In thiF: way he accumulated an emmnse do- main. But when his brother died, thr widrlow married Teno philips; and becomig a widdow ag-ain, married Col. Wm. G. Hill. Col. Hill now in the name & for hiFl wife claimed these Trust lands as being Brown Austin's individual & own property. The records of the coun- try shewed this - a snit ens11ed - whilst this was pending, another question arose. Austin had also hv will divided his property between his sister Mrs. Perrv imd l\frs. Phillin's FlOn (S. F. Austin) - when the child died, Mrs:· Perry claimed the whole property; Hill claimed one half by virtue of the childs claim in the will - a compromised
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