Shipbucket

Nice work Red

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https://discord.gg/5PHq8Dk
My artwork is posted here: https://www.deviantart.com/adenandy/gallery/all

I took the term from T.R. Fehrenbach's "Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans". That's how he described the government during the Republic years (1836-1845). But after researching it this morning, you're right.

I'll change the label to "Federal Republic" for the next update.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Republic of Texas, 1890-99

I. Introduction

Between 1890 and 1899, Texas continued to face challenges from drought and another economic depression begun in 1893. In spite of these challenges, immigration continued and the population increased almost 100% from 1880 and grew another 30% up to 1899. An estimated 3 million people called Texas home.

Agriculture continued to dominate the economy, with a majority of Texans engaged in farming or ranching. In this context of growth, a national depression struck in 1893. Farm prices continued to decline. These problems produced greater debts, more mortgaged farms, and a rise in the percentage of tenants from 37.6 to 49.7 percent of all farmers during the last two decades of the nineteenth century.

To improve wages, hours, and working conditions laborers in industries began to join unions. Between 1880 and 1900 the number of women in the work force increased from 58,943 to 140,392, an advance from 11 percent to 13 percent of all employed persons. Women in agriculture, domestic service, and teaching roles formed 95 percent of those working in 1880 but declined to 90 percent by 1900 as the number of dressmakers and saleswomen increased.

The oil industry emerges during this period. The first economically significant discovery came in 1894 in Navarro County near Corsicana. The Corsicana oilfield developed gradually and peaked in 1900, when it produced more than 839,000 barrels of oil. The first relatively modern refinery in Texas, operated by the J. S. Cullinan Company, opened at the field in 1898.

The other mineral resource to emerge as a profitable industry was mercury. The first discovery of mercury was in 1884. This event led to prospecting and additional discoveries, and the first flask of mercury was produced in 1886. Desultory prospecting and production continued until 1898, when mining was started by what later became the Marfa and Mariposa Mining Company. By 1899 the company had produced about a thousand flasks.

The balance of power in the Gulf region changed after the Spanish-American War. Spain, who had been seen as the likely adversary for a general war, was defeated by the United States and ceded the majority of its overseas possessions. The role of the Army and Navy would be debated for the next ten years as the geopolitical changes took effect. The vulnerability of the Texas coast produced changes for the roles of both services in national defense.

As Texas recovered from more economic challenges and political debates over taxation and government revenue, it was postured to capitalize on a growing number of industries to supplant the agricultural economy of the republic. A sense of optimism expanded as Texas and Texans looked forward to the new century.

II. Geography

• a. Area
  • • Total Area: 268,581 mi2/696,241 km2
    • Land: 261,866 mi2/678,835 km2
    • Water: 6715 mi2/17,406 km2
  b. Country Comparison to the World: 40
  c. Land Boundaries
  • • Total: 2845 mi/4552 km
    • Countries: United States, Mexico
  d. Coastline: 367 mi/591 km
  e. Climate: The size of Texas and location at the intersection of multiple climate zones gives it highly variable weather.
  f. Terrain: Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.
  g. Resources:
  • • Mineral: coal, lignite, oil, natural gas, iron
    • Natural: timber, arable land
  h. Natural Hazards: thunderstorms, tornados, and hurricanes

III. People and Society

• a. Ethnic Groups: White Texans; American, German, Irish and English Immigrants; Free Blacks, and Mexicans
  b. Language: English
  c. Population: 2,235,527 (1890)

IV. Government

• a. Type: Federal Republic
  b. Capitol: Austin
  c. Administrative Divisions: 244 counties

V. Economy

• a. Budget (1890-99 average)
  • • Revenues: $10,249,227 TXD
    • Expenditures: $10,249,227 TXD
  b. Agriculture:
  • • Crops: cotton, cotton seed, corn, wheat, oats
    • Livestock: beef cows, milk cows, horses, mules, hogs, sheep
  c. Manufacturing: lumber, cottonseed oil and cake, railroad car repair and construction, brick and tile, flour and grist
  d. Industries: timber, meat packing, oil, iron
  e. Exports: cotton, wheat, lumber
  f. Imports: iron, manufactured goods

VI. Transportation

• a. Roads: NA
  b. Railways: 9702 mi/15,613 km
  c. Waterways: 5 navigable rivers (Sabine, Trinity, Colorado, Brazos, Rio Grande)
  d. Ports: Galveston, Port Arthur, Sabine Pass, Lavaca, Indianola

VII. Military and Security

• a. Military Branches:
  • • Regular: Army (5600 personnel), Navy and Marines (2700 personnel)
    • Militia (22,335 available for service)
  b. Military Service Age and Obligation: voluntary militia enrollment for white males between the ages of 18 and 45
  c. Military Expenditures: $2,335,856 TXD (average 1890-99); 23% of Budget Expenditures

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The Texas Navy, 1890-99

Declining revenue from another economic depression and congressional infighting over taxation forced the Navy to cut costs and personnel in the early part of the decade. The defense budget declined by almost $100,000 every year until 1895, when a major tax increase boosted the apportionment for the armed forces.

The Texas Navy adapted by taking its composite-hulled ships out of service, but unable to afford replacements they were laid up in reserve and their crews discharged. The only vessels scrapped were the monitors Copperhead and Cottonmouth, whose frames were declared unfit for service. The iron-hulled ships remained in active service.

Faced with shrinking resources and the lack of coast defense capability, the Navy found enough funds to experiment with fast torpedo boats as an alternative to the slow, heavily armored and expensive monitors. Torpedo Boat #1 was ordered at the economical cost of $81,000.



Torpedo boats had been in service with other navies for almost 20 years prior, but Texas had not seen a need or a role for them until squeezed by yet another budget crisis. Torpedo Boat #1 showed incredible promise: it was cheap, needed a small shore-based crew, and could hide easily in the shallow waters of any Texas waterway (even the rivers).

Her 25 knot maximum speed was impressive, even for coal-fired boilers and reciprocating steam engines. The 18 inch Whitehead torpedoes from Great Britain showed great promise for action against slow, heavily armored ships.

The Army and Navy Act off 1895 sealed the deal - the Army wanted coast defense forts with heavy guns and it got them. The Navy no longer had any need for the big monitors...and five more torpedo boats were ordered the following year.

_________________
Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

When oil refining became commercially viable in 1897, the Texas Navy decided to experiment with the use of fuel oil for powering ships. The frigate Archer was due for new engines in 1897, and the Bureau of Engineering requested installation of oil-fired boilers instead of coal fired boilers as an experiment.

Outwardly, Archer's appearance changed very little except for a new paint scheme and new 8"/35 main guns:



But inside, her changes were remarkable. Under steam alone she could now make 16 knots and cruise at 8 for the standard range of 1660 miles. With full sail and forced draft she made 18. The thick telltale black smoke was gone, making her harder to spot at a distance. The stoker gangs were no longer needed, which saved money on operating expenses.

It had been a gamble, but the gamble had been a success. From this point on, the Texas Navy would turn away from coal and make use of oil for ship fuel.

_________________
Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Lampasas Class Corvettes started their rebuilds in 1898, starting with the Lampasas herself:



She, too had the new oil-fired boilers installed. The Lampasas could make 20 knots under forced draft steam and full sail, making her class fast enough to catch mail steamers. They also received the new 6"50 guns and 4"/40s for secondary armament.

The Lavaca was rebuilt the following year, and the Leon and Llano followed early in the next decade.

_________________
Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The only new capital ship built between 1890 and 1899 was the Armored Cruiser Navidad. Her authorization was sneaked into the 1894 budget request (after Congress hiked taxes for that year...they were substantially reduced the following year.) At a cost of $832,000, she was the single most expensive warship to date for the Texas Navy. And she made use of every major development of the previous ten years.



Dredging had deepened Galveston Harbor in the 1890s...and the Navidad was the first ship to take advantage of the increase - 17 feet instead of the typical 14 feet for a Texas capital ship. She was also the longest ship at 250 feet on the waterline.

Her armament was state of the art, but still reflected old practices: two 8"/40s, six 6"/50s, and four 6lb QFs. Numbers of guns would increase from here on as Design Boards looked to turrets and casemates as the future of gun crew protection. She also had four 18 inch torpedo tubes fitted, also a first for a Texas capital ship.

Navidad is also the first ship to make sails the secondary means of propulsion. Her rig is much smaller than her predecessors, and reflects the notion that canvas is for cruising but steam is for combat.

She is the first truly armored ship in the Texas Navy, though the practice still follows that of protected cruisers. A 6 inch main belt protects her machinery and magazines, with 3 inch inclined armor above it linked to a 1.5 inch protected deck. The conning tower was also clad in 6 inches of armor to protect the helmsmen.

Navidad can make 17 knots under steam, and cruise at 8 for 1660 miles. Full sail and steam could attain 19 knots. She is designed to out-shoot anything she can't outrun. Originally designed for coal, her design was altered late in construction to use oil.

And she is made of steel - the first ship of the Texas Navy to use the stronger alloy as a building material. Her construction takes three years. Navidad was commissioned in 1899.

_________________
Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The Fleet as it looked between 1890 and 1899:

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Very beautiful work, Red. Excellent thread.

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Awesome!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

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