The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-14
IRON THE LONE STAR

| SSPsioh W VINO BOuOIoA Eulo AS is pr080OUoS
by the State of Texas. In the recen
message of the Governor of that State, ad
dressed to the Legislature at the beginning
OF the hrst session since the adoption o.
the new State Constellation, a review ID
given of the general condition of the State
which describes a degree of prosperity
probably without parallel in any other State
in the Union at the present time.
1t has long been clear that the State OF
Texas is rapidly advancing to a command
ing position in the Union. Its credit is
now firmly established. Its delegation in
to no other in point of ability, dignity of
personal character, and elevated political
| tone, will soon become, in mere numbe
with tie rapid increase of the population
of the State, one of the most powerful in
| that body and few other States in the
Union are go nearly unanimous in political
sentiment.
The present Democratic Governor,
Richard Coke. was elected in 1873 by a
majority of AZ sos. He has been re- elected
in 1876 by majority of 100 52S. The
official returns of the general State election
held on the Ssh of February of this year,
show that out of l49 counties into which
the State is divided, 1873 cOuc ties gave
Democratic msi"rities, amounting in the
aggregate to los ,955, while only l6 coun
ties gave Repu blican majorities, amounting
in the aggregate to 5 ,532. Tue total vote
polled was 200 523. The new Constitu-
lion of the State, which was ratified by the
people at the same election, was adopted
by q majority of upwards of 80, coo It's
provisions are wise and liberal, and en-
brace the most desirable features of the
best modern state constitutions, limiting
taxation, restricting legislation, and
guarding against stare and municipal in
debtedness. As to this latter particular,
one of the principles copclusivey settled
By it's adoption, as stated 10 the message,
is "that the devices and schemes by which,
under epecious and plausible pretexts,
two -thirds of the towns, cities and counties
in all the States of the Union have been
bonded until the people cry aloud for
relief from tue consequent taxation which
presses them to the verge Of bankruptcy,
shall never circumvent and Cypress the PEG
pie of Texas"
In greater degree than any Southern
State, Texas has escaped the miseries and
burdens of carpet-baR rule. The total
debt of the State as officially reported on
the lat Of February of the present year, is
but 81 792 S94, and the State yet remains
the owner of over 81 million OF acres
of public lands, against which no claim
eXis;s.
1t will be remt mbere,l that when Texas
was annex d, the public lands within the
State remained the property of the State,
and were not placed in any manner under
rho control of the Federal Government.
The territory embraced within the limits
of the State ia of vast extent, having an
area of over l75 million acres. This ia
larger area than that of ali New England
and the five States of New York, Penn Syl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, com
bned.
The population of the State at the cen
sus of 1870 was SlS 500. It is now estima
ted to have reached l 800 600, aud it is
stated to be increasing TT the rate of up
Nd Of Al,o,,
the average annual foreign i'm M grafton in
to the United States for the last fifteen
years. When populated Only as deneely
as wac the State of Illinois at the census
of 1870, Texas will number over twelve
millions of inhabitants. Within the next
stands to day.
Iu .oi and climate-the latter rivalling
that of Florida in sanitary advantages
and in propUTtiOnate area of cultivable
land, Texas is also exceptionally favored.
Bot very limited area in the State can be
found which is not desirable for settlement
aud agricultural or pastoral use. For the
production of cattle and sheep it stands
pre- eminent. AS railroads gradually pene-
trate the western part of the State, making
it possible to carry lumber there, the
grazing lands will be enclosed, when this
interest, protected by 'tha holy bounds OF
will not only be very largely
increased and conducted in a more legiti-
mate manner, but the quality of the stock
also will be greatly Improved
Of cotton, Texas is capable of producing
more than the entire~yield of the United
States at the present time. Over ore
seventh of the crop of this year has proba-
bly, been produced in the State. Galveston,
it's principal seaport, is now the third
cotton shipping port of the Union. The
receipts at that port for the eight months
from September 1st, 1875, to May 1st, 1876,
were 443 ,403 bales, against 1884 573 bales
received at New Orleans, and SOC, O64 bales
at Savannah. A large amount of cotton is
also sent North from the State by railroad
to St. Louis and Chicago
Another product which is assuming great
importance in Texas, is that of wheat. A
few years ago it was not thought that
wheat could be grown with advantage in
that State. In 1874 not enough was pro-
duced to supply the home consumption.
But in 1875 over eight million bushels, it
is estimated, was produced, more than
seven million bushels being the product, it
is stated, of but thirteen counties. Wheat