San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-07-19
TEXAS IMMIGRATION.

Tho Causes for It's FallIug OF
Facts and Figures. Mats for
the n.cglslature, 10 Crack and
Things for tho People 10 Con.
slider. .., .f AY5 ul
dallas Herald.l Is a "a H
Yesterday General }. b. Robertson,
so long aud so efficiently + con-
nected with Texas Immigration
Bureaus, and who is perfectly familiar
with the whole subject, was in the city
and gave US some valuable information
upon immigration to Texas, its falling
of and plan forits restoration. % q.
First alluding 70 the thorough, sys.
TEN, organization and persistent efforts
Of Kansas and other western states
and territories. and their lavish expen-
ditures Of money to secure settlers
upon their lands. and the success they
were meeting, he then said in sub.
stance: |.H Rr' lni7 p
Our bureau of 1nsurau noe, Statistics
and History should be made an active
auxiliary of immigration. Tho comp
troller general ought to furnish a blank
form to assessors of taxes with instruc-
tions to take down the the number Of
acres in cultivation in each county,
the number in corn, cotton, wheat oats
grasses, and all other crops. together
with their condition, and also of cattle
horses, sheep and hogs, and the dis
eases that may be among them. These
statistics shonld he made to cover 1878
as far us possible, and be complete for
1879. The returns should be careful
ly edited and consolidated by the
comptroller and then published for
distribution to the greater extent be-
yond the state, BY tho adoption OF
this plan it would obviate the agricul
tural bureau, for the reason it would
more than anticipate all it Can do, *
10 The assessor the people Of counties
and districts should report the number
of acres and general character OF lands
for sale in their sections as accurately
as practicable, together with the price
and terms. putting the value as low as
possible. In Kansas and other states
making such energetic bids for INN :
grants the said lands we're sold upon
thesstipulation that interest alone upon
the purchase money SHOULD be paid Tor
the first two years, and that the
principal is paid in from three to
four years-the price being governed
to a greater or less extent by the length
of time. All such facts should be sent
to our comptroller, and'by him sent to
Texas Immigration agents in the field,
to centres Of population, and lodged in
the hands of farmers who are contem-
plating change of state residence.
But the rain fall and average temper
ature of of heat and cold during the
seasons should not be omitted. Nor
ought schools and churches, railways,
existing and projected, and navigable
streams. Every intelligent man eager
ly devours and re members these things,
meyer omitting an item stated and
elways craving more no matter how
elaborate the report.
Gen. r., stated that our new consti-
tuition abounded in every folly which
could be imagined, but its browning
was . clause prohibiting any
more legislation or expenditures be
made to induce and keep up immigra-
tion. As Il direct result Of this, the
assessed value of taxable property in
in Texas had declined sl7,0J0,O0O as
shown by the comptroller in his re-
port for the fiscal year of 1S7S,79
Our accessions to population by immi-
grafton had declined from $4,000 an
nually during the four years prior to
1873 to $1,000 for 1879. During the
flood tide we had active agents, posted
at important points North and South
who were armed with specimens Of
crops, of lands, and Of minerals, with
circulars and pamphlets, and who we're
sufficiently acquainted with the peDer-
al and srecisl characteristics of Texas
coils and climates to accurately aud
trutliully aBswer any question put TO
N a