San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-09-22

eral land in the centre OF Archel voa
tv a ith outcroppings Of copper al over
x from which hundreds Of wagon iosas
-; surface ore have been shipped, the
average of which assayed 81 3o'lOo pei
cent. "copper" and about one per cent
silver. hoas ~ coal
IN various sections of the state. In
Yonnr county are veins six to eight ieet
thick Of hard coal of superior quaiity,
which has been used at the government
mosts and by citizens for more than
twenty-five years.
Rich beds of hard coal OF q superior
quality are now being opened IN diner'
ent parts of Stephens county.
TIMBER.
In eastern Texas We have more tnah
Oh. 600 SQUARE mAes covered with the
finest pine timber, much OF when ls
the long leaf pine, also large quantities
Of cypress, and for lumber is superior
to any I have ever seen. The Trunk
line road. now being rapidly built from
Dallas to Sabine Pass runs directly
through this timbered country.
HEALTH AND SOCIETY.
The healthfulness of our climate Is
fact so long ago firmly established
that it needs neither comment OF rope,
tition. Il is warm, yet tempered an !
toned by o gulf breeze ever blowing.
Il is in the south, yet dry and as free
from malaria as any state. in the west
AS to society our state will compare
fayorably with any other in the Union
as we believe greater proportion OF
our citizens belong to some christlan
church, and to temperance organiza-
tions. than can be found in other states.
EDUCATIONAL.
We claim to have i'll existence ana
the groundwork laid for the most COM
plete public free school system in the
union. Our present permanent o cash
fund for public schools is $3,2OO,92S,i
invested in bonds, and the available
cash fund on hand is $lO3,933.44.
When the surveys of public lands are
completed Texas will have between for
ty and fifty million acres belonging to
the public free school fund, and which
are to be leased or sold, and the pro-
ceeds invested in government or s1ate
bonds, as the legislature may direct'
and the interest used annually for pub
lie free school purposes.
The present minimum price OF tnese
lands is 81 per acre and they Will soon
be worth from So to So. This will soon
increase the public school fund to $lOO,-
100000, which at 5 per cent. Will an
nually realize 100000.
In addition to this, each county mas
specially set apart to it four leagues, or
17714 acres of land for public school
purposes, to be absolutely controlled
by It. This will swell the public free
school lands to about 60,0OO,OOO acres;
and in addition to all this, one-fourth
of the general revenue of the State
and 81 for each poll goes directly into
the school fund as it is provided. by the
constitution.
There has been set apart for a State
University, to be located in few days,
1918, 9O6 acres, much of which was
located thirty five years ago on the
very best of lands, and is now worth
500 per acre, with cash fund now on
hand of $382,218.11. Do not these
figures and facts show Texas as leading
American civilization in educational
legislation, in providing for the proper
rearing and enlightenment OF her
children?
POPULATION.
Our present population is about =
900, 900, but were Texas as denseiy
populated as England it would contain
l50, OOO, 900 people, or three times the
gross population of the United States,
Had we the population to the square
mile Massachusetts has, the number
would be 72,OOO,000. Having lived IN
and travelled over Texas, for more than
thirty years, believe these figures will
be reached. I know that her climate
invites, that her soil will sustain, that
many people, and without the necessity
of going elsewhere for food or clothing
STATE DEBT.
Amount of bonded debt $4,915, 42O.W
By cash in treasury Aug. l 1857 ,33S,7S
Which leavesa balance Of $3,548, OS! n
The constitutions of the state such as
public school fund, university fund
blind deaf, dumb and lunatic asylums
own the bonds of the state.
THE sTAKED PLAINS.
are so-called from French Traders, who
at an early days ran teams between
San Antonio, Texas, and chihuahua and
Santa Fe, who in the absence of timber
drove stakes in the ground to mark
their road from one watering place to
another.
The opinion entertained by many
that this is an unproductive desert is q
great mistake. The fact is, that with
the exception of range of sana-hills
about fifteen miles wide at the western
e >tremity of the plains, there is less
waste and more fertile land than Cur
IN foupd IN INV country of e0ual ex.