San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-10-19
TEXAS TOPICS.

TEXAS IVTitS'
Crops in Montague are the best
ever known.
The latest wrinkle al Houston is
counting by telephone.
The coal seam now being worked
in Wise county is three feet thick, ana
gets thicker the further down II Is
worked.
Freight on the Texas and Pacific
railroad has been reduced on wool
from the western counties. No obIec'
ton can be Offered TO this generous
emitting of freight-tariffs on this COM
modify, bat it might be done in favor
of cotton also.
Jim Alexander, of Concho, went
alone into the Guadalupe mountains
recently to seek ranch location, and
never returned. Search was instituted
for him and his dead body found fif-
teen miles from Roswell, New Mexico,
where, it appears, Ire persisted OF thirst
From reports Just received from
sugar plantations, ut is estimated Dy
experts that the Texas sugar crop will
exceed this year that of any previous
year. The cane growth is larger than
heretofore, and the quality of product
superior to former productions. The
productof j. w. Houses plantation at
Arcola for the year lis estimated at.65O
hogsheads of sugar and $50 barrels OF
molasses. The crop of the state is es-
timated at 1000 hogsheads of sugar
and $500 barrels, of molasses.
-Galyeston News: The road law OF
Texas Glght to be greatly modified.
1t imposes an oppressive servltude' on
laborers, and exempts the owners OF
vehicles, as owners, from contributing
to the repair of the public highways.
Such law could not have been org
mated in these days. 1t is re-enact-
ment Of the law that existed before the
war; but lat that time the bulk, OF La
borers were slaves, and when their
time was required by law to repair
roads, the demand was practically
tax Oh the planters. The present ar
rangement has an entirely contrary
effect. A wealthy planter of over 40
years of age, having numerous wagons
running over the public highways, IS
not called upon for any sacrifice III
proportion ito the benefit he derives
from road improvement, while his hired
laborers may be required to give ten
days labor each year onsthe roads, and
board themselves. Such requisitlon
is virtually indefensible. 1t is virtually
poll tax of ten dollars on every man
under As years, while those over that
age are exempted. 1t can not be sur
passed for injustice, and the wonder is
it has not been tested and declared
unconstitutional.
Rev. W. E. Penn has been con-
Quoting religious exercises under his |
gospel tent at the. little town of Alex
ander, on the Texas Central railway,
about eighty miles north of Waco. On
Saturday, the .7th of October,
heavy rain set in, and that night after
services had concluded, about, 300 peo-
pie, mostly women and children, re-
manned in the tent ITO sleep. Shortly
after midnight a heavy wind storm set
in, accompanied by bail, thunder and
lightning, during which the big tent
blew down, Governing its occupants with
the immense canyas. The screams of
mothexs for children, of husbands
and wives for each other, of broshers
seeking sisters, and selfish struggles
and appeals for relief Were heard above
the stoEm, which ragged for several
hours. To add to the horrors of the
situation, the tent had been pitched on
low ground, which overhowed foot ar
two deep. and trunks, boots, shoes
hats, clothing, etc., acre soon atioat
The tent was cut all to pieces to get
the people out. The center pole of the
tent fell across and lodged on the pull
pit, thus saving many from death.
Several Were cut and bruised. A
child's skull Was fractured. anS it will
probably die. a Miss Leslie is re-
ported injured and is in a critical con.
litiou i