New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-01
TILE LONE STAR STATE.

| GROWING IMPORTANCE OF TEXAS.
TALK WITH A GALVESTON EDIToR-NATURAL ADAP-
TATIoN OF THE COUNTRY FOR GROWING FRUIT,
| COTTON AND GRAIN.
| Colonel A. IL. Belo the Editor and proprietor of
| the Galveston Ners who WAS staynR at the Gilsey
| House recently talked with TRIBUNE reporter
| about the condition Of Texas. The conversation
| was an extended one, embracing many subJects.
| The substance Of Colonel Belo's statements Is as
| follows;
1t is now assuming nothing to denominate
| Texas the Empire State. 1t is no longer the ex-
tent of her territory that entities her to this ap-
| pellatiOn, because the progress made during the
last decade in population aud development has
| placed her among the first States of tho Union.
| fTexas is. however. still in her infancy Her
possibilities as to the future scarcely be fore
| told She possesses all the essentials of great
ness. rhe civil government is managed upon
economical principles. Taxation scarcely reaches
| 30 cents per head of the population. This in
| cludes the Interest Oh the public debt, and pro-
| vision for tho sinking fund With o population of
1000 900 this rate Is only one-fOurJh of what the
Germans pay il Is seventeen times less than what
| the Austrans arc required 10 pay and thrty-One
times less than what France eXacts from her sub
jects. What Texas requires above all things is pop
ula3ion to develop her wonderful resources Her
capacity to support IN atiuence and comfort mill
ions upon millions from the ver.CrOwded cOun-
tries of the Old World is beyond question We claim
for the State that nowhere else is such diversity of
production practicable nor is there to be found
country possessing more natural resources nor
one that be made more easily self-sustaining.
We claim that nowhere else can such good land,
be had at such low lTices--ands upon which can be
grown almost every production known to the
markets OF the world. We claim that no other
country affords healthier or more genial climate.
Work in the open air is practicable nine-tenths of
the time, and farmer need not labor six months
that his stock may survive the other six months.
We claim further that no region offers as many at
fractions in the matter of low taxes with the same
probability of their continuing SO; aud we claim
for Texas that her public debt is inconsderable,
and that her schools and benevolent institutions
are literally endowed"
When asked to be a little more specific Colonel
Belo said, 4" On the coast the bathing Is unsur-
passed. The season lasts over seven months
Persons immersed fol reasonable time do not lose
the ustre of the eye aud the uddness of the cneek
but feel refreshed and invgOrated on coming out,
and this tonic effect lasts for hours, during
which time pleasant sense of eXhilaratiOn is eX-
perenccd. There are bituminOus, suphuric, cha
lybeate, manganese and numerous saline waters
that have made wonderful cures. In fact, Texas is
natural sanitarlum large enough almost for the
world"
When asked about the fruits he said :" In Texas
we have as grand prospects for fruit-growlng as
any part of tho United States. We are rapidly de-
vines being so healthy and abundant that the
pie in France buy them for transplantlug In large
quantities. Along the Gulf coast oranges, figs,
pums pears, grapes and peaches are raised IN
abundance and at profit. The eastern portion of
the state, taking Palestine the geographical CEN
ire. is better adapted naturally for all kinds
and varieties Of fruits. large and small. But the
fruit region prominently of Texas lies along the
Red River. Peaches of every strain grow with
great vlgOr and produce untalllng crops OF great
excellence. SO of the smaller fruits such rs black
berries strawberries, raspberries and goOseberries
The great advantage we have is our access to mar
ket for these small fruits. We ale not like CalltOr
MA, away off from our customers behind a triple
chain of mountains and thousand miles of barren
rocky desert land but they are our next-door
neighbors on every hand"
Have you large grain crop this year 7"
la comparison with those Of the past ten years
good Wheat has yielded all the way from 20 to
30 bushels to the acre, and every year it is becom
ing more certain crop. Cotton, OF course, is the
great crop of Texas This year it Is estimated that
It will reach S7S,S54 bales, worth S5009I, 0iS.
This is decrease of 3S1 1893 bales from last year
account OF the drouth. In spite OF this there
has been increase of exports from S959bO,O3O
to 50 $780, 45s, because the cotton. cattle, hides,
grain. wool and lumber have brought higher
prices"
land is well adapted to the growth or sugar cane,
as it is never Overfowed. The crop of 1880 WAS
6,50O,O00 pounds. The two sugar districts. he
Brazos River and Colorado River Valleys capable
of producing half the sugar consumed III the
United States.
"stock. raising forms the second grand division
of Texas industries. Tracing tho cattle business
from It's inception little over half a century ago.
when vast herds of buffalo, Wild horses and ante
lopes covered the pTairies to the present day,
is struck with astonlshment at the sudden growth
of this magnificent industry. No business has de-
veloped more rapidly In the last few years and none
has paid in that time and none IL paying now bet
ter interest on the money invested. AT the close
of the it estimated that there were III
Texas between 7,OOOOOO and S,O0O,OOO cattle,
worth for stock 50 or 8 each, and for beef $l2 to
$l5. Now the same grades bring from S15 to $50.
The old prejudice against Texas beef has died out
and the statesmen of years ago. VINO would not
touch Texas steer, now make a speciality of
handling them. This has been caused by the ln-
proyement in the handling Of the stock, as well as
by the great improvement in tho grade from the in
tfoductlun of blooded bulls. The Texas ranges of
fer an inviting field to all who want big interest
on their capital. Not only does cattle-raisng pay
enormously, but fortunes are made on sheep.
AS 20 minerals. the State IS so large that we do
not know what we have other than coal and iron."
" Is tho question OF the division OF Texas popu-
AT home we do not hear anything said about It,
because the ralro ads are pushing through so rap
idly that it brings us closer together lou know
that our territory would cover Malne New-lIamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts,, Connecticut. Della
ware Rhode Island, New-York. Pennsylvania Vir-
gina. Indiana and Ohio; SO We could spare little
aud not MISS il. But until we have more p0pula-
ton it would be nonsense to talk of division"
4" Is anything being done to encourage Immigra-
ton !"
Not very much except by the railroads and
private individuals. But the government is now
engaged upon n work especially adapted for immi-
grants, giving detailed descriptions of the natural
of the State. And speaking about the rail
roads reminds me that Texas now stands sixth in
the list OF States 40 to mileage OF railroads having
This Is due to the energy of Mr. Could Mr.. Hunt
ington and MIR. Pcarce. who have developed on r
State for us. and are continuing to do So In few
days the connection will be made and shall
have through roads with the Atlantic coast-line and
the racine, running up through southern Cal
ifornia."
what is yonr opinion of the chance for young
men in Texasi"
If they will work as hard and be AZ economical
az hey must he IN New York. they can make more
money. But would advise them to go ont and get
- little experience first and then bring what capital
they can command, when they know enough 10 in
vest it judciously. AS for the condition of m,
country, If person minds his own business he will
get along without any trouble while woman ia
safer alone in Texas than she is IN New-York City,
--
THE ARMY AND NAVY