San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-12-07
TEXAS.
Boston Post,

In spite of the fact that Texas is ..
far away from the old centers of con-
merce and civilization, that mam;s
cent State is beginning to make its in
fuence felt as a very large factor IN
the sum of American property in .
way that commands the admiration %
the world. 1t contributes to the total
crop result this year an amount that
would feed an empire and clothe itspon
ulation unless they wanted sometime
more pretentious than cotton fabrics
Its unprecedented production has
made up for deficiencies elsewhere, and
has shown that in the future it must
be reckoned as section rather than as
a State in the general estimate.
correspondence the New York Tribune
shows in surprising figures the bro.
gress that this great State has made
in the last ten years. In 1872 two or
three railroads were creeping SLOWLY
to the North and West from the more
thickly settled portions Of the State.
At that time the entire population Of
Central and Western Texas would not
have exceeded %, 900 persons, and the
assessed value of the property was
about $12,OOO,OOO. In the immense
pine regions throughout that section
there were eight small saw-mills that
did custom work when it was to be
had. Cotton was the only product Of
the country, and this was carried in
wagons from 400 to 500 miles to JEFF.
ferson and Shreveport, these towns
being at the head of navigation Of
Red river. The entire population Of
the State was about $4,000 persons;
the cotton product was 100000 bales,
and the entire growth of cereals did
not exceed 81, 900, 900 bushels. Now
railroads traverse the country, and
along the thoroughfares are neat dwell.
lings, growing crops and smilingplant.
ations, and the music of busymachine
ry arises at frequent intervals. Many
plantations have been opened in these
"piney woods" thesettlers being prin-
cipally from Alabama, Georgia and
Mississippi. From Mineola west, as
the train energies from the timber,
the improvement at once becomes
more marked. AS far as can be seen
over the vast prairie substantial farm
houses, growing crops and young
orchards meet the eye. This country
is what is known as the central, east
ern, northern and northwestern por-
ton of the great agricultural region Of
Texas, and which ten years ago was
almost uninhabited. The correspon-
dent from whom we have quoted gives
the increase in the last decade as fol-
lows: In population, 1872, to 1882,
1,175,OOO persons; in product
of cereals; 1882 over 1872, 29,OOO,OOo
bushels; bales of cotton, 1882 over
1872, 100000 bales, nearly two
thirds of this increase being in north
eastern, northern and northwestern
Texas; increase in imports from for
eign countries, So, 100000; in reports
to foreign countries, 26,OO0,OOO. The
local trade on the railroads is large
and constantly increasing. The station
platforms are covered with goods Qf
all descriptions and crowded with pas
sengers. The familiar drummer,
with his ample trunks, is to be seen
at every station, and the large and
increasing business is the object OF
very general remark. To sum the
subject up in few words, the cou III
try tributary to the Texas and Pacific
and New Orleans Pacific railway IS
about 100000 acres of land, con-
tanning population of over l,ooo'ooo
persons, who own property OF the
taxable value of nearly $3OO,OOo,OoO.
This is a remarkable exhibit, and one
that we think almost without paral-
lei. Texas is growing too unwieldly
for single commonwealth, and an,
other ten years of such expansion Will
also compel division, If it does not
come before that.