The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01
To the Gentlemen of the Legislature,

AS l. am an "Old Texan" having
been citizen and farmer in the state
for more than thirty years, and being
familiar with the growth and deyei-
opment of the country from the end
OF the Mexican war to the present.
please LEND me your ears" whilst I
briefly relate I 'plain unyarnished
tale" of ''some things ! have seen and
all of which l know"
ThirtytwO years ago when l be-
came citizen of Texas l could mount
my horse and ride south and east one
hundred and west five hundred miles
from my home without coming in
contact with a farm and only at inter
walls of five or ten with cabin and
garden patch. The fight was then for
bread and meat to feed the wife and
little ones. Gradually, but very slow
~. farms began to grow and
new corners" settling down
between the widely scattered
homes, settlements were made
and farming, instead of hunting.
became the means of support.
Even this slow progress was stopped
when the war came on, and it was
some time after before the country
began to recover, but even then the
want Of market in which to dispose
OF surplus products of the farm,
checked enterprise and improvement.
None, or but few, cared to produce
more than they could consume. an
over supply being wasted as not
wanted.
Everything farmer had to buy
was high, everything he had to sell
was low, or not wanted, as too heavy
and bulky for long distances. A good
COW and calf was worth ten dollars
sin truck corn sold for twenty
cents; products of the garden
and poultry yard could not besOld; the
price of bushel of wheat would
buy but two yards of calico.
Pork was quoted. not sold, at two
and three cents. There was, in short,
no encouragement to more than make
the buckle meet the tongue. Many
persons who came to look at the
country went away not to return,
stating There was no market. The
state was too far out of the world"
SO matters stood until railroads be-
gan to penetrate our portion of the
state, when that influence began to
stimulate and invigorate all classes of
society. Farms were enlarged and
new ones commenced, buildings i'm
proved, a better class of stock intro
duced and better cared for. The cul-
tiVation OF cotton was commenced,
which, practically, had never before
been attempted. Wheat sold for 81
per bushel. All kinds of farm pro-
ducts were in demand, and the whole
country took on the evidence of thrift
and enterprise never before attained.
There has been some cause
for the transformation of
the country from what
it was 1870 to what it presents at the
present time, and l presume no one
will deny but that it has been largely,
if not altogether, owing to the build
ing of railroads to and within our
borders. That has enabled farmers
to dispose of, or more cheaply trans
port to market. the products of their
labor; to introduce and furnish agri-
cultural and mechanical appliances of
all kinds that could not otherwise
have been procured; lowered the cost
of nearly all family supplies; practi-
Cally shortened distance by making
all parts of the state quickly accessi-
bic, and brought about that needed
aid to prosperity that is fast making
our state one of the foremost in the
Union.
Assuming that the building of rail-
roads in our state has conduced to this
change, l, with the whole people of
the state, hope that as individuals and
as a body, in considering the railroad
bills before the legislature, that you
may be governed by wisdom in council
and prudence In action; that whilst
protecting the people you do not Grip
pie or wrong those who have so great
ly aided in the development of our
state.
l am no politician, ask no office,
have not one dollars worth of inter-
est in railroads, other than that pos
sessed by the whole body of the peo-
pie, live quietly at home on my farm
and look at this matter only as neigh
Dor with neighbor, and trust that
prejudice and passion be cast aside
and that only justice be done.
NORTH TEXAS