The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-03
The New Orleans Exposition.


From our exchanges it is inferred
hat state commissioner-in-chief, John
?. Elliott, has managed, in the short
line he has been in harness, to organ
re considerable amount of interest
n many parts of the state in the ex-
nibit to be made by Texas in the
Worlds Exposition at New Orleans
next winter. His commendable eff
forts should be seconded and supple |
nented by private citizens, and pub
lie officiaries as well, in their several
spheres. The growth of the state IN
wealth and population in the imme-
date future will be greatly advanced
Or retarded by the character of the
showing made by her at this great
display of state resources
and capabilities. 1t is, indeed, Texas
opportunity, and it is to be hoped she
will be helped to avail herself of it,
without any distractions or impedi-
ments being thrown in her way from
any quarter.
Among the multiplicity of things
engaging Major Elliott's attention, it
is understood he has expressed wish
to be furnished with not less than a
thousand copies of the Resources,
Soil and Climate of Texas" descrip-
tive and statistical review of the
state by counties, being the report
of A. w. Speight, late COM
missioner of statistics made in
1882. The STATESMAN warmly
seconds this proposition, and, without
expressing any opinion of its own in
reference to the value of this work in
the interest of immigration, is Con-
tent to quote the words of Governor
o. NJ. Roberts, who, in his retiring
message to the legislature in Janu-
airy, 1883, said:
There will be laid before you the
report of the commissioner of statis-
tics, ETC., on the resources, soil and
climate of Texas, which will be found
to contain more extensive and more
accurate information in regard to the
state than has ever before been embod-
led and given to the public"
And the words of Senator Coke, in
letter published in the STATESMAN
in January, 1888:
/ regard it as an exceedingly yalu-
able publication. 1t is just such a
book as was needed, not only abroad
but at home, to give information of
the vast extent of our territory, and
the great diversity of its climate, soil
and resources, neither of which is
properly appropriated anywhere"
And the words of Senator Maxey
who, in a letter dated February
1883, says:
The work has the great merit of q
true and lucid style, and bears inter
nal evidence of conscientious effort
at entire accuracy and with
success, as far as have ex-
amined, and 1 have read the
description of quite a number of coun.
ties with which am familiar. The
work will be of great value to those
seeking information about Texas"
With this array of testimony to it:
value as an instrumentality of immi-
grafton, it is manifest that as many
copies of the book should be furnish
ed by the state to commissioner Eli
oft as can be placed in the hands Of
reading men Of other states AID coun
tries at the great industrial exposition
at New Orleans. Upon inquiry, it is
found, however, that only about 1,OO(
copies of the twenty odd Thousand
copies of the book originally publish
ed, remain for ditribution, and thai
occasional individual applications fol
it to the department of statistics, still
continue. But is there no provision
of law for la second edition of thiI
book? Let us see.
In the general appropriation act Of
the 18th legislature, April 1883, w
find the following item: "For tn,
dissemination of statistical informa
ton in the various states and in for
eign countries. il regard to the re
sources, soil, and climate of Texas, tt
be applied to books already published
as well as those now being pub
lished, $500 for 1883, and $3.50
for 1884," At the date of thi
appropriation the book styled "Re
sources, soil and climate of Texas
was given through the press and wa
in the hands of the members of tn
legislature and some thousands O
copies had been, during the session
distributed by them. Furthermore
no other book on the subject had eve
been published by the state. 1t i
plain, then, that this appropriation
was intended for this book and non,
other. In this view of the intention
of the legislature, we are glad to b,
confirmed by the present commission
er of statistics. In his report, dated
March 81, 1884, Commissioner Brew.
ster, referring to this appropriation
says:-"There was also an appropria
ton of $500 for each fiscal year fol
lowing the regular session of 1883, fol
the discrimination of statistical inror.
nation, but from the effects of the
restraining clause at the end of the
appropriation, it was not regarded as
applicable to the preparation and dis
semination of every new
report. Only $114O93 of this
appropriation was expended prin-
cipally for an unsupplied portion
of the resources, ETC., of Texas pre-.
pared by my predecessor, and for
postage and expressage used In the
distribution of the same"
1t appears then from this official
statement that there is considerable
unexpended balance of this appro-
priation, understood now to be over
$500, which can only be used for the
multiplication and dissemination of
resources, soil and climate of Texas, .
and unless so used must lapse into
the treasury whilst the demand for
the book for distribution at New
Orleans, is unsupplied.
From the foregoing, it would seem
to be manifest that the best interests
of the state require that a second
edition of this book and accompany