Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-11


we'll 40 come neighbora, like myself,
limited in means and not able 10 pay
the price asked for lands in the old
settled counties, who would go West
and settle on and buy the state land
and In few years have snug little
homes and be independent. /
have no doubt but that there
are thousands in the old states
who are similarly situated who would
be glad indeed TO come TO Texas and
make their homes with us did we but
have q good land law and hold tot at
least long enough for u letter giving
information OF Texas aud her land
laws TO reach the parties interested.
This continually changing OF our
policy has lost for cur state thousands
Of people and has cost Der millions Of
dollars. Hence, ] say, give US good
land law and stick 10 IL aud III will be
WELL But how are we TO get this land
law 30 much desired by the majority
OF our people and the thing needed 10
make Texas the empire state OF the
Union2 Simply by having our law
makers inform themselves Of the re.
sources Of our state and the wants Of
the people. This eau only be done by
personal inspection Of the coun-
try and by mingling with the people.
This is all that is necessary to secure
for West and Northwest Texas, laws
that Will encourage and invite p0pu-
lation
Did the majorlty Of our legislators
know the value OF this new West,
which they certainly would could
they but see IL, they WOULD be able TO
IA. M ill a tHyh ,unVlh
refer to the country as one that 10
"ouly fit for stock raising" that ut
never TaiDs,n that lit il all sand and
no water.n that "a man would slarve
10 death trying to farm" that the
aclual.settler business IL "a farce and
hobby that che, the actual settler,
Ia only in the mind OF some land-grab-
Der" and finally, that "he (the mem
beT) represents the people OF that sec.
lion aud knows the country and the
wants Of the people and requests
his brother members as personal
favor TO him to vote with him."
etc. The fact Of the case is, that
the member who claimed to
represent the people, etc
Is looking only after the interest Of u
few nditiduals, who are interested in
and benefited by keeping back the
settlement Of the country.
The result is the people ere MT rep.
resented. The rule or custom OF leav-
ing matters of local nature,p as 1t
is called, TO the representative from
the district is what seriously affects
the West in our legislative halls. 1t
IL the opinion of the writer that II
many of these matters which are
clas,ed by the me.nbera as "only
local were fully understood and in
vesligaled they would find that they
affected the state at large. BE that as
IL may, our member says: 81 represent
that section OF country and know il
and the people, and II il not 10 their
interest to have what they are petit
tioDing for, and you will please vote
against their bill,n etc. That, of
course, settles II. The other members
know nothing OF the country, and
leave IL all TO the one member who, As
have stated, Is serving the interest Of
few wealthy individual or corpora
lions. He may not do this intention
ally but the,result is all the same 70 the
state and to those who are looking to
West aud Northwest Texas for a home.
Hence, say let the people OF West
Texas see to II that the majority of the
Nineteenth legislature they may have
an extra session, and II not, no doubt
q number OF the Nineteenth will be
elected TO the pwentieth), visit their
country and meet the people or the
West. The trip would be enjoyed by
all aud be profitable TO the state at
large especially 80 to the people OF
West Texas.
, No doubt the railroads would extend
the courtesy Of the lines to the mem
bers for such q trip. II certainly would
pay them TO co 80. for none would
be more benefited than the
railways by the knowledge the
mem'ers would receive Of the
country on such trip. II such a
visit resulted in giving us good land
law the country would soon settle up
and the railroads would share the
profits with the state aud the people.
The result would be good for all.
have taken up too much of your
valuable space aud will close by saying
TO the Nineteenth legislature, "Go
Vest and be convinced "a | have
been that that country has not, Ia not
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