The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-19
EFFECT OF MANUFACTURERS
WEALTH.

some reasons why the Legislature /
should adopt proposed joint resolu-
ton looking towards the exemption |
of manufactures for a term of years
following their establishment. There
are any number of reasons why
this measure should be adopted by
the Legislature and then by the peo-
pie. Money is very cheap. For legit-
innate and safe undertakings it may
be obtained at the financial centers
for not exceeding 5 per cent. interest.
The cheapness of money, taken in con-
nection with the fact that we produce
in Texas great quantities of raw
materials and have water power
and coal in great abundance.
together with exemption from taxa
ton, would naturally induce capital
to seek investment in manufactures
here. AS further argument, it will be
remembered that companies and cor
porations in Georgia have invested
largely in cotton factories, which have
been found immensely profitable, often
declaring dividends of as much as
twenty per GEN.. per annum. We ale
not without experience as to the effect
of the exemption from taxation, for
limited period, upon the value OF
Texas property. When the Interna-
tional Railroad certificates were issuea,
some ten years ago, with the provis-
ion that the lands to be located
were to be exempt from taxation
for twenty years, they were sold in
the market for about twice as much
as ordinary certificates for the same
amount. BY this rule they would
have sold for fifty per cent more than
unexempted certificates, had the In
ternational certificates been exempted
for only ten years, the period for
which it is proposed to exempt fac
tory property. We may add that it is
believed something like the same
difference exists in the price of lands
patented upon International certifi-
Gates, regard being had, Of
course, to the unexpired time
of these exemptions. Exemption of
factories amounts to nothing so far as
Texas is concerned, while it seems to
be well calculated TO have controll-
ing influence with capitalists willing
to invest in Texas property. Then let
Us try the experiment. Should it fail
little harm may be done to either
party; should it be successful, both
may be greatly benefited. If success
full it would certainly add vastly to
the wealth, population and political
power of Texas. The great difference
between our people and those
of the manufacturing states
is that our labor is performed
by our hands; there it is done
by machinery, and the difference be-
tween our prosperity and wealth and
theirs corresponds to the manner in
which labor is performed. For in
stance, the manufacturing establish
ments, the statistics show, are more
than ten thousand in the State of
Massachusetts,. There the value of
the manufacturing buildings alone is
more than eighty millions of dollars;
that of the machinery over seventy
millions. The capital invested is near
two hundred and seventy millions.
The number of employees in these es.
Establishments is a little over three
hundred and sixteen thousand.
The amount of their wages
for the year is one hundred
and twenty-six millions of dollars.
This is the result of improved machin-
cry. Can anything more clearly show
that this proposed change in our sys-
tenn of labor would result in vast
Improvement. The state income of
Massachusetts,, with her little terri
tory of 1900 square miles is more then
seven millions of dollars. If our legis-
lature were to levy such state tax,
how long would it take to tax the life
out of Texas, with her 274,0OO
square miles? The total taxes of
Massachusetts, state, county, city,
town and highway, amounts to more
than twenty-eight millions of dollars
How long could Texas, under her man.
ual labor system, stand such a tax.
With such evidences before us, would
it not be wise to pass the resolution,
leaving it to the people to say whether
they will longer remain under con-
stitutional inhibition against making
any concession for the establishment
of factories in the State; concession
which would practically cost us moth.
ing, and would shortly add SO much
to the prosperity, to the wealth and
to the population and political power
Of Texas.
CUBAN and Chinese Workmen who
make our imported cigars use saliva
to moisten the paste that fastens the
end Of the wrapper, and who knows
what malignant and nameless dlsord-
ers may thus be propagatedp The al
most universal diffusion of taste for
smoking has not been accompanied by
knowledge or due appreciation of
the evils of excess. Then, too, a vast
deal of the smoking tobacco is made
from cigar stubs, intensitying the
saliva business. The great increase
in late years of generous Affections
may properly be traced to the use OF