The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-10

Upon this restoration, Texas entered with
bound, as it were, upon her new career.
And what of the State to-day?
Imperial in her domain, attractive in the
variety of good and rare things she pos
sesses, she is again able to say; Texas
welcome" And to what does she invite |?
Embracing all the territory between
the 94th and 106th degrees of west longi-
tude, and the 26th, and 36th degrees of
north latiiude-a territory of 274,OO0
square miles-larger than New England,
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mary
land combined-larger than the half of
Europe, emitting Russia-she can support
a population equal to the present popula-
ton of the United States, and yet not
crowd her people. She has genial climate,
whose uniformity of temperature gives
health and comfort, and does not shut up
labor for six months in the year with ice
and snow. She has soil rich and diversi-
fed, producing wheat as in California,
cotton as in Egypt and corn as in Illinois.
She is the grazing ground of continent,
where within the memory of man count
less herds of buffalo roamed over her prai-
ries, from her northern to- her southern
boundary, but whose trails were now COW
cred with Enclosures, breeding cattle with
which to feed the world.
Let me call earnest attention to few re-
markable facts, which take from the Off
cial reports of the State. Our tables of
statistics show that in 1886 the population
numbered about $4,000. In forty-nine
years it has increased fifty-fold, and we
now have 100000. Fifteen years ago, in
1870 the assessed value of property was
little less than S150,000,000. 1t is now
$6O3, 100000. Yet the tax rate for 1886 is
only 25 cents on the 500, one half of
which is for the public schools.
In this important matter of public
schools and the education of our youths, it
must be remembered that the fathers of
1886 set aside one tenth of the annual
revenue of their republic for a perpetual
school fund, and also granted to each
county four leagues of land, or 10000
acres. Still, in addition, they set aside ff-
ty leagues-more than 100000 acres-for a
university. Subsequently the State of
Texas donated to railroads sixteen alter
nate sections of land to the mile, and
coupled this donation with the obligation
to survey an equal area for the school
fund. This fund now owns, from that
source, 100000 of acres, worth at the
minimum government price, $64,00O,O0O.
1t has besides, $7,0O0,O00 in cash, bonds
and stocks, which yield even more than
$2,250,000 as an available school fund for
the year 1885, allowing each child in the
State, So for six months tuition. The in
crease in value of the school lands, wheth-
er from lease or from sale to actual set
tiers, will in a short time relieve the peo-
pie from paying any school tax at all; for
with the interest on nearly $100,000,O00
&c IL I'LL L
revenue for the grandest free school
system ever known.
have stated the taxable value of all
the property of Texas at $6O3.OOO,OOO.
Let me enumerate, in round numbers. a
few of the items which go to make up
that sum:
The land is counted at about $247,O OO,-
600, not including $S6,OOO,OOO for town lots /;
cattle stand for $81,0OO,OOO; horses, S32, :
100000; sheep $9,OO0,0OO, and hogs, 49,
100000. The assessed value of railroads is
$4O,OOO,OO0. The merchandise of the State
is put down at $4,000, 900; and the money
on hand, $12,500,000.
Of the 274,000 square miles of Texan
territory, 2O,O00,O00 are rich in minerals =
iron coal, copper, lead and silver. The
timber lands, with 1914 varieties of wood,
comprise 46,0O0,0O0 acres. And over this
various territory run, already, 1900 miles
of railroad, connecting us with the mar
kets of the word. The crop estimates for
1885 include 100000 bales of cotton
100000 bushels of wheat, 100000 bush
els of corn, and 100000 pounds of wool.
Twelve million head of live stock sustain
themselves on our 353 varieties of grsses.
We can feed New England with cheap
meat. We can supply Old England with
fine beef. France with fat mutton and ing
ratiate Germany with the best of pork,
though not one-ffth of the area of Texas
is yet occupied or utilized. We have
good government moral, Christian pop
ulation, with activity, progress and peace
on every hand. Where on earth are such
inducements for the present, and such
prospects for the future. Texas welcome!
Come and share with US all these blessings.
JOHN IRELAND.
*The a in TEXAS pronounced soft.