Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-01-21
THE STAKED PLAINS.
The Most Desirable Public Domain
Now Open for Immigration.
The Progress Of Community a Plea for
the 0onstruotion Of Kew County.


Statistics that have been printed
showing the comparative business
record Of 1854. with the past few years,
indicate that last year was one of the
most stringent times. The collation.
Of gfiures shows very favorably FOR
Texas. Her material growth is greater
and her business failures smaller than
those of almost any other state.
No other state has drawn more i'm.
migration than has Texas during the
last year. That part OF the state
known ss Northwest Texas has been
particularly favored by large increase
OF population by this means, from the
fact that IL offers the only desirable
public domain In the United States.
Thousands OF people from the
eastern psrt of the state, and
from Western and Southern states,
have fiocked TO lts cheap lands and ge-
NAL climate to better their condition.
The tide Of immigration has only set
in During the next four years the
population will double and treble,
many times over, the number already
here.
Since It has been demonstrated be-
yOnd doubt that water, as pure as any
Ia the world, can be found on the
StaRed Plains by digging reasonable
depth, this vast terIit' ry, little under
stood and badly mi-Tepresented, Is now
attracting the attention OF settlers and
investors. The many natural and
luxuriant grasses afford the best pas
ture In the ate, and the rich soil in
viies the pillow. The COW boy, the
shepherd, and the farmer can find
room, aud all are heartily welcome
At no distant day the Stsked Plains
will be one Of the garden spots of the
state
A fair illustration of the rapid in
crease Of population and material
growth, Is that Of Midland
and it's vicinity. One year ago there
were but about five thousald head OF
sheep, no cattle, and very few persons
in that locality. At the November
election there were but eighteen votes
cast for the county ticket. Note the
change.
Within the last six or seven months,
several hundred people and $50 00O
head of sheep owned by small ranch.
men have been located there. The
people Of that locality, agreeable with
the laws OF Texas aud for their con.
venience, will soon ask the legislature
for new county of constitutional size,
through their petition Of about one
hundred and seventy-five names OF
legal voters, for the purpose of organi.
zalion. In circulating the petitions II
is found that within the limits of the
proposed new county there are more
than two hundred legal voters, coming
states.
While the taxable property within
/ this thirty miles square, on the present
duplicate, amounts to 5000, 000, q careful
estimate made by men compe
| property for the next levy
$To3 900 without increasing tht
basis of valuation over that of last
year. The amount of taxes to b.
derived therefrom will be compare
lively small, but the people have pc
| titioned in diligently, and with tn
direct understanding that the admins
tration of county siiaiTs, in the even
of getting new county, must be con
Quoted on economical principles They
have no fear of Opprt ssive taxation, o
inability to support an organized coun
| ty. Honest and efficient men, VIII
are the heaviest tAx-paye rs, are will
ing TO serve officially for little or n
compensation during the county's In
fancy rather than take the chances q
being compelled to go to the pr sen
county seat, a distance al 40 miles. a
a cost of not lees than $40, 10 answer
summons to sit on jury.
The petitioners, asking for n new
county, realize that there is no valit
objection to their prayer, and that
they are granted constitutional couI
ty and permanent boundaries, tina
immigration will be- encouraged
good home market will b.
afforded TO both the buyer an
the settler and that the development
of section, rich in natural resources
will be augmented.
Should there be opposition to theH
prayers OF these plucky people who al
the advance guard Of civilization IN
territory until of late considered of III
tie or no vslue, it will not be made !
the spirit of progress which has hitt
erto been the accredited characteristic
OF progressive Texas.