Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-17
A PLAIN LETTER.
A Man who Knows Our State writes
PertInentIy About Matters Now
Being Freely Discussed.
Not All OF Texas Drought stricken nut
only n Row counties-Wrong
Impressions.

September s, says: Judging from what
has been said in the papers published in
and ont OF Texas, one not acquainted
with the facts would naturally come TO
the conclusion that the people Of Texas
were in a starving condition. While II Is
true the crops In some few counties In
the state were failure, and IN Others but
a short crop was made, II is also true
that Texas as state will have fair yield
and will compare fayorably with many
other states In the Union this
season. II has been, as Is well
known, dry year throughout the
country, with a very few exceptions.
The states Of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas,
and In fact the whole Northwest, have
suffered more or less from the drought
The rains this season, In the states
named, have come as they have in Texas
lin spots--no general rains. Hence, j
say, the cold, indisputable facts In the
case are that Texas as state Is as well
of to-day as many OF the older, thicker
settled states are. We that have lived IN
Texas for any length OF time well know
that such years as this are the exception
and not the rule, and we also know that
the state or county has not yet been
found that produces good crops every
year. All states and sections Of country
have their "oh years" will venture
TO say that Texas rs state has and will
have as few "off years. as any state
In the Union, and | will 60 further and
say that she will have fewer short crop
years than any state In the Union when
we cultivate the soil as they do In the old
states. 1t Is a well-known fact that the
soil Of Texas needs deep blowing, and
gets less Of II than any other state.
Crops are made 80 easily and in such
abundance in an ordinary season that we
become Indifferent q should say lazy, to
be frank, and the result Is that when a
drought does come our lands are not
prepared for IT, There is, however, some
excuse for not blowing deep In
new counties like ours. The first
settlers, as rule, are limited
In means, their teams are light
and feed generally high, hence the pillow
is not put into the ground as 1t should be,
but as we grow older and stronger, and
new people move in from the old states
and the older counties in our own state,
where they have to plow deep in order to
raise crop even In good season, we
will have fewer short crop years. Where
the land In this (Wchita) county was
plowed last falkland plowed deep, so as to
take in what little rain did fall, crops
were made. At least they were not a
failure. Some of our farmers made
quite little corn and plenty of fodder
for stock, and some sorghum, ETC.,
was made in different parts of
the county. The writer feels safe in
saying that had some parts OF the old
states, where land is worth from S25 to
$40 per acre, been without rain as long
as this section Of Texas, you could not
see where the seed had been planted,
much less gather any crops. When you
take into consideration the fact that most
OF the land in cultivation in our county
was FIRST plowed last winter and spring
and plowed very shallow at that, think
all things considered, we should all fee
encouraged and have great faith in the
future OF our country. With season:
such as we usually have, and by farming
as we should and will "a season like thii
will teach us to farm better Wichitt
county will produce as good crops as any
county in the state.
trust am not trespasslng too much
on your valuable time and space. 1t IL
not my intention TO either "bore" you OF
your readers, ana certainly would moi
trouble you with this long-winded lettel
we're II not that l believe II important
that your readers, especially those in thu
old states, have the facts in regard to thu
condition Of our state and county. We
like all other new counties, need people
and capital, and there are plenty OF peo
Pile and capital that are looking for ney
fields, and did the people know the fact
about our county, IL would not be lon
before II would be settled. w
cannot expect immigration or capita
when the papers throughout the stat
and elsewhere are filed with starvation
items, such as: ''Mr Brown OF ~
county, is going North TO solicit aid,
etc, etc. Now, Mr.. Editor, II there
any good cause for this, II 1t (the county
had FIRST done all In its power, and the
called on the state, which Is we'll to d
financially, and then failed, they might
justified in sending "Mr. Brown I,
help" As we all well know, what effec
our county does all the rest, and in tim,
like these we should all stick T.
gether, and the strong should help u
weak, and not let the whole stat
suffer on account OF the misfortunes of
few counties. Looking at II In strict
business light, to say nothing of VIII
the people should do for charity's SAX
the state should not and cannot afford
saw AeA NANaShN bNEbAht nAtolNO ~
aid, AZ least, under the present circui
stances. Neither the county nor sta
officials have as yet made any effort
speak, or TO help those In want, and un
they had done all in their power, the
should not be dollar asked for or ]
ceived from other states. With I
cotton crop TO pick aud the railroad wo
being done In the state, which will ri
employment to great many who ha
failed TO make crop, this, with q liz
effort on the part Of those who have be
blessed with plenty, to say nothing
what our state and county officials cor
do, would, believe, relieve the wants
all. Speaking Of the demand for lat
you cannot pick up daily paper in
state but what has an advertisement IL
for men and teams TO either work on II
roads, get out ties, or pick cotton. WI
this IL the case lt does not strike
visitor TO our state as being consistent
have men out ''begging for bread" w
Mr.. Editor, 1t must strike stranger Tn
cling over Texas after seeing the crops
Central, Northern and Southwest Tel
and hearing OF .ha financial condition
the state and our prosperity general
that the npnnla NJ tha North A.. -hato.-