San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-22
EXPECTANT TEXAS.


This great state seems on the eve of
events of no small moment to her future.
There Is hush as of mighty expectancy
in her very atmosphere; and yet to one
who listens well this very silence is
vocal with promise of q coming activity,
such as the state has not heretofore
witnessed. There is a hum Of prepare
ton, hardly loud enough as yet to be
distinguished from the sleepy droning In
the hive of inaction; a stir, such as one
notices before all general movements,
more easily felt than described. 1t is as
though q vast camp had just awakened
and were rubbing their eyes before
rising The sense Of these things Is
upon us and the movements OF which
they are the sign may or may not
materialize. The camp may not hear
the expected order, or it may have mis-
taken some light for the approaching
day, and turn over and go to sleep again
until some more decisive word OF COM
mand Ia given. Whatever the result,
only future actions and accomplish
ments may decide, but at present
the hum OF general movement
lie noted in every place, and is not
confined to any one thing. 1t is seen in
the world Of mind and matter; in the
field of agriculture, manufacturing rail-
reading, politics and schools, to say no
nore.
One month since and Texas was Sc
verely exercised over her crop pros
poets In nearly every section Of the
state. Protracted drouths had left her
soil without moisture sufficient TO sup
ply the roots of her grasses or the thirst
Of her stock. Millions of acres Of graz
ing land were as dry as desert, and cat
tie and sheep were dying Of thirst by the
hundreds. The crops were parched and
stunted, whole counties without pros
pect Of a sufficient yield to return even
the seed cast into the ground. Copious
rains have fallen In nearly every section
Of the state and from every quarter
comes the hopeful expectation Of as
large crops Of corn, cotton and fruit as
were ever grown in the state. Wheat
and oats were too badly injured by
drouth to fully recover, but the yield is
found to be fully one hundred per cent.
over the estimate in very many locations,
With the revival Of agricultural
promise has come revival OF manufac-
turing enterprise, and from nearly
every section Of the state manufactur-
ing industries are being projected that
will do more for the development OF this
great commonwealth, and add more to
her material wealth than any agency
could secure. The need Of creative in
dustries that shall utilize the raw pro-
ducts Of our fields and focks, and con-
vert them into material for consumption
at home Is more and more re-
allied, and many industrial centers are
catching the spirit ofmanufacturing and
entering intelligently upon the work of
organizing and building them up. The
signs grow most hopeful that before the
decade closes there will be found all
over our state lucrative manufacturing
plants that will increase the value Of our
home products, add largely to the num-
Der ofour wsge workers, and by disburs-
ing at home no inconsiderable part OF
the monies sent abroad add year by year
to the prosperity and wealth OF our
people.
The recent school seminary and col
lege commencement OF which the press
Of this state have given such full reports
speak their own language concerning
the educational progress Of our people,
and the wise and intelligent progress
they are making to advance the stand
ard of our schools and raise the grade OF
scholarship until we shall be second to
no state In the Union, in the complete
ness and efficiency Of our school system.
The movement seems general through
out Texas to make this summers work