St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-22
IN LABOR CIRCLES.
A Minneapolis Man Investigates the
Labor Situation in
Texas.
Some of the Effects of Land Monopoly
and the Lordly Cattle
Kings.
Local Doings---The Trades Assembly.
News of the City
T0ilers.

Lucien II. Smith, we'll known in labor
circles in this city and ST. Paul, who is
now in Texas, where he was sent by the
United States bureau of labor statistics,
to investigate the land and labor ques-
ton, has written the following interest
ing letter to Park Commissioner Mitch
ell, of this city:
In response to a.suggestion made by
you and cOncurred in, as you informed
me, by several members of our assembly,
take pleasure in submitting to the as
Sembly through you few ideas rela-
tive to the subject of land monopoly in
the state of Texas.
AS preliminary, would state that l
arrived at Austin, Tex, during the lat
ter part of last August, and since that
time have visited forty-fve counties on
business, and passed through dozen or
more which it was not necessary for me
to visit in my work, but which con-
tanned matters OF much interest to me
personally. The southern and western
portions of Texas are the most afflicted
with the dry rot of land monopoly. The
northern and northeastern portions are
mainly agricultural.
I have been an advocate of the appli-
cation of the theories of Henry George
as to the public ownership, or control of
lands for several years, but Inever real
lied the force of the so-called George
theory until came to this state.
The cattle kings are the curse. of
Texas. They are curse, because they
mOnOpolize land. 1t is a common eX-
preston here that cattle furnish the
sinners mot SinewS) of trade.
The public lands in Texas have been
owned by the state, not by the United
States. Vast regions of valuable lands
have been disposed of but few years
since at from Ii to so cents an acre.
These lands were bought, not with a
view of improvement, but for the double
purpose of cattle raising and specula-
ton in land values. Tracts of land
from five to fifty acres are held as
simply pastures. A gentleman not ac-
quainted with the general features of
aOTeXas ranch asked cowboy
how far it was to certain Mr.. Jones'
house. II don't KNOW" said the cow
boy, ''exactly how far it is, but there is
his front gate" The gentleman rode
twenty miles after entering the front
gate before he reached the house. 1t
was also twenty miles to the back gate.
Yet OH this immense tract there was not
an acre cultivated.
OF the best lands it requires six acres
for each head of cattle. In many por-
tions, where the grass is not so good, at
least twelve acres is required. Thou
sands of cattle have starved during the
last two years, there being not enough
| rain to produce the usual amount of
grass.
AS rule Texas cattle are not fed. It
is very seldom that such sight as a
hayStack will be seen. About the only
attention the Texan steer receives is a
| brand when he is calf and death SEN
tence when he is grown.
Now, as to the evil effects of the land
monopoly, it will readily be seen that
| where so much land is required for rails
| ing single animal that cattle cannot
be raised in uncultivated pastures with
| anything like high rate of taxation of
land values. AS consequence the cat
tie kings combine, not only to keep
lands, but to keep out farmers or
all who would improve the lands, in
short to discourage any improvement,
private or public, which will tend to
raise the price of land. This is done for
| the present use, so to speak, of raising
cattle. But to show that the cattle
king, while he does not wish the price
| of his lands to rise, does look forward
to the time when the real estate boom"
will bring him unknown and unearned
| riches, it is only necessary to say that
he will not sell an acre now, unless COM
| PEELED to under the hammer.
| Many are the evils resulting from this
land monopoly. The cattle allowed to
grow up without care are inferior to
those raised upon cultivated farms.
| Where so much land is used to such
little effect, the population must be
| sparse. And under these conditions
| there evolves, the landed lords" and the
hireling cowboy or the Mexican tenant
at will. No public institutions of
any consequence can or will be
maintained, for the cattle kings
are the masters. What must be the
condition of one who calls himself a
labOrer in such country. 1t would be
idle to talk about the marriage relations
of cowboy and he is the only one who
receives wages sufficient to assume the
responsibility of married life. So much
for the moral side. Henry George says
that to tax land and values for improve
ments which are made upon it is the
same as placing a fine upon a man fol
being industrious. | know of cases
here in Texas where rich pasture lands
are assessed at two dollars an acre
while the small farm adjoining j:
assessed at ten dollars an acre. The
higher rate of taxes which the farmer i:
compelled to pay is all owing to i'm
provements which he had made him
self. This does look little like fning
man for being industrious. Among
natures noblemen is Henry George.