The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-07
To Encourage Manufactures and
irrigation.

To the Editor of the Statesman.
The legislature undoubtedly should pass
some laws to promote manufacturing and
agricultural interests. The former inter
est can be greatly advanced by creating
the Office of supervisor of. manufactures
Require all manufactures desiring the
supervision, cooperation and assistance
of the state, to be chartered with capital
of not less than $4,000 Let no fee be
charged for this charter. (Revised Statute
article 644e.) Let all the chartered privi-
leges be- subject to forfeiture and its debts
become due if the company should will
fully violate any law of this state, or re-
fuse to comply with any and all reason
able and just instructions from the super
visor of manufactures, and further that
such company shall be placed in the
hands of receiver, and its assets sub
jected to immediate payment of all its
Just debts. Require all chartered COM
panies to file a quarterly report under
oath of its management with the super
visor of manufactures, fully showing the
company's trial balance and full
statement of condition of its
business, and also to make a
similar report under oath of any person
designated whenever called upon to do 80
by the superintendent of manufactures.
Require all chartered companies to keep
their perishable property fully insured in
such insurance com panies as may be ap
proved by the supervisor, etc. Let no
company be entitled to a charter unless
four-hfths of its stock is held in good
faith by citizens of Texas, and that no one
person shall hold more than one-fourth of
the capital stock of any one company.
That all charters shall be Immediately
forfeited and its debts become due when
ever company shall become member of
any trust or in any way permit itself to
be controlled by trust or by influences
other than its lawful directors.
That the supervisor shall at all times
have access to all the books and proceed
ings of all chartered mpanies. That the
records of the Office of the supervisor
shall be private and not be subject to ex-
animation except by those directly inter
ested.
Manufacturing is profitable business,
but many who undertake it fail either
through dishonesty of those attempting
to manipulate it, or from incompetency or
want of capital to handle its legitimate
products. The first two causes will be
largely, if not wholly, prevented by the
restrictions here proposed. These causes
of failure being removed, capital will be
less timid, and the property held by these
chartered companies will be such desira-
BILE security, capital can be borrowed at a
low rate of interest for all purposes
legitimately in the scope of each respec-
tive company.
Regarding agriculture. After using the
lands in the west to build railroads in east
ern and central Texas, it seems equity
should be done by helping the west to
irrigate. The rich native soil of the ex-
treme west holds by dry weather its powers
free from the exhaustion caused by heavy
vegetation in districts favored by good
seasons, hence all crops on irrigated
lands in the west are many times heavier
than in other parts of the state. This was
demonstrated at the Dallas fair by ex-
hibits from all parts of the state. 1t is
also proven by the heavy wheat crops in
Colorado produced by irrigation. The
result being established, the cause
should be promoted. Our delegation
in congress may decline to join
the Colorado delegation In creating
the great reservoir system for Colorado
and western Texas. Then, at least Mr..
Lanham should be made to see his duty
by respectful petition from the people.
This irrigation would give to tie west
cheap breadstuffs and food for cattle to
supplement their native grasses, and
would make west Texas the greatest cattle
raising district in the world. Under the
=, auu bountv ahouE IN ha offarad nv cnn
gress it would make southwestern Texas
the finest beet and sorghum sugar pro-
ducing district on earth. Since neither the
frosts of winter nor the heat of summer |
impedes growth, the beet crops would
grow and the mills would
never stop for material. Can't the legis- |
lature at this session in some way as indi- |
Gated make good bid for manufactures
and also start practical irrigation planf
"PRoGREss."