The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
TEXAS AND HER PROSPECTS.
4 oREhr AND RAPIDLY GROWING
sT1TE or MANIFOLD RESOURCES

..... N,nutneturInE OutIook-Citi-
.,. from Northern States - DistrIbu-
uon OF the POpuIAtion-RHPld Growth
INIT No Boom-A Talk with Gov. Ross
ruv suN has printed recently number OF
articles giving some account OF the remarRa-
hIo growth OF Texas Late in April Bun re-
nortor met at Austin, the capital Gen. L. ..
Ross. the Governor Of the State. Questions
addressed to Gov. Ross and the Governors
answers are here given:
O.-What are the climate characteristics Of
Texas
A-Comparatively cool in summer, warm
and eauable in winter, subject at times IN
winter to sudden intiuIes OF cold waves calleu
northers. whose duration Is seldom moro man
foriy-eiyht hours, whom thS thermometer Tails
below freezing.
D.-Are there parts OF tho state In which the
rain fall ia uniformly ample and so distributed
through the year as uniformly to insure crops
Are there parts in which tho raini 10 not
annie or not 50 distributed as to insure crops
Are there regions hitherto comparatively dry
TO which more rains now come with Increased
population
Although the largest portion OF the state
the rainfall 10 ample. and through all OF IL
enough generally falls 10 insure a crop farts
of west Texas in 1879 aud 1856 suffered from
drought. From observation 1t may, PERHAPS DO
concluded thai every seven years there ID
periodical depletion OF moisture IN the atmos-
phcre of West Texas. West Texas. especially
the panhandle, appears to exhibit this char
acteristic of increased downfall OF rain with
population and consequent cultivation.
U,.-Has anything been done in irrigation!
A-Ths Pecos. kio Grande and many SMALL
or streams offer great inducement anu iacia-
ties for irrigation. but. SO far nothing has been
done on any extended scale lookiugto utilizing
those or other rivers for this purpose.
u.-Whut parts OF tho state are most densely
populated
A.-Between longitude 95h' and 800 west
and from the Red River to the Cult.
U,-In what districts or parts are nationali-
ties notable in members!
A.-Op the counties bordering the Rio
Grande, and from there to San Antonio are to
he found n large proportion OF Mexicans; in
the middle southwest there are large num-
Der of our German fellow citizens. or rather
citizens OF German descent born in Texas. to-
rether with Bohemians; southeast Of this
mere are a tier OF counties where the Ameri-
can African preponderates; but Texas Is OF all
States perhaps, the most distincfvely Ameri-
can having fewer persons OF foreign olrtn IN
proportion to her population than any other
u.-What proportion OF the population OF the
State is negro!
A.-Less than one-fifth.
U.-Are negroes moving out OF the State, or
moving in?
A-No the negroes show. no disposition TO
move out of Texas. Some four years ago a
mum Der moved from here % California anu
hunsus have reason 10 believe that most OF
them have returned -
lat arc Inc general relations between
the whites and tue negroes!
S.-The relations between the races are for
10. RI o yea
sometimes make so!nc trouoIe. put II IL oniy
that kind OF trouble that o. ours among any
kind Ul lawlesS eleuen and Is entirely lnul-
yiuuu,i ed to the parties themselves aud 10 the
SPECIAL lUra.ity wnero /, takes place:
,l.--Is there state supervision OF and tax on
4. There is tax and the law supervises
raToa IS: but there is no ralli oad &C SION;
if that is your meaning. though constitutional
amendment will 10 voted upon this ialt LOOKING
t'~uow are the general soils Of the State
Distributed as 10 regionsf
A-Auu, ial from the coast about hundred
miles inland. the rest usually good. easily
Tin what par. mainly. are the principal
crops Iroduc
river bottoms OF south Texas cotton and corn
are generaliy cul ivalei throughout the State;
wheat in he noEth and %esi: OaLs anu par
u.-N hat have been the general crop results
in the past tise years! ,--,,..
Texas suffered in 1888 and 1856 iro!n drought.
bui, a. a whole. Texas has made good average
crops for tho past i've years ..0 -.
CIV hat are the general crop prospects Tor
IA A'2The general crop prospects, for 1890 are
O."is Texas raising moro or fewer horses
aud cat tic than formerly
h.-TeNas ID raising perhaps some fewer
horses and cattle. but OF much better quality
anu grade.
V.cAre horse and cattle men moving?
At is thought not Texas cattle men have
for many years held large interests in the
Northwest states aud Territories. using Texas
i hs Dsf otler esttiS IL colder cimates
U.-ls there any notable new mineral dis
A.IThe geological reports of tho State
show large discoveries Of fine iron ore: lead.
silver. cop er, aud gold in the lecos. FL Paso.
both OF ne quality. and various other valuable
minerals and building stones.
V.-lo there any onset To- the state debt, In
money or securities. in he Treasury
A.-The State debt is nominal and nearly
al held by the State ITSELF through her public
Care the counties. and cities. and towns
generally in debt Are State and local taxes
high? Are mortgages common In the state:
A.-By AL examination VI the CUmptr oilers
report, you will be aLe to see what counties
are in debt, and what not. but as whole tho
cities and towns are also to some extent n
debt. but very slightly 30 a. to their resources.
State taxes are ~ cents on $40 OF prop
school purposes. County taxation is conStitu-
tonally limited to 20 cents on 800 for gen-
eral purpo, o.. to Is cents or roads and bridges,
and TO 70 cents Tor public buildings. The Con-
etitutiou prohibi B mortgages on homesteads
In this state and hence we are Tree from en-
cumbrapce OF this kind.
Q.--What. property in the State is exempt
from taxation
A.-Iwo hundred and fifty dollars worth OF
household AMI Ritchen furniture, and all prop
city sci apart solely Tor religious or educa-
tioDai PURPOSES. and no garnishment can be
had against iaborers wages.
GLOW many acres of the public lands
were sold last year Are they being taken up
rapidly? How many acres remain unsold2
A.rhere were sold In 1889 744,lUY acres:
on hand Jan. /, 1890. 2G.2G3,O00 acres. They
are gong moro rapidly this year than ever be-
Q.-Can any ono from anywhere In the
United states and elsewhere buy the public
lands in Texas Is there land here that is given
TO tho settler, and " i'll 1t be given to anybody
not already resident OF tho State2
A. les: anybody from anywhere can buy
publ ic land In Texas but he must settle on 1t
10 obtain title. The pre- mption law is In
force and tho head OF family can obtain 1860
acres Tree after three years settlement and M
proyenent, and there are 5.O00.UOD acres of
such land open to FREQ settlement under the law
4.-Wlat becomes Of the proceeds OF the
sales 0t state landst
A. Tho proceeds OF the sales OF public
lands become permanent school funds.
Q.-.Are the educational facilities generally