Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-21

rights IN property and revenue. Thanks to
an all wise providence, the patriotism, and
honor of these same people is such that
when once aroused to the truth they will
hurl to political death any man or body of
men who has attached to them the stain Of
dishonor.
GENERAL UNAVOIDABLE CONDITIONS.
must confess myself far less competent
to treat of this side of the subject than I
was OF the favorable side, and can only do
so in general way. Almost actual con-
ditions could, however, easily be obtained
III any particular manufacturing enterprise
contemplated by personal investigation of
all the conditions favoring what is sup
posed to be the strongest foreign compet-
itor against which the home enterprise
would be likely to come into competitive
contact. The foreign investor who con-
templated starting mandatory in Texas
could himself more than likely furnish this
information definitely enough to base cal
culation upon The price of labor we
know would be largely increased. This
would have to be considered as well in the
cost of the raw material as in its manu-
facture at the works.
This feature would necessarily bear a
large percentage of the increased expense,
from the fact that nothing like the wages
approximating those paid in the East would
hold labor in works here for any length OF
time. The opportunities for men to branch
out and enter into business, or locate on
farms and make homes for themselves in
Texas, are as fifty to one against similar
opportunities presenting themselves in the
East. The cost of living we know to be
much greater, in order to afford anything
like approximate comforts. The ar
tisan in the East can obtain home
with modern conveniences and comforts
attached to it for from $l2 to SIS month
that could not be obtained in Texas for less
than SIS or $50 a month. if at all. The
price of living could be partly remedied in
time or at the start by making the laborers'
homes part Of the investment of The plant
Constant change of labor is expensive. This
increased cost of labor and living would
naturally restrict the distributing ter
ritory into foreign consuming points and
confine it very largely at home, as it
could not be expected to compete largely
with those conditions against you into
foreign territory where your competitor,
with these conditions in his favor, would
meet you on q parity of freight rates.
There is but little country north or east of
Texas where those unfavorable conditions
would not be met. Restriction of possible
product means higher prices in order to
meet expenses, against which comes in
your competitor with a trade already
established, apart from Texas, amply
sufficient for his support, and who
considers Texas trade merely as
auxiliary and in order to retain it could
well afford during your early and most Sc
we're trials to sell goods against you at cost
Here you have the trade conditions which
are in your favor Offset by the general I'M
favorable conditions of increased cost in
manufacture. Many other adverse condi-
tions could, have no doubt, be named, but
the whole problem resolves itself into the
general unfavorable conditions incident
upon increased cost in manufacture result
ing from high-priced labor and cost of hv-
ing. These conditions will remain
with US until the population of Texas in
proportion to its area approximates the
population of those states in which manu-
factories now thrive. Now l would like
to ask any thoughtful man If these general
unfavorable conditions TO manufacturing
enterprises within this state are not even
more unfavorable TO the railroads of the
state. would like to ask any thoughtful
man if it does not cost a railroad to do
two million dollars of business a year far
more in price of labor paid than
1t does manufacturing firm to do
4 like amount of business. Does 1t
not require from thirty to sixty times more
capital to build and equip railroad of four
or five hundred miles TO do s., 000, 900 bust
ness than it does a mandatory TO do like
volume of businessl With over eight
thousand miles Of railroad within the state,
would like to ask if the tonnage of the
Texas railroads is not even far more re-
strlcted in accordance with population as
compared with the mileage and population
IN other older states, than even manufact-
uring enterprise would bel Can any man
say the railroads are responsible
for these general unfavorable condi-
tions which bear so heavily upon them
selves? Now, if the railway commission OF
Texas are not advised of these truths, they
are working in gross ignorance. II they
are advised of them, they are prostltuting
intelligence, for they have boldly announced |
1t as their province toireverse these general |
unfavorable conditions to manufacturing |
within the state at the expense |
of the railroads OF the state. thus relieving |
the burden of one interest in the state at |
the expense of doubling the burden on |
another interest, and this interest the |
states honor is pledged TO protect. What |
is the states honor but the honor of its |
citizensl
SUGGESTIONS IN CONSIDERING THEIR EsIAB-
LIsHMENT.
have endeavored IN what has preceded |
this to show the favorable and adverse side |
70 starting OF manufacturing enterprises in |