The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-07
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John c. Edgar Duval, to whom all
communications for this column should be ad.
HOME INDUSTRIES.


HOME INDUSTRIES.
There are a few people who do not
profess TO believe in the principle of
patronizing home industries. The
wisdom and justice of it finds univer-
sal acceptance, but there are few that
care to carry the principle into active
operation when it involves the least
trouble or unusual effort; to say moth
ing of trifling expense. If the prin.
ciple Was practiced for only few
years, what a development of our
state would result. With a liberal
home support, our "infant industries'
could well dispense with paternal
government protection.
The manufacturing industries of the
country do not need protection, but
only the BONE support they are en-
titled to, and fair play. But this they
do not always get, and while high,
and often pcohibitive tariff, may boil
ster them up for time and give their
manipulators unmerited profit; The in
dustiies attain only partial develop
ment, and that at the expense of the
consumer. We must look for the estab-
lishment of home manufactures, at
home. and not through the action of
congress. This idea seems to be ap-
preciated by the citizens of Austin
and evidenced by their action on the
dam. They set to work to help them
selves, and can reasonably look for
divine favor. But consistency is q
virtue not always found in the human
family, and principles often only meet
approval when consistent with per-
sons inclination and interest.
During the past two weeks we have
read reports about the proposed
WOODEN mill, and the local advantages
that will follow its Inauguration
Every word was true, and the half
has not been told. Benefits yet I'M
dreamt of by the most sanguine pro-
moter, will surely result, and it will
be the forerunner of enterprises of still
greater Importance.
But it will pay to remember that
the SUI cess of all home manufactures
can only be assured by liberal home
support and the removal of local i'm
pediments. Those worthy people who
are now so nobly pushing this new
und 4rta k ,ng, and will assuredly carry
ii through. might put in an occasional
word for "home indu- tries" in other
parts of the state. Success in any I'M
dertaking encourages enterprise in
others, while failure has just the OPP
posite effect. Those wishing for the
success of local enterprises should
support and in every way encourage
those in other parts of the state. But
it must be confessed that existing
"home industries" do not receive the
patronage they deserve.
1t has always been my practice to
bny the home article, in preference to
the imported, when it could be &C.
CURED on equal terms, as to quality
and price. The difficulty with me is
not one of quality or price; hut the
getting the home article. For eX.
ample, Texas supplies as fine quality
of salt as any country on earth, but il
is doubtful if the city of Austin car
supply one sack Of exas salt.
wanted my annual supply of meal
curing salt, and knowing the superior
quality of that produced at Color ado
City, made inquiry for il at severa
stores, but found it not. 1 could gel
Liverpool, New Orleans and Kansa'
salt, but none of our own. 1 asked
why, and was void that people would
| I.,h
thought it inferior And so it is, that
hun reds of tons of salt are shipped
from distant states and countries
when better article is produced al
home, and naturally sold at less
price. So also with -four, and many
other articles of daily consumption
AS good flour is made in Texas
as on the continent, but it cannot bt
got from our merchants. They say
that they can't sell If; that the de-
mand is for Kansas and Miss ouri flour
and of course they buy what they car
best sell. AS / have said, we can have
no extensive industrial development
without an appreciative home de
mand for the manufactured article
Therefore all who desire to see the es
udplioIHICHO VI IdOo'l ioN oIIO'iu a
once make it principle to ask for anC
see that they get, if possible, home
made goods.
IRISH POTATOES
Those who have followed me il
this column have noticed that | am 6
believer in the potato as partial sub
stitute for cotton as a money crop
My belief is founded on two "beC
rock" facts. First, potatoes can be az
easily and as cheaply raised i'm Texas
as in any other state in the Union
Second, they can be readily sold at 6
fair profit over cost of production
These two reasons alone justify my
position, but there are many Other
arguments in favor of the 20.
tato crop. 1t can be made with
as little labor as corn
t., 4 Co., IL - -