The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-29

has the power to control prices with
out government aid.
coNvIoTs AND PUBLIC ROADS.
From all the expressions of the
press and private individuals, 1t
would seem that public sentiment is
almost unanimous on the subject OF
working cOnvicts on the pubic roads.
The people of every shade OF political
opinion and of every honest calling
have demanded that such disposition
be made of cOnvicts, that their labor
shall not compete ipjuriously with
that of honest men, desiring and de-
serving to enjoy the legitimate fruits
of their toll. There certainly has
been no plan suggested whereby this
can be so fully met, and at the same
time result in so great good to the
public as employing them in the work
of making good public roads. 1t 10
certainly the policy OF the people. 1t
remains for the legislature to carry it
into actual practice. The Farm and
Ranch has not developed any plan
for the details of the work, what class
of convicts should be kept within the
walls, or how the others should be APP.
|
few practical members of either house
of our state legislature could perfect a
satisfactory plan in a week that will
show the policy to be correct, and
open up new era in the progress of
the state by giving the public object
lessons in road-buitding, and, in
short, showing them what good roads
are and what they signify.
TURNING SHEEP IN ORCHARDS.
At horticultural meeting in New
York recently horticulturallst said
that he always made sheep pasture
of his orchard and it was true that
they made the best insecticides he
ever had. He would advise keeping
| 100 sheep on every ten acres of orchard.
To feed them enough give them plenty
of linseed meal and bran, which will
make them ravenous for apples. The
feed, the apples and the scattered
grass answer an excellent purpose,
and although he had not plowed his
orchard in fourteen years it was in an
excellent condition.
There can be no doubt about the
advantage Of sheep in the orchard at
the right time and in the right guam
tity, but there is equally no doubt
about the mischief they will do if
proper precautions are not taken to
protect young trees. In old orchards
where the lower limbs of the, trees are
beyond the reach of the sheep they
may be kept with advantage as long
as they can be supplied with sufficient
food, but ten to the acre would be
making the orchard into sheep pen.
The past week has seen another
change In the cotton market. 1t is on
another boom, said by cotton spcula-
tors to be due to the prospect of the
defeat of the anticipation bill, but more
likely to the now almost assured fact
that the crop will not exceed $500, 900
bales.
Many bearish SPECTATORS who
secuted the idea OF even 80 small q
crop as 7,OO0,0 900 now admit that the
signs point to little if any more than
6,O0O, QUO. AS these estimates in
Guide the sur plus from last sea-
son, 1t follows that If correct,
there will be deficiency in the sup.
ply and that cotton holders will be
able to get their own price. Happy
he who held his cotton for the rise,
but he is not numerous. Scared by
the experience of the two previous
years, farmers, as rule, concluded to
take no risks, and gladly sold for
seven cents what is now worth ten.
Their "luck" was bad, not their judg-
ment; because at the beginning of the
season it was impossible to toresee the
shortage which has now been 80
plainly discovered.
1t is amusing to observe the change
in pubic opinion about fiscal affair 8.
A year ago hardly farmer
could be found who did not call
for the free coinage of silver, and a
very large crowd howled for relief via.
sub. treasury. Fow we SELDOM hear
of the latter, and farmers Organiza-
lions like the Grange are beginning
to resolute and petition against The
free coinage of both gold and silver.
The late campaign was q powerful
educational medium and caused the
scales to drop from the eyes of many
suffering from financial blindness.
Six months ago the farmers and
cotton planters OF the South made the
grand discovery that the deprecated
value OF cotton was mainly If not
altogether due to the action of "fu.
ture' spectators, and a movement
was set on foot to render dealings IN
cultures" illegal.
To that end the Hatch anticipation
bill was designed, introduced into the
house and thence passed to the senate
where it now hangs fire. In spite Of
the usual culture" speculations cotton
has risen from 6 to 8 cents per pound
and still rising. Cotton factors AND
eptionists have taken advantage O
this change in the market and arc
using every chance to convince pro-
ducers that the present advance is due
to future" speculation, and that the
optiorist is the true friend of thu
farmer.
Their arguments have effect; fo
Southern senators and representative
are daily being importuned to vot'
down the very bill they were previ
ously urged to pass. Such is thu
fickleness of public opinion. One da,
it is '.Hosanna in the highest" ant
the next "crucify him" Farmers ar
too easily swayed by interested dema
gogues and do not think out logical
the causes OF the ills they bear or tn
effect of the remedies 30 gratuitousl.
rendered them by self-seekiDg plac
hunters.
4 Il = H. 4