Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-06-29
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT.
What the South Needs and the Best
Possible Way to Get It.


Possible Way to Get 1t.
There are, we fear, people Of a GER
tain class to whom the welfare of
their common country is mere idle
word compared with the all impor-
tant subject of their own personal
prosperity. But such people, we are
happy to believe, are an exception to
the rule. But there are times when
actual existing conditions call forth
cry of dependency, if not downright
despair, from the bravest hearts. To
criticise our people for sins of omis-
sion or commission has always been
the most unpleasant duty which has
ever been exacted of us as journal
ist, but there are times, and we think
this one of them, when silence W ould
beyond question, be wrong if not alb
solutely criminal. The present well
fare and future prospects Of our city
are the great interests at stake, and
we consider their Importance as SUI
perior to all other considerations.
The time has arrived when our peo-
pie must decide a question of vital
Importance, once for all, whether Tex
arkana is really to earn its name and
sustain its reputation as the Gate City
and future railway, commercial and
industrial center of the Southwest, or
else sink into inocuous desuetude.
Never before were the city's pros
poets either so bright or so full of
flattering promise as they now are,
so we say to our people as recent
contributor said to the Arkansas Ga
zettc of Little Rock; Surely 1t is time,
full time, that move of some sort be
made to throw off the nightmare that
is at present congesting our city. 1t
has been announced as leading pur
pose to induce the investment of capi-
tai in our midst, but we may as well
call spirits from vasty deep and ex-
pect them to come as to even hope
for the investment of foreign capital
until the example is first set by local
capitalists.
OF course it is desired to have out
side capital to come and invest in our
midst but how about home capital ?
If our home capital is afraid to invest
in anything but rentals that pay 15
per cent. per annum, building associa-
ton stock that pays 20 per cent. and
loans on inside improved property at
10 per cent, which would be made 25
per cent. but for the law on usury,
what encouragement is thus offered to
outsiders? The old mother crab crit
icised her offspring for its habit Of
travelling tail foremost. The juvenile
crab requested the parent to give 1t
an object lesson by moving out by
the front way herself. Outside cap
ital may be slow to invest in COM
munity where the resident communi-
ty exhibit no evidence of confidence
in the success OF the enterprises it
seeks to promote with other peoples
money. "The Gods help those who
help themselves"
Cotton factories in the Carolinas,
Georgia and Mississippi are declaring
18 to 80 per cent. annual dividends,
but thus far the wonderful posslbil-
tiles in this line have not been sufli-
cient to move our people from their
peanut stands. They seem to have
no confidence in any thing except
monthly rentals, quarterly interest
and building association dividends.
So, ] conclude that there is mission
ary work at home to do before IL is
ready to tackle outside capital for
profitable investment in our midst.
AS matter Of fact, the opportunities
here for profitable investments are
numerous and inviting, but there is as
yet no tangible evidence Of this sufli-
cient to convince outsiders that our
people thoroughly believe such to be
the fact. For the time being at
least, the Shylocks and Gadgrinds are
In possession of the situation. Under
their blighting shadows progress does
not flourish. AT rare intervals such
men die, and in this way may unwit-
tingly and unwillingly perform pub
lie service for which they are entitled,
free of charge, to an inscription to
mark their last resting place.
| untooor.t IL, nLIohn,na