Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-11
President c. II. siiIihlan's Address.
Reports of omcers Received and
Fned-Directors EIeoted-omoers
Elected for tho Ensuing Year.

the chamber.
The president read the following an
nual report:
Fort Worth. Tex. Jan. 10, lsS5.-ro
the Members of the Chamber of Com
merce-Gentlemen: am pleased to
meet with you at the close Of another
fiscal year to review aud compare the
present commercial and financial CON
ditions with those of the recent past
The year 1894 win be remembered by
the people OF Texas principally Tor ths
reason that the prices OF cotton anu
wheat. two OF our leading staples, nave
fallen lower than at any time Wlthln
the memory OF the present generation
The food we eat, the clothes we wear
the houses we live in and all necessarles
OF life can ha had for less money than
at any time since the civil war. me
era of high prices has gone; we are NV
ing in time Of cheap produce ana
cheap commodities. and SO quickly have
our people adapted themselves TO these
conditions that the change may well
be termed an Industrial revolution.
The almost universal mania Tor spec
ulation commenced to subside In 1880.
and in the Intervening period most OF
the resulting debts have been paid. ex-
tended, compromised cancelled or other
wise adjusted and the losses, In the
phrase OF the bankers, have been
written on" so that most enterprises
are now on Il more solid footing. In
this community, commercial and really
transactions have been based On pres
emit actual requirements. there being
an almost entire absence Of the specu-
lative spirit. Agricultural lands have
been active at advancing prices, most
OF the transactions having been In small
farms which are being occupied and
lR a
composed not only OF the natural IN
crease OK our own population, but also
OF emigrants from the northern and
western states. attracted to Texas by
her genial climate and fertile and
cheap lands.
am reliably Informed that in our
county alone. within the last six months
thirty-fve thousand acres have been
bought by home seekers who are filling
their own farms Probably the land
purchased for Immediate cultivation
throughout the state In 1894 VIII exceed
n million acres. TIE tide OF emigra-
tion in this direction IS constantly In
creasing and these settlers are general
ly a desirable addition to our honest
and Industrial rural population.
As our state is essentially an agri-
cultural and pastoral one. our prosperi-
~ Is largely dependent on the success
OF the farmer and stoclSman. In the
value OF annual yield the farm leads
the ranch in the proportion Of eight
to one.
while our cotton crop. which ia worth
more than all other farm products COM
| blned, and is equal in value to mora
| than one-third, the entire products OF
our farms. pastures and forests, brought
| the farmer less per pound than ever
| before. II must also be borne in mind
| that this season OF lowest prices came
hand IN hand with the season that
brought the largest yield
| per acre and IN the ag-
gregnte recorded in this state The
most reliable estimate places the yield
| at not less than 2,S00,000 bales, being an
increase OF 40 per cent over that OF
| 1898. A few years ago the cotton seed
| had practically no money valuei II now
| has an established value of 80 per ton.
! thus virtually adding 81 to the value
Of each bale Of cotton grown IN 1894.
More important TO tho farmer than
the enormous yield OF cotton is the fact,
| not recognized by many, but which can
| be verified by inquiry az the dry goods,
| clothing. grocery and hardware stores
| OF Fort Worth, that the articles the
| farmer requires cost on an average 80
per cent less than two years ago, being
| practically the same proportlonate re-
ductlon in the cost OF the necessaries OF
life as IN that OF cotton, the latter now
| selling at four and a half TO five and n
! half cents per pound. whore II formerly
brought from seven to eight cents per
pound.
The yield OF wheat, though not large
| In some portions OF the Panhandle dis
trict, was heavy in other parts OF
North Texas the total Yield OF the state
! being 100000 bushels as against 50l0,-
coo bushels In 1893. The average price
paid in Fort Worth for the year was %
cents per bushel. which is but a few
cents lower than In 1893.
The government estimate for Texas
places the yield Of corn for 1894 at 60,
100000 bushels rs contrasted with 6l,-
000.000 bushels Ia 1898, and the price In
! 1874 has averaged 40 cents per bushel;
the estimate OF the yield OF oats is 2O,-
| 100000 bushels as cOntrastcd with a.
100000 bushels In 1898. This year the
high price of 80 cents per bushel was
| realized.
When we consider the important and
extensive industry Of raising ana fat.
tening cattle. our stockmen are to be
congratulated on having experienced
a better season In all respects in 1884
than FOR many years past The season
was favorable, the pasturage abundant
aud prices We're good for all grades OF
cattle and the herds are now in good
condition The number OF cattle mar.
kcted IN 1894 was less, but prices Were
higher than In 1898, OF the one million
catsa marketed In 1885, two hundred
thousand were fattened on the cotton
seed hulls, meal and cake OF cotton
seed, and the profits Of the cattle feed
ers for iS9i-95 may be fairly estimated
at sl,50OO0O.
Inasmuoh as the people OF our state
consume annually more than $1,000, 00C
In pork products. mainly imported, and
produce less than half that amount IN
live hogs, only small number OF
which are slaughtered In the state, the
Industry OF hog raising Is one or great
Importance. and is only beginning tc
receive. in part. tho attention It Gs,
serves.
During the last year the raising OF
more hogs hns been urged on the farm.
ers by every newspape, IN the state
and their attention has been called Il
the fact that through the Fort Worth
stock yards good market has been
| established for fat hogs at the extensive
Fort Worth packing houses. The result,
is that 1894 has shown an increase IN
hog raising OF more than 80 per cent
| over any former year, and tho businesr
has been demonstrated 10 be one of
the most profitable the farmer can
engage In.
The Forf Worth packing houses IN
der the present able and efiriant ,,,or.