The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-27

Beaumont Texas, December ga
sketah of Jefferson county as 1t IS today,
even II scrupuously kept within the
bounds of fact, would necessarily read
like fairy story, for the development
that has taken place within Its bound
aries during the past few years and that
undertaken for the immediate future has
demonstrated n possibility of soil and
climate that would be but feebly describ-
ed II called Marvellous soil and climate
of which Professor L, n. Plank, learn
ed horticulturalist. after visit and eX-
animation enthusiastically wrote: There
is not anything in the soil and climate of
jefferson county that pre2ents any
man from sitting under his own vine
and fig tree, eating of their pleasant
fruit ana drinking wine of his own man
ufacture."
Historically speaking jefferson is one
of the Oldest counties in the State. In
fact 1t is nearly as old as the Republic
of Texas, there being municipality of
the same name under Mexican ,ule, but
from an agriculture! and horticultural
standpoint it may be truthfully said it Is
recent discovery. From time beyond
which memory of the Oldest ihhnhitant
fNpnetn not, ulltil "tttIlIS Alt bt'h''
rich prairies OF jefferson county were
waving fields of luxuriant grasses over
which the long horn COW fed and fatiened
and the impression that the soil was good
for nothing else prevailed There was
some farming, If gardening for home
uses can be so designated, and in few
instances cane sufficient to make syrup
for home uses was cultivated.
Ii was not until 1891. however, that the
agricultural era of the county began,
Early in 1891, so the writer is Informed,
farmer from the rice growing district of
Louisiana moved 10 jefferson county lie
mad been rice farmer in Louisiana ana
after careful investigation Of conditions
decided TO Try rice culture IN his new
home. lie was successlul pcyonh eN-
pectations, both n yield ana l uaIi.x OF
grain, and the following year he incrois-
cd his acreage. His success attracted inc
attention OF other land owners anu u,
1892 there were $500 acres OF rice plahJeu
i'm the county from which "a crop OF ~
500 sacks were gathered, an average OF
fifteen sacks or forty-fivc bushels 10 the
acre. The gross price Of this crop VAS IN
the neighhorhoo1 of $4,000. tWo-thlrds OF
which was proflt TO the farmer. The sue
cess of 1882 demonstrated the practlcabllliy
of rice culture and the enormous pronts
that accrued TO me farmer d g" W., a as
there are about 10000 acres OF unlrn-
proved land In jefferson county that IS
Susceptible to rice culture. In 1873 the
cultiyated acres increased TO 2Si5. and IN
lSg4 there was something over 800 acres
planted In rice. This year the totai ac1e-
age is placed at over 1000 aud prepara--
tons are now being made TO increase ~
10 10000 acres next year -. . etrst
when the cultivation OF rice was liIst
ottempted in this county as an ehperl-
msnt land could be purchased az from
a. ~ a. per acre and owing 10 the Iact
th.t the industry Is yet practically IN rs
inffapcv--the acreage susceptible 70 cur
,tvation Of rice being about onc-thiro OF
he county-the increase IN price i2I en- er-
iirn,vrroyed lands has not been materiai ~
mn ,t, In more favored localities, ana eN-
Iii e,ie,t tracts. large or small. can yrt nc
oereh sd at from s. to SO per acre.
Anotber year may see thfSe rppai1sss
5Adln43,iea Immigration Is rapidly tloMtns
~ ne county and experienced iaii, ,tra
from louisiana and soqn GSF county p So
noun n,,re ~ those in other states WhsstS ~
marx market y value ranges from 20 10 ''0 P''
af But while rice is at 2Tesen' ihg non @Of fSe
on9ip, egriclltural product. me 20 shen
rice lands, being a very Fich son. VIZ"