The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

ing big expansion In every line OF trace
Contractors contemplate a general revival
Of building and the prosecution Of pubic
works Of all kinds on an extensive SCALE
Wage earners who have been IDLE are
finding employment and everything points
TO a prosperous year for Houston.
And while Houston has been growing Ia
commercial strength the surrounding coun-
try has been constantly Milling up with In
teilisent and thrifty farmers and truck
gardeners, who contribute To the eity's
trade, retail AZ well as Wholesale, and al
a retail trade center Houston stands In
the front rank As the man with the hoe
makes the country. so does the man with
the dinner pail and overalls make the
city.
Good roads have been built In the coun-
try which enable farmers to market the
fruits OF their labors and In cotton receipts
by wagon alone, Houston has increased
from 5000 In 1S95-06 to 1858 for 1s96-T.
All tho arabic land adjacent TO Houston
has enhanced In value and at no time in
the history OF the State has there been
such large movement OF agrlcuiturlsts
lands OF North and Central Texas and
Northern States as at present. These
new settlers are an industrious, thrifty and
intelligent class and will rapidly have
Harris and adjoining counties producing
extensively everything which can be
grown In this climate and soil. Houston
Will be tho point from which they will
draw their supplies and from which they
Will soon be shipping on an extensive scale
early vegetables and fruits, and this indus
try will shortly necessitate the establish
ment OF canning factory to utilize the
surplus.
From n retail as well as a wholesale
standpoint Houston stands In the lead.
There are no less than 75O merchants OF
all classes who do a retail trade. Ono
firm alone last year sold goods at retail
In excess OF $S0o,O00 and many range from
$50 900 to 100000 year. Taking $40, 900
as a basis, the volume Of Houston's retail
business can safely be put down at $780,
900 per annum. Such figures as those look
rather large, but when II is considered
that Houston is essentially a city whose
Inhabitants are wage earncrs. being en-
gagged In all branches OF trade to say moth
Ing OF the professions, 1t Is readily ac-
tive, busting population and that there
Is vast army employed In the railway
service by tho express companies, post
Office. factories, congresses. oil mills Ium-
Der yards, brick works, stores, shops and
Offices. There are approximately 100 in
dhstrles in Houston which may be CLASH
He'd AS manufactures giving employment
TO thousands visit 10 the great central
market on Saturday night will give one
an Idea OF the cosmopolitan mnke-up Of
INV population aud the class of Its inbabit-
ants. Bankers with their wives and the
iaborer In overalls, the mechanic the
artisan and the professional man are all
there. represented either by the heads Of
the household or some member Of tho
family The display of choice meats. Ash
Ia dozen species and vegetables and fruits
IN profusion and unlimited quantity signify
that there must he large population to
support such grand market when there
are SO many shops and groceries scattered
all over the city where eatables are sold.
During all the dull period from which we
are now emerging the retail trade of Hous
ton has steadily increased and a ilatterinR
evidence Is tho trade which comes from
the country since the Inauguration of good
roads. But few years ago the country
/ ny the bay was regarded as suitable for
nothing but tho growing Of cattle. What
transformation! Fruit orchards have
peen set out. the products OF which are
SOFA IN Houston and from the sales OF
winch necessities are purchased. In addi-
ton to raising fruits. vegetables and corn.
IL Is estimated that around deem water
and In the territory embraced between rho
International and Great Northern rail-
roaa ana Buffalo bayou there will be fully
oooo bales OF cotton raised this year. Other
portions OF the country are also rania,v
ming up aud soon Houston viii enjoy
tho distinction OF being q great mann
featuring city. backed up BY a wealth
producing rural population, the maipstsys
OF all communities.
The resumption Of public works by tho
city will give employment IN INA ,,,