The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-06

To the Editor Of The Post
Stokesdale. N c., December !. Perhaps
some of the readers of The Post will he
surprised TO know that it circulates in
the old North State BY reading 1t the
writer has learned much about Texas as
we'll as from people who live in Texas and
have been visiting and talking Texas
among the 'tarheels."
1t is evident that Texas far SURPRISES
North Carolina in richness OF its soil and
cheapness of lis lands; TO say nothing of
its grass and stock advantages North
Carolina is u grand OLD State. Its health
fulness, pure water, variety of valuable
tiIIbers and water power are the great
natural gifts found in Western North
Carolina. but DIS = farming country cur
lands are hilly, and sometimes rocky and
worst OF all, poor. The fact that our
guano bill for North Carolina the last
year reaches the enormous sum OF neafiy
IS. 900 0UU shows what a burden our farm
els are carrying during bad crop Yeas
and low prices of cotton. tobacco and
grain We can raise on our lands nearly
everything that is grown in the United
States: and it may be- mystery TO Texas
farmers TO know how man can. from
fifteen or twenty acres OF poor land soil
from two 10 four inches deep. produce
enough to supply family and -eep out
of debt. they do this, too. with the
Old fashioned scooter plow, us was used
fifty years ago. Our farmers Elow low
to combine economy and industry. But
our population is increasing rapidly. Up
lands sell from $40 to $40 per acre, and
the time Is nearing that a large number
OF cur people Will seek cheaper and richer
lands Texas needs those honest, hard
working men, and has the lands rIch
enough and cheap enoSgh. Dut here
comes the trouble. Our average farmer
knows but little of Texas. Its many adj
vantagIs are unknown TO him and be
imagines it is great wilderness, full Of
Indians. MeXicans, wild steers and six
shooters How are the facts aJout Texas
to reach the people? Texas must advertise
herself to the world. Let her newspapers
gSt w special editions and send them TO
North Carolina and other States by the
thousands. Let her railroad men, real
estate men, land companies and large
land owners who desire TO see settlers
come in get together and publish tho ircat
facts of TeXas-get Il few good men in
every State TO travel in every county,
scatter literature and talk-giye the PEG
pie facts about Texas. But as people are
cautious about believing everything on
laper, good plan would be 10 actually
give one sO1u lnlelliSeul farmer Aloil
every county a free home in Texas and
send him back once year TO work up an
interest and then secure low rate on
railroads for homeseekors once year. and
the result would be that in a year or so
q stream CT emigrants would rour in 10
Texas that she would be proud of. II our
farmers can make a living here on poor
land, put them down on the rich soil OF
Texas and they will raise their home sup
plies have some to sell and a bank ac-
cont
These are the conclusions OF the writer
at long range, who expects to lake Texas
his future home and feels .ntsres ed that
his "tarheel' brethren may better their
condition. for thousands Of our farmers
here can never expect to own a home or
educate their children in North Carolina,
but simply wear their life away on poor
lhnds.
: hope to be instrumental along this
line, and will gladly cooperate with any
who feel an interest In securing good
class Of farmers for Texas.
L. A. Southern.