The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-18
STOCK RAISING IN TEXAS,
LIEUT.. GOV. TESTERS SPEECH. ne.
LIVERED AT ABILENE
YESTERDAY
BEFORE THE BIG FAIR ASSOCIATION
He Shows the BENEFITS to Be Secured
From Applying Ones Self to
the Business of Stock
Raising.

sDIene, lex, Nov. 11-(SDecial) J. |
There were several prominent politicians
here today in attendance upon the
Fair and Roundup association meeting.
which was largely attended. Several
made excellent speeches, among the num-
Der being Lieutenant Governor Jester,
who is now running for governor. Dur
ing the course OF his remarks he said:
Not only easily first among the cot
ton reproducing countries of the world, but
also in the raising of cattle and stock,
there is no question that Texas stands
the foremost state in the
Union. Dependence, as in the past,
upon natural pasturage and the native
breed of cattle, has prevented our stock
raisers from realizing the full value of
this erea. industry or developing it into
that magnificent growth which it IS now
attaining. AS it is. however, the i'm
prorcment in stock raising in Texas, and
especially western Texas, during the
past ton years has been wonderful. This
improvement is largely due to the trans
formation of the Spanish cattle, today
thing of the past, into high grade cattle
of our best beef stock. The result Of
this interviewing has been not Only to
increase the value of the cattle OF the
state upon all her broad pastures. but
has produced steer which can he taken
by the feeder and increased in value from
S1O TO $50. The feeding industry has
already attained respectable, proportions
and is increasing largely each year. Inc
mutual benefits derived from 1t by the
stock raiser, the feeder and the agricul-
turist are easily seen. The process is
simple: The steer is allowed to- remain
upon the range until it has attained the
DroDer age for market; the feeder rur-
chases the steer direct from the range
and transports it to some agricultural
norton of the state to be fattened; me
farmer is furnished home market FOR
his grain and cotton seed produces ar a
price largely in excess of what would DC
received with transportation charges
added in case of shipment to .oreign mar
kets. The result is plain: me STOCK
raiser receives more Tor ms ca!t,e' .ne
| feeder makes profit and furnishes EN-
nioyment to many Industrious citizens,
and the farmer can raise crops which VIII
Weld gain instead of loss. In addition u
| his another, and probably more lmpor'
| tont. result will be attained. Ihe far-
mers will grow less cotton ana more
grain. crOps will be more diversified, the
cotton acreage reduced and farming maze
profitable. Perhaps there has never peen
n time in the history of our state When
the necessity for this movement cou'u pe
more forcibly impressed upon our peopis'
Cotton is bringing the lowest price, wi.ll
the exception of one year, than AZ al!
time within the past half century;
'Tbe small farmer can and should raise
and fotten few beef cattle i'll connec-
tion with his hogs each year, retaining
onnuob for his own consumption ano
6ndinp n ready market for the remainder.
pn;s;no cotton and buying supplies
which should be produced upon. the
farm can not and will not pay ana Is the
cause of the overprOduction ana low
mice of cotton. But the remedy Is at
hand. A greater variety OF prouuc,s
can be raised in Texas than any st.,c
in the Union. Diversity the crops, raise
less cotton. grow more gram, latt t nn,o;u
cattle. omen up a new field, put the gram
Which , can not he shipped with profit INTO
Soid beef which can, and the farmers
tbn feeders and the stock raisers allke
win receive mutual benefit and pront,
and the light of prosperity VIII again
;lmmine ali parts of our fair stare.
Another. and one of the most important
industries to which | desire to can your
nttention is the establishment OF pack
cries, Essential as they are to the pros
nerity of any stock raising country pal,
t;cularly is il go in our own state, NJ
reason. I may say no excuse EXISTS VIZ
Texas, the largest stock ralsins 49, ~
tbo Tinted States, should be forced, at
amo expense. to transport her cattle
and hogs thousands of miles to PACK,
rios When they might be esta Dlisheu
bere ot home. the great shipping cost CUT
Of thousands of mer receive enhpios
,,art and the price of cattle ana hoss
materially enhanced. With. deep water
an orr coast already secured ana larger
Jnvelopmpnts promised in that dlrec-
tion with cheap interior rates Suara.h,
teed by the railroad commission, WIZ,
low ocean freights. with the raw aup
NV at hand Texas packeries can eo tha
pete proftably in the markets Vi evan
aaast in the markets of Europe; even
t tr the markets of the world. Europe,
With her teeming millions, her vast
standing armies. her large nonproduc-
t;~e classes. must be fed. and TEXAS
IL in position now and should 40
large mart of the feeling. The crowded
oct in our own country must herlNe
their food supplies elsewhere. ANA we
cnn now enter upon equal terms WIN
tta great packeries of the west Tor thelr
trade. | am happy to say that 4 ,lio:.
nropitious beginning has Deeh iiiaue ~
his direction. but what we neeh is Is hioIe
nackeries and more fat cattle. lIe uu
rrantooes can not he UNDERSTANDINGS me
tnntts derived will be mutual; the
nroits will be distributed among our
Whole hole people. With ocean steamers et
loaded nI with Texas grain and Texas cat
tle prepared by Texas packerles. ieav-
ing from Texas ports, we will soon nave
al aood Of eastern and European money
nomr;nr into the state: Texas VIII pc
come the Mecca of most deslraDle
class of immigrants, our people Will be-
come happy. contented and prosperous,
e eod r,n viii the sooner attain that rank
t1'u which we are inevitably. destined
tbo empire state of the Union.
Indeed we should seek to utilize our
natural resources and raw material Oh
all kinds here at home. One o1 our
Greatest needs is more manufacturers
Wbv should we send our cotton TO east,
ern mills to be spun into cloth, our wool
70 foreign manufactures to he turned
into clothing, our wheat to distant t
states to be converted into Hour. buy
ing hack our own products in Inanufae-
t nT form. paying the freight both
ways. giving heavy percentage TO the
middle men and profit to. the manu-
r,',,,-o~s vhan with manufactures NJ
Itract with Ollr own