The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-14
Local push and Entcrnr,,c.

N'SNN't's isAdS, august W. -FOUR e1i-
torial in The Post of the ith instant. undo,
the heading, Alabama and Texas" Is
timely and opportune. and contains foo,
for much reflection on tho part OF tn,
people of Texas.
The editorial refers to large land sale,
in Alabama at a handsome price, and tn,
intention of the purchaser to establish
mills, manufacturing plants and quar-
ries' without delay. You then compare
the two States, and, concluding that Texas
respects, you add:
why are not big transactions being
recorded here? Just now pig iron Is In
greater demand than ever hetore--some
mills even fearing shortness In the
supply that will be disastrous to them.
In East Texas there is a field for invest
ment unsurpassed in timber and iron
lands.
What's the matter with Texas?
Chiefly want of local push and enter
prise.
I'm Georgia. in Alabama and the Caro-
linas the citizens have been hustling
They have gone into the money centers
or to capitalists and taken inspectors and
prospectors with them and shown them
what superior advantages they had. They
have, in the case OF mills aud factory en-
terprise, taken large amounts of the stock.
They have put up local money and have
worked for what they got--and got it,"
1t will hardly be doubted that you have
sized up the situation correctly, and that
what Texas lacks, principally. is local
push and enterprise and the putting up
of local money" Push. enterprise and
money are almost invinciblc, If properly
used in the matter of material and in-
dustrial Development or in anything else.
for that matter, but II is equally important
and essential that each Of these elements
should be local as we'll as foreign,
~
Much has been said of late years about
inducements to foreign capital" to come
to Texas and build up our waste places
and establish cotton factories, iron Turn
aces and other industries, but very little
push and enterprise" and, especially OF
local money" The latter is timd and
cowardly. Its possessors are afraid to
invest It, How can foreign capital" be
expected TO seeks fields of investment in
Texas SO long as local money" is back
ward and afraid" to engage in these en-
terprises? This very fear shows lack of
confidence In the probable results and yet
we talk glibly and encouragngly about
what foreign capital can do and have
the temerity to ask 1t to do what we say,
by acts II not by words, we are afraid
TO undertake ourselves. Our very conduct
is sufficient to belle the sincerity of our
professions. Alabama has passed this
money" into all sorts of enterprises,
whereby foreign capital" is led to be-
lieve the people of Alabama mean bust
ness" and have confidence In the results
Of these undertakings, and thus seeing
the good faith and sincerity OF the Ala
bama people, does not hesitate TO supple
ment the local push and enterprise" and
the local money" in the effort at iu-
dustria development.
Perhaps 1t Is not too much to say that
enough local money" is lying idle in al
most any town of 5000 inhabitants to put
into operation one or more OF these in
dustrial agencies, which could be made
profitable and furnish employment to hun
dreds OF people who are out of work and
would be glad to get such work to do, TO
say nothing of the market for the various
kinds of produce which would be opened
up thereby Take my own town for an
Crockett has about 1000 popu-
lation and this is increasing rapidly. 1t
needs canning factory, water works, a
cotton factory and various other enter
prises that could be made profitable. In
all probability there Is sufficient local
money" here now non productive, 10
establish these enterprises. But this
local capital is timd and afraid" II
prefers to stay in its hiding place" and
rust, rather than be Invested in these
things. The Alabama people have OUT
grown this timidity and Texas people will
have 1t to do II they ever expect TO utilize
their vast natural advantages and become
a manufacturing and Industrial, as well
as an agricultural people,
That these investments will pay, there
can be little room for doubt. My own
town furnishes an illustration on this point
also. few years ago some enterprlsing
of Crockett organized a cotton
seed oil company and put up an oil mill.
Dreful results were predicted of this en-
erprise by some of the "timid" crowd,
who had grave fears" as TO us success.
But the good work went on, For the first
lew years It hardly paid expenses. but
LulS Ulu nut hlstDui hkF 10 i''AiiNhN'0' 49,
for several years past according to reliable
authority, the enterprise has not only been
but handsome dividends
ire regularly declared besides furnish
ing a good market for the farmers cotton
seed. This has all been done by local
money" Besides this, Crockett now has
an Ice plant, electric ligh; plant. bottling
works and other enterprises. all largely,r.
I not entirely, owned and controlled by
foreign capital that is capital not
strictly local" And who will say that
he cotton oil mill experiment has not mad
much to do with the establishment or
hese other industries?
And so it is, With local money 10
open the way and "show its faith by It's
works." 1t is not difficult to induce for
Ign" money u engage in such enterprises
md Crockett is only used as an illustra-
ion OF the effect of both the timidity OF
local money and the consequences OF lts
Investment, and not In dlsparaglng sense
/ all. Doubtless numerous other towns
an furnish object-lessons equally as strik-
ng. "a little leayen leayeneth the wnole
ump," and with local money proiitably
Used, foreign money will come TO its AID 4
1t is not my purpose 10 decry the I'M
ortance OF securing, II we can, the invest
nent OF foreign capital here. mean
My to join The Post in it's declarations as
0 the influence and power OF local pnsn;
nj and nancy And Ii Is hoped