The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-21

What 10 needed here first is 4 class Of
manufacturing plants that will utilize
some Of the products that can be and are
raised in Texas; Industries that will sup
ply the people of the State with home
made goods, instead of forcing them to
consume articles made in Maine or Mis-
souri,.
~
The benefits of such industries can
be easily estimated. First Is the de-
mand for the raw product If this is
Il will encourage crop diversihcation. and
insure u living for certain number Of
farmers. If 1t is a product already ex-
tensively cultivated 1t will increase the
demand therefor and in many instances
net the farmer better prices.
Then the factory itself will give en-
ployment to labor, and add to- the poula-
tion and buying capacity of the city.
Build twenty factories in Houston this
year and the city's poulation will be In
creased $4,000 to $4,000. The factories
themselves would employ 10000 to 10000
people, and these would open up other
avenues of employment for 10000 to 10000
more. There would be necessity for ad-
ditional mercantile establishments, aud
for many other institutions. all of which
would help circulate money and give en-
rloyment to labor. The building of now
houses would be necessary, and there
would be an increased demand in every
line of trade. The surrounding country
would be thickly settled with farmers
raising agricultural and horticultural
products to supply the wants of big
city.
| 1t is really difficult matter to esti-
mate the benefits that are derived from
such enterprises. One factory placed In
a city does more to help It's growth than
in thousand ways. 1t is like a ray of
| sunlight which may gladden. hearts and
warm dormant nature into life from one
end of the state to the other.
*%$
| Such industries as this need not be
| started by home capitalists from a phil
anthropic standpoint, however. The love
builder of a factory, and 1t doubtless will
| not. In this age men do not undertake
such enterprises unless they believe thnre
! is money in The investment, and surely
| there is less risk and an as
surance of greater profit in
factory established at Houston than in
any other line of business. The demand
/ A.
are here, and the labor is here. All
that is needed is men with money and
brains to set the wheels of industry in
| motion.
| There is everything here to make an
admirable manufacturing center, and in
the course of time Houston will be
| city of factories. But first home capital
lists should mako a few bold ventures.
Why should not our own citizens strive
, to get in on the ground floor, as it were.
! There is no need to wait for outside in
vcstors. Factories built with home capt.
| tai and managed by home men are GER
| tainly more desirable from many stand
! points than those promoted or owned by
| men living in New England.
| NULHlUS HAS Dppn OF VIII Dc uOuc III
Texas to keep out foreign capital, but
there should be a little more encourage
ment of homo investments; little more
reliance upon the men and the money
within easy reach.
When homo men put up factory all
tho profits in the business remain here
! and all the money is spent here. The div
idends are not shipped to the North and
East. but are put into our home banks,
or invested in other lines OF business.
Home industries promoted with home
capital by home men, which use home
products and employ home labor, are
badly needed In Houston. The future of
the city depends upon its industrial ex-
pansion. That future is assured, but we
may not see its beginning for several
years unless our own citizens take ad-
vantage of the opportunities that are now
waiting to be grasped.