The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-16

III.
They are two broom factories in Hous-
ton, and they are doing big business.
They get oil the broom corn they want
right here in South Texas. These two
factories have done a little to promote
crop diversilcat!on. They have been pro-
6table plants for the owners, have kept
great deal of money In Texas. and have
helped to advertise Houston. am tols
that several Houston jobbers handle no
other make OF brooms. Such working to-
sether as that is bound to make any enter
prise a success. 1t is the right sort OF
commercial spirit. In fact, 1t is patriotism
"a home spirit that is most commendable.
~
No one can truly say that Houston job
bers will not help push home made goods.
II the right men get hold OF an article,
and make 1t one that can compete with
an outside product. the Houston whole
salers will put 1T before their customers.
There are two soap factories that do a
bio business here, although 1t is not one
half OF what they would do If their goods
were properly advertised. These factories
are meeting with success from FINANCIAL
standpoint, however, and their soap is
sold by Houston jobbers in carload lots.
There is little or no -four sold in Texas
except the home made product. The peo-
ple have been educated to believe that the
Texas soft wheat -four Is equal or superior
to any other, and as a result there are
large number of flour mills in the State.
North Texas is especially well supplied,
and some of these mills are netting their
owners big dividends Furthermore the
cultivation of wheat has been encouraged,
and Texas Is rapidly increasing her crop
OF this grain.
The farmers have profted by this indus
trial expansion They have needed very
little urging to SOW wheat where they
were sure of market for their crop. 1t
has not taken platitudinous essays upon
crop diversiication to convince them that
wheat at anywhere from 90 cents to 81
per bushel was far more profitable than
cotton at 5 cents per pound. All that was
necessary to make them plant wheat was
the erection of few mills here aud there
in the State.
The men with money have developed
the industry and the farmers have been
quick to secure the benefit. If no -four
mills had been erected in Texas the whole
State would still be buying -four from
Kansas, Missouri and Minnesota. The
Texas farmers didn't raise wheat when
that state of affairs existed, as was the |
cultivate the grain to send to Kansas and |
Nebraska. They waited for a home mar
ket, and then began their crop diversified |
ton.
Houston merchants sell Texas rice, but |
the business in the home product is not
one tenth what it should be. Why is that
the case? Simply because there are only
two rice mills in the State, and these can
not supply one-twentieth of the rice con-
sumed in Texas. That industry has not
been developed to anv extent whatever in
this State, and as natural result, COM
paratively little rice is grown in the coast
When South Texas cities and
owns begin to erect large rice mills you
will see rice farming taking the place of
cotton in many counties.
Create market for the Texas farmer.
md he will give you the crop desired AS
ong as there Is no demand for diversity
II products he will stick to his one crop.
1t is the duty of business men-the man
n tue cities-to set in motion the wheels
" industry. You certainly can not ex-
'ect farmers, many of whom have nothing
tut their farms, and many others not even
hat, to establish industries that increase
he demand for agricultural products and
make diversified crops necessity.
~
The first work to redeem Texas from
he cotton slavery that so many verbose
writer's constantly deplore, must be done
" the men with money to invest-the
nen who can promote industries and build
actories When Texas les begin their
expansion then you will see the
rue agricultural development of this State
The resources of Texas will never be
ested until the building of factories is
daily occurrence. When that is done
nc avenues of work will be ENLARGED and
increased and consuming class will he /
hand to purchase everything raised nv
he producer.
"hen that is done the newspaper farm
rs can well utilize their spare moments
writing essays and printing interviews
the joys of crop diversifcation. But
,en they Will be merely recording what
III be seen on every side in Texas. The
'says VIII no longer be stale ideas upon
lie agricultural necessities of the dav
~ VIII be glowing records of actual con-
tions.