The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16
THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY.


tention to the evidences OF an Industrial
revival In the South, regrets that Louis
lana and Its chief city are not apparently
sharing In this new development. The
States thinks that every pound of cot
ton that is produced In Louisiana, Mis-
sissppi, Texas and Arkansas ought in the
nature Of things to be wrought In fabrics
in New Orleans"
or course, the citizens OF Texas, as well
as Of Arkansas and Mississippi, will hard.
ly assent to this latter proposition. For
ourselves we deny that New Orleans Ia
the center Of all these vast and rich cotton
growing regions" The city of Houston is
the most natural concentration point for
Texas cotton and our advantages as
manufacturing center certainly as great as
those of the Crescent City
But the chief point OF interest in the
States editorial is its comment on thu
causes of this apathy in the premises in
! New Orleans, and its suggestion Of the
available means Tor improving the present
conditions, The States says.
/ There Is positively reason WHY all this
Industrial wealth should not be looat ID right
the lack OF capital, the other, the lack OF
enteTurise- Tbs nrst is really no reason
whatever, since there are hundreds oil md
Hons OF dollars lying idle In the Eastern banks
eager for investment, at small interest--at an
interest so low. indeed. that the manufactures
OF cotton goods would easily pay It and leave
large residue OF clear profit. Tho second
reason Is greatly to tho discredit OF our NOR
chants and capitalists, who. II they are not
multi -millionalres. are vet OF such high
standing in tho commercial centors of the
, country that by combinations and some ef-
fort they can secure all the cAptal that il
necessary to establish almost unlimltable In.
, dustrial or mercantile enterprise Were half
the enterprise that is exhibited in getting up a
Mnrdi GrRs parade or in lnsututing a tempo
! Iary fair, to BIO made. IN few days eapital 70
, build dozen cotton factories In New Or
leans could be raised. thereby adding largely
, TO our Industrial population. our trade and
our wealth.
This reasoning will apply with equal
force In this immediate locality There Ia
an abundance OF idle money in the East
and elsewhere and there is sufficiently
good credit in Houston to obtain some OF
it for Industrial establishments. Nor is
there lacking here goody spirit Cf en-
terprise. but the concluding sentences in
the clipping Just mado from the States in
dictate how possibly this enterprise is be-
ing frittered away on temporary expe-
dents to increase the trade and prestige
of the community.
The Post would not have Houston abate
its efforts to draw business here through
every kind of public exhibit or entertain
ment. hut rather would point to the value
OF these temporary affairs as an indica-
tion OF what we might expect from a per-
. manent increase OF our population and In
dustrial development. A dozen or so large
factories would bring us more people ant
y trade all the year round II our bust
: ness men and citizens generally are will
Ing to contribute literally to temporary
expedients. why can they not see the pro-
priety and assured prohtableness OF per-
Q manent espedients to increase local &C
7 tivities? Are not 5000 new bread winners
9 added to the population OF the city, worti
e three hundred and sixty-fvc times as
II much to local business in a year as sou
! visitors on San Jacinto Day
o Let us broaden our efforts to WOO pros
d perity--let US make some permanent in
vestments In behalf of the city as we &c
i along.