The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-06
IMPLEMENTS TO DEVELOPMENTS.


with timely emphasis the conditions in
Texas that have worked against immlgra-
ton. and incidentally submits another
practical reason why Texas is in need OF
a new constitution adapted to present de-
mands:
For many years thousands Of settlers have
been locating annually in the great North
west country, whore there is practically but
one crop 60 be raised. Texas, where nearly
anything that VIII grow In the United states
can be cultivated has not been receiving her
proportion OF immigration. The only way TO
get this immigration Is 10 go after II. Thero
is Just as much competition in the business
OF securing homeseekers as there is in any
branch Of trade. Texas, as n state. is handl-
capped by being unable under OUR present
constitution to keep up an active immigration
bureau. During the past few months the
railroads have shown disposition to advertise
tho state and try to get homeseekers' Tho
first complaint TO come from the railroads ~
that the land IN Texas 10 held In large bodies
by comparatively few individuals, ana that
they are holding their prices too high IN
comparison with government lands to be had
| IN the Northwest To person who wants to
soc the state built up and thickly settled 1t
would seem TO be good policy for these large
! landholderg to sell on third or onr-half OF
| their holdings at a very small profit over and
above what such holdingh cost them. il such
! 4 policy were generally adopted these large
/ landholders would receive ample returns on
! which would be created for their additional
! holdings. Say at present there is no demand
! for any g.. this land. Suppose ono-halt OF 1t
! Is sold at y low figure to actual settlers After
the tide OF immigration Is once started there
will be n large increase in the demand for
land and II will be only fair then TO ask an
increased price. The railroads ARE making an
effort to have the large landholders in Texas
look at the situation In this way.
True. the railroads are putting forth
both energy and ability in attractively ad-
vertising the resources OF the fertile acres
accessible to their lines. True 1t Is also,
MS presented by the News, that large land.
holders are demanding prices that Sc
riously checkmste the self preservation
efforts of the railroads to settle up and
develop vast sections of the State whier
are now practically unused. Take, fcI
illustration. the coast section. Truck
growers have demonstrated it's resource
, fulness and given TO the vegetable grow
; er. the horticulturist. the railroads ond L
, commerce suggestion of IT'S almost Ia
calculable wealth, when once its feri'l'
acres are put in cultivation. This demon
straton Is old enough to have been lol
lowed by extensive cultivation and to hav,
: tented families to our census roiis.
> large percentage q this territory can no
, BIO put in profitable cultivation except 81
, the expenditure OF mucn labor and money
: Much OF 1t must be drained. Ditcnes WI
accomplish this result for portion
Whore bitches will not do the WORK ella.
| filing win. All these represent an op.la.
5 in time and money which sorely tax III
resources of the settler, The thing process
costs from SIS to $40 per acre. These land
in many instances are held by tho larg
5 owners at speculative prlcss, and ali to
cause the truck grower has shown thei
power TO produce under favorabls ccndi
. tiors. These high prices defeat dev slop
: ment now and will continue to do So. l
addition TO the cost of preparing the Ian
for cultivation the truck farmer must ru
, the hazard of adverse seasons, destroyin
insects. etc, Experimental results how
ever satisfactory. can not stand agains
these agencies of defeat, The landowner
II he can not see that his exoybitant price
retard the development OF the country an
leave his land on his hands. should a
least be generous and thoughtful enoug
to share some OF the hazards of inauspi
cious seasons and fuetuating market
with the toller who is willing TO buy an
enhance the value OF his property. II tn
landowners persist in this short slghte
. policy no adequate results can folio
. from railroad advertising and shlppin
u facilities except to truck growers VIII
. have been already fortunate in securin
foothold.