The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-17
TW ELVE PAGES.
FILLING UP THE WEST.

A dispatch from Chicago in yesterdays
Post told us that the management Of the
railways using Chicago as their gateway
to the West have decided to put forth re-
newed and extraordinary effort soon TO
further people and develop the great re-
gion OF the West between the Rockies and
Chicago.
1t has been the good fortune OF that part
of the country referred to that the rail-
roads for years past have been turning
the tide Of home seekers toward 1t rather
than to the Southwest. That the influence
of Chicago, OF Milwaukee, 81. Paul and
Minneapolis has had much to do in shap-
ing this action OF the roads, is certainly
true The region mentioned has been re-
garded as naturally tributary to the cities
named and its upbuilding. of course, has
meant TO them added trade, No fault can
be found with the railway companies, for
they have only consulted their own best
business interests. The point, however,
of special question to US is why this flow
of immigration has set SO steadily in that
direction instead of southwark? Is 1t pos
sible that for this we must blame both
ourselves as well as the North and South
lines branching from the great gate
waysf
Are we, as was asked the other day In
the columns OF Tho Post. not getting suf-
ficiently in touch as separate communities
with the management Of the various rail-
way lines which cross Texas2 Are not the
officials Of the roads and the citizens OF
the communities that are DESTROYS of new
population and added capital, standing in
their own light in failing SO long TO get
together" and take up the question sug-
gested and solve 1t In a practical way
Why are the Western roads more solicit
tous apparently to build up the
Northwest than the Texas roads
with Eastern connections, TO build
up Texas? The same business con-
siderations involved would seem 10 dictate
the same public spirit by and along one
line as another. What's the trouble In
our case2-for unquestionably the North
western roeds are the more active and thI
more useful, in the direction suggested
TO the section they penetrate.
~ AiuSe pr al iHrAPiitaDiS
simply In this part OF the country that
is responsible for this lack OF organized
effort between the public and the roads L
secure immigration on a large scale. Tht
large land owners may be, too, holdins
their lands at higher prices than SHOULD
prevail, as has also been suggested by
The Post. But whatever the obstacles
they should be removed and our bushes
leagues and real estate associations SHOULD
at once address themselves to the solu
ton OF the problem.
The Chicago dispatch before referre
TO declares that fully 100000 new peop
will be put by the roads out OF Chicago
in the Northwest within tho next lively
or eighteen months; that IFS new towns
or those which have within that time re
ceiyed several hundred new citizens, vii
show ON the map. This is a big under
taking by the railway companies and vii
be worth, of course. many millions OF dol
lars TO the territory affected. While we ar
going in for industrial development an
diversiacation OF crops in Texas let us nc
overlook this important matter OF immi
grafton