The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-19
Century OF Transmississippi De-
Nc1opment.

Century OF Transmississippi De-
Nc1opmcnt.
| Mr.. Troutman said in part; That
in 1896 Texas coded territory over which
it assorted dominion to the United States
for slO,0Oo.oO0. In 1890 the COWS OF tho
State OF Texas gave milk enough at 10
cents a gallon TO pay that purchase price
and leave 81. 100000 for pin money"
| In 1903 Thomas Jefferson paid Napoleon
Bonaparte si5,000,O0O for Louisiana. Tho
hens that cackle around the plenteous
barns of the Louisiana purchase" lay
eggs enough every year 10 more than re-
imburss the United States for It's orig
inal investment.
The aggregate foreign trade of the
Transmisslssippi country for seven years
has been; Exports, gulf ports, sl,15S, 900, =
900; Pacific ports. s3i7 900, 600; total,
$1505 600 600. Imports, gulf ports, sl65,r
100000; Pacific ports, s327O0o,0OO; totiJ,
s492, 000, 900.
Only small portion OF what was pro-
duced, however, reached the markets of
the world through the Pacific and gulf
ports; millions OF the products and com
modities went down to the Atlantic and
crossed the waters from Eastern ports.
Tho farmers OF the West had in their
bins March /. 1900, s237, 900, 900 OF wheat,
corn and oats.
The superficial observer contemplates
the future congestion OF future population
with gloom and despair, He says to
crowd people together in this country as
they are crowded in Europe would be TO
diyest life of its compensation. and yet
some of our Atlantic States have already
reached that period. Massachusetts, tho
ideal commonwealth, has an average pop
ulation 27S to the square mlle-nlncty-
eight more than France and sXty-two
more than Germany. Duplicate the Mas
sachusetts population of 27S per square
mile In Texas and you would have IA
100000 people. The same density would
give the Thsnsmlssissippi country $751;
100000, or more than seven times tho
present population OF the United StI>es.
Pessimlstic students distrust the pro-
ductlve power OF the West to take c.re
of the multiplied millions of the fnt-~.
The possibilities OF Western production
have not yet been approached Only a
1.-THE Of tho arabic lands are now In cul-
tivatlon, II every acre OF land west OF
the Mississippi was cultivated TO its full
capacity we could raise food products
enough to supply the world.
1.-THE West is rich In every element OF
successful life. occupying the happy mo-
dunn, equally removed from great In
diyIdual wealth aud extreme poverty. Our
aggregate possessions are great. but they
are more equitably distributed than in
any other portion of the world In the
race for civil distinction every man has q
fair start with his rival.
"Our religion is varied and our politics
checkered We sometimes pray with the
pious and drink with the dry We have
prohibitionists TO close the breweries aud
ants enough to drink all of their beer,
Republicans enough to vindicate prot'ks'ors
and democrats enough TO exempllfy free
trade; populists enough to sustain free sill
yer and gold standard men enough to pre-
vent the debasement OF the currency;
schools enough TO Danish ignorance and
churches enough to extirpate vice; saints
enough for the blessings OF the Almighty
and sinners enough for the smiles OF the
devil: people enough TO found sn empire
and patriots enough to support the God
dess Of Liberty in her triumphal march
around the world"
Chairman Moses OF the executive COM
mittee announced that in the morning the
meeting was 10 be held at Turner hall
at $3.50 O'Clock.
That the executive committee would
meet at p. m. at the Capitol hotel.
report was made from the committee
on resolutions that they would be ready
to report at the forenoon session today
(Thnrsday) and that they could now fore
cast that their report would be favorable
to the following topics;
!. On development OF consular service.
2. Relating TO the admission OF the ex-
isting Territories as states.
3. Relating TO pure food.
e. Favorlng the establishment OF the
National department OF mines and MIN
ing.
>. Favoring the establishment OF de-
partment OF commerce and industry.
Needs of Irrigation.
Mr. Elwood Mead OF the United Slater
department OF agriculture, delivered an
address upon the needs Of irrigation, OF
which the following is a synopsis;
The arid region embraces an area larg-
er than any European country save Rus
STA. and is capable Of supporting a larger
population than new lives east Of the Mis-
sissippi river. IN this vast district, when
reclaimed. homes may he made for a popu-
lation of 100000 600 souls. To effect this
result is a task inferior 20 no other In
tho realm OF statesmsnship or social eco
nomics. Its public lands comprise the