El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-14
Abilene. TEX.
Republican Convention Well At
tended-protectio And Ex-
pansion the Corner Stone OF the
party-The Epileptic Colony
The Experiment Station.
snecial Correspondence of the HERALD.


Special Correspondence of the HERALD.
ABILENE, Tex. Feb. 11.-Ye sterday
the county convention of the repuo-
licans, recently called by j. G. Low
don, county chairman, met in the city
hall in this place. 1t was the largest
ind most enthusiastic meeting OF
republicans ever held in the county.
J. G. Lowdon was elected permanen
chairman, and John T. WOOdson
secretary. Several Interesting ad-
dresses were delivered, and resolu-
tions were adopted reaffirming faith In
the principles of the republican party
endorsing the administration OF Pres
ident Mckinley, and declaring the
chief corner stone of republican fslth
and policy to be protection and expan-
sion. The following delegates were
elected to attend the state convention:
J. G. Lowdon, T. S. Rollins, w. ii.
Flesher, J . II. DOMAIN, P. T. Hurt and
John Russell. The delegates to the
congressional convention which Is to
meet at Vernon for the 18th district
are: j. T. Woodson, Isaac Taylor,
Sam Hammer, D. A. Odds. N. w.
Gorsuch and j. G. Lowdon. The dele
gates to the congressional convention
J. 6. Lowdon as a delegate to the
national republican convention from
this district.
The deeds to the two acres OF ground
to be used IS gravel pit for the
branch asylum, known as the epfleptlc
colony, to be built here have at last
been received by the city and the land
conveyed by the CITY to the state:
The city has now met every demand
imposed OF it by the legislature which
passed the bill, and by the com mission
select
the site. The requirements included
$40 acres of agricultural land, two
acres for gravel pit, water privileges
and very low rates for same, rights OF
way for laying pipes for water, and Tor
sewerage purposes, and for haul1ng
material. All this has cost the people
of Abilene good sum OF money. The
bill providing for the erection OF the
asylum provided that an asylum should
| be built that would accommodate SOC
patients and not to cost exceeding
| 100000 Since the passage of the act
all material for building such a struc
ture has advanced in price 30 to 100 per
cent. The governor now claims thai
| it will be impossible to erect build
| ing of size sufficient to accommodate 5Ol
patlents for 500, 900, and that there
| fore his hands are tied, and that the
mum Der of patients must be cut down
| present session of the legislature is e4
pected to straighten out the muddle,
and work will then begin.
Col. II. L. Bentley, special agent In
charge of the government grass ex-
pertinent station here has lately made
his report to the Departments of sRr1-
culture which is very interesting. The
station for the past year has been a
success, so much SO that the govern
ment has doubled the appropriation
for the coming year for this station.
The experiment. for retaining the
ranges, where eaten out and destroyed
by over stocking, have proved to be
more satisfactory than was thought to
be possible. Among the foreign
grasses and forage plants introduced ia
the "Oasis" alfalfa which was found
growing on the high plains of India
without irrigation. The agriculture al
department secured one pint of seed
of this alfalfa, and sent it there for
trial. 1t was grown lsstseason without
irrigation and promises to be sue
cess. The plots of it at the station
are now as green as wheat 6eld not.
outstanding the frosts and freezes.