The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-11-12

that just as the country that Is trlbu-
tary to Houston develops Houston will |
grow In population and wealth. III TINS
be true, we should have the assistance
and co operation Of the business men
and property owners of Houston to help
uR solve the land question. market ques'
ton. and drainage question for the coast
country Of Texas. The farmers and lsnd
owners OF the Texas coast country can
do much for the city of Houston, and It's
citizens, by using their influence. can 40
much for the settlement and development
OF the coast country
We have an illustration of what q
good market for the products OF the SOIL
can do to build up towns by taking a
look along the line OF the southern IA
cinc road in Southwestern Louisiana
There are prosperous towns now in that
part of Louisiana where a few years ago
there was nothing to speak OF more than
a station and section house. This changeI
has been brought about by the tillers OF
the soil being paid fair prices for their
products. We also have an Illustration
of what the want OF a market means by
calling to mind the experience of the to-
bacco growers In Southeast Texas. We
can go today through Montgomery coun-
ty, Texas, and see tobacco barns that
cost from 800 TO $500 lying idle without
pound OF tobacco in them, and these
barns are surrounded by cotton and corn
fields with no tobacco in sight to speak
of. Had there been an effort made on the
part OF the business men and land own
ers tc secure a market for the tobacco
grown in this and other counties, the to-
bacco industry Of Texas would have
added much to the business OF Houston
and other towns. The same can be said
Of the fruit and vegetable business In
many places disappointment and de-
spair have taken the place OF hope, with
those who some years ago had great
hopes of that line of farming doing much
Tor our State. all for want OF a market.
In conclusion, l want to have 1t under
stood that the company ] represent does
not ask nor expect the large land own
ers of South Texas or any portion of the
State to do what is not TO their interest,
but at the same time we want the people
along our line and tributary to same to
know the facts in the case, and not have
the farmers that we now have and the
business men in the towns and cities ex-
pecting MS to bring in new settlers into
the country when 1t Is not in our power
to do so; or to have us charged with not
taking more interest in the immigration
work. 1t Is useless to advertise and work
for immigration unless land is placed on
the market as 1t should be. If two
thirds OF the vacant lands in the Texas
coast country were placed on the market
at reasonable prices, and the railroads
succeeded in settling same with good
: people. the remaining third would Their
he worth fully as much or more than al
the land is today and the city of Hous'
a ton and the different towns along the diff.
: fereut lines in the state would at leas
: have double the population and wealth
What have said on this subject Is no
intended in the way OF criticism but fol
! the benefit of future work and the further
q settlement and development of the va
; cant lands in this and other portions o
u Texas.