The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-20

of a friend ia response to his request for
It suggestion as TO what he should tax
about. which was to talk about a minute.
he explained the objects of the T. Z. 4"
Nnat II had done ana were doing as an or
gani2ation, and then what they were doing
as individuals incidentally he mentioned
the vast deal Of advertising Victoria was
receiving at their bands as a result of the
magnificent entertainment given the con
venton held in this city ia 1895. Victoria
set the pace and since then at evEl con
Venuon when the selection Of O place for
the next meeting came up the promise held
tortn has been, We can not treat you as
well as Victoria did, but We viii come as
near IL as We can" Every I. 7 A talks
about Victoria wherever he goes and the
value of these good words can nor be ex-
pressed In dollars and cents. He express
ed the belief that the prosperity OF both
organizations depended upon be prosperity
OF the agricultural classes anF a.gcd a con-
slant campaign for diversidcation.
hon. b; w. Fly, county judge Of Victoria
county, followed responding 10 RE toast
Our County Roads and Wat Would he
the Benett of a County Convict Farm.
lie disposed of the latter portion OF his
toast first by questioning its feasibility o.
profit He considered the road question
the biggest problem the commissioners had
TO face. Little interest had been taken
IN the matter generally until within tne
last i've years. North Texas led the move
ment. which has gained strength from agi.
tation and experience, He considered gravel
roads the best for this section, bur the cost
distance from available gravel IN reassi,
The ordinary dirt road In this county re.
quires the moving OF about 200 cuulc
yards of dirt at a cost Of 6i2 cents per
cubic yard, or $50 per mile, but snch
roads require constant attention or they
soon disappear Victoria has twenty miles
Of gravel roads more than any county IN
this part OF the State and has expended
about $4,000. including what is set aside
Tor contracts now progressing the present
commissioners court has shown ABILITY;
zeal and prudence IN disposng OF this tund
TO the very best advantage.
Judge Fly concluded his address WIN
the following extract, the report OF the m
duStrlal commission, which appeared IN
recent editorial In The Post
The average haul Of the American far
mer In getting his produce to market or
10 the nearest shipping station Is Twelve
miles. The average cost per ton lor hauVI,
ing over the common country roads Is -
cents per ton per mile, or SO per ton Tot
a twelve mile haul. The total OF tons maui,
ed is carefully estimated to be 3OJvuUl!
per year. This makes the total yearly cost
OF getting the farmers produce to marker
or railroad S9O0,0O0,O00. The operating eS,
penses of all the railroads in the United
States for the year which ended June $780,
were SS1s, 100000.
This is certainly a powerful argument
for the good roads movement II Is Only
by such presentation, o: the hgsfes 81
the actual cost Of hauling 70 the farmers
that the Importance and economy anu ne-
cessity OF better roads can be realized.
Before introducing tue next suh9ttNf
Rice Culture in Victoria County ana US
Effect on Trade and Population, Mr SUE.
Ter traced the growth OF this industry from
its beginning on Bayou la Fourchr " lae
T0s. when he was a resident OF Louisiana
which industry gradually extended WesE
ward with the railroads AMI rn1lly mo
Texas and at last reaching victoria
county. .+
W. NJ. seellgson responded 10 the toasiL.
He cited the fact that the three essehtloi,11
requlred-land, water md money-Wert az ~"
here and in abundance; 100000 or me 20,
COO acres in Victoria county Is level pfall nc
snd adapted 10 rice either under Wen W.
river Irrigation: the Guadalupe, river nag
more water In II the year round tlah ~
other stream IN the State, ana tneIe -
more capital. idle at that, - me counsI
than anv other county In the state can
boast Of The benefits 70 follow to eV tas.
channel Of trade. every artisan, p,n,,v
sional man or laborer, were 100 opE .Trs
from the result elsewhere 70 Ie4't,r a.
enumeration. The question or preHisins ~ ~.
terest Is how to start the bail roiilnII, 20
believed that II could not be long 1slas ,
and that n home capital was tnlia ~ Us
lack Of knowledge on the part o. ~ . w
SCISSORS Of the practical side OF riGe s.vN-
ing. foreign capital would <ventuali}
the field and develop u. ,.,. mo
M. I. Potash, a native Of LOUISIANA "A0