The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-07
The TEXAS RICE PALACE
AN EFFORT TO BE MADE TO ERECT
ONE IN THIS CITY.
1t viii Be Done fer the Purpose of
Advertising This State as a Rice
Growing Section.

Mr.. James a. Radford Is a recent add.
ton to This city from the State Of Ken.
lucky lie is who1t raiser in the Blue
Grass country and naturally takes an in
terest IN all kinds of farming. About
eighteen months ago he visited this sec
tion and at once took note Of the possibi-
ties here for rice cultivation. He was so
thoroughly impressed with the situation
hat he returned hlther about twelve
months ago and invested in several thou
sand ceres Of rice land. He recognizes the
fact that 1t was an accident that he be-
came Interested here. When he first visited
Texas he was not on d prospecting totir.
but. like every live man. he always has an
eye crcn to business A lursury examina-
tIon convinced him that the possibilities
here were infinitely greater than they are
toward the East and he determined TO take
[. advantage of the opportunity that present
ed Itself. This accounts for the fact that
he Is landed proprietor in our midst
He, in company with two or three other
gentlemen, purchased among o.hor lands
lto0 acres In Harris county and opened
what is known as the Bear Lake Rice seed
farm Ii is Irrigated nom Bear craek
tlibu;ory Of the san Jaclnto river. Tho,
keep complete diary of all their work,
and can tell to an hour how long seed has
been In the ground, how old the plants are
ana hcN long II takes each variety To ma
lure. 1hey secure seed from every piIL uf
/ me world, and they are i'm constant COM
munication with the agricultural depart
/ lnrht OF the United states guycrum mt. aud
ale IN frequent receipt OF rice seed from
W ashiigton for experimental purposes.
After twelve months residence here Mr.
Radtord Is confident that the hall has not
is
that We need great deal more advertising.
/ BE knows that his location In our midst
Was pure accident ana that he would
nave beCn here years ago II lie had known
;H much then rs he does now. He believes
there are thousands OF people In the North
ara " est who are in the same condition
thUt he was. They are not particularly
I To- king for change; they are making Il
living where they are; are able to pay for
all they want; still If they knew of the on
portunlties awaiting capital and energy
here he believes they would do Ike he did,
come here, and come nj once
Taking this view Of the situation, he has
I devoted considerable time aud thought 10 a
scheme that would set forth our advQn-
tages in those localities above mentioned
ia Il nHnHer that would attract attention.
He finally came to the conclusion that Il
festival, fair or entertainment with gen
ulne rice palace as the OBJECT 70 Whl'h
everything else should be subsidiary was
tho proper thing ana he approached the
prominent railroad onicialS Of the Stat'
ter lie sets forth In elaborate language
his ideas and they all looked favorably, In
. fact, enthusiastically on the subject anu
! promised to do everything that was ncccS-
sary in the way Of rates and advertising
/ the rice palace in the West, East ana
! North, Having such assurances, he took
I the matter mp with the people OF Houston
and Tie manner in which his suggestion
! has been received makes it certain that a
grand entertainment, to be known as tine
! Rice palace, will he sure TO occur here dur
: ing the fall Of this year
He has approached the onlcl0ls or an
! the commercial organizations ANA they gave
| II their unqualified Endorsement III com
! pany with Mr.. f \. Gray, secretary %
/ the Manufacturers association, he has cali
| ed on bankers, lawyers, real estate men
/ merchants and public officials and they
/ have without exception hailed the sugges-
! tion with delight. Having discussed the
scheme with a sufficient number OF our
I people 10 know that the matter can be car
rcd to a successful issue, he apnroacnea
a Post reporter for the purpose OF laying
/ the matter before the public.
To use homey term, Mr.. Radford mas
! no axe 10 grind. He simply wants 10 bcnc-
! tit the section In which he has cast Ms lot
! and at the same time let me people 'i L, ,us
older sections Of the country know WAT
! awaits well directed energy In Texas. F9f
| this reason he suggests and In TINS ne IS
! indorscd by Mr.. Gray, that a mass meet.
| ing of the people of Houston he held NJ au
early date for the purpose OF giving inc
| matter definite shape and form lie VIII
! attend that meeting and give those preseht
/ his idea Of the proposed unique nialT.
| Horston Is the center Of the rice belt. II
: is a large territory and its poSslnl ltles lre
} unlimited, vet the people OF me sec ~,
I even from which he came do not Know I'M
! rice T. raised in Texas To impress lAe
| fact upon all Americans be wants 10 Itf
organized the Texas Rice Palace assoclh
! tcn; that said association give an GU
J tninmCnt as above nutlined; TINT hn,lul ~
/ literally covered with rico in all condltl ons
J and stahcs be erected. and that cVers