The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-10
RAILROAD news.
Santa Fe VIII Aid Employees in
Buying Farm Lands.
General Manager OF Gulf Lines
Issues a Circular.
OWTDT TNWNks IN Az
OUTLINES A PLAN.
Tells Where Land Is Cheap and
Also Prod uctive.
Gossip and Matters Of Interest
In Railroad Circles.

To make its employees better citizens.
landowners and taxpayers is the lauda-
BILE object of a move begun by the
Santa Fe railroad in Texas.
A circular has been issued by w. c.
Fe gulf lines outlining a plan whereby
the railway proposes to lend encour-
agement and also proposes to cooper
ate with the employees of the road who
desire to buy farm lands.
The rice and the cotton industries
are well known in Texas, but it is now
stated that tobacco does well in that
state, and under the climatic condi-
| lions which exist there 1t is said that as
good q product is grown as is raised in
Cuba.
The industry is in its infancy and it
is believed to be rapidly developing.
The tobacco industry has received quite
an impetus in San Augustine county in
the eastern part of Texas
The Santa Fe announces that there
is considerable land which is available
branch of the road through Brown
wood, Coleman, Runnels, and Tom Green
counties where farming Is carried on
successfully, and where wheat, oats,
cotton, corn or live stock is proftably
raised.
On the Beaumont division through
Montgomery, Liberty, Jasper, San Au-
gustine and Center counties, the land is
mostly cut-over land. That is the tim
Der has been cut off and the stumpS
remain. The Stumps are rapidly being
disposed of and the land is found to be
rich of soil and is said to be excep-
tionally productive.
In addition to the rice and cotton cul-
ture. farming of all kinds, the raising
of sugar cane and corn, etc, is carried
on most advantageouSly.
To AncOnra the 0rnnl0VeS to acquire
land while it is low priced the Santa
F'e management has outlined a plan
which it has submitted to the employees
Of the road. The railway company rea-
sons that If a man becomes a property
owner, it makes him a better citizen,
more stable and substantial, and con-
sequently a better employe. While the
railroad reaps considerable benefit by
making the ranks of the workingmen
on the road a better class of men, the
road should be given credit for opening
the way for many men to provide for
themselves and their families against
misfortune and old age.
Land which may be bought in sec
lions of Texas which the circular men
tons is said to be rapidly increasing in
value and the purchaser is not only
securing a piece of property which may
prove to be a boon at some time, but
is also without doubt making a good
investment.
The circular is self-explanatory. It
follows:
''To Employees: In order to encour-
age thrift and assist employees to ac-
cumulate something as the result of
their earnings, the undersigned wishes
to recommend that employees purchase,
on time, of the present abundance OF
cheap farm lands in Texas, as much as
their earnings would justify their at
tempting to pay for. It will not be
much effort for the majority of you to
remember that farm lands along the
line Of this road have increased very
r-.or. fro Ir1e, ffrr1
has been a still greater increase in ten
years. and as the price is still very low,
it is reasonable to suppose that the in
crease will still continue; and perhaps
had they purchased land years ago,
they would have been successful in
paying for it and probably at this time
would have had a productive farm all
paid for bringing in revenue and as
surfing it's possessor of an income
should, for any reason, through i'll
health OF otherwise, his ability to earn
a salary fail The majority of our en-
them to save part, If they have the
proper incentive. The undersigned
knows of several cases where railroad
employees purchased land, paying only
a small portion down, and from their
monthly earnings saved enough to COM
plete the payment, and were not de-
priVed of anything really necessary on
this account. There are comparatively
a desire to accumulate something for a
rainy day, and, prompted by this de-
sire, many of them engage in unwise
speculations with disastrous results.
1.-THE possessor of farm land has a
sure investment, not as rapid as iSo-
lated cases of speculation, but much
surer. The amount of rich land along
our railroad makes it possible for each
and everyone of our employees to secure
within a year or two good land at a
very low figure, and the desire to bet
ter the condition of the employees of
this railroad is the motive the under
signed has in making this recommen-
dalton to you.
Should this proposal be taken adj
vantage of by any considerable num-
Der of employees, the company would
be put to some expense in caring for
the payments and making the neces-
sary collections, but it is willing to
incur this expense in order that il
may have a larger proportion of en-
loyes who have an interest in the
country AKA a smaller proportion of
'1Oaters. The company desires to
nave men in its employ who prefer
permanent employment to men who
arc Indifferent as to whether they
stay with this company or seek other
employment. A maa acquainted with
our service and who feels it to his
interest to remain in it, is more val
liable than new man who is indif-
ferent to his position. and a man nav
ing an incentive to retain his posi-