The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-28
Boundless Resources Of Texas,
and Especially the Region
About Austin, It's Beautiful
Capital, Appeal to Homeseekers.
LAND VALUES ARE LOW,
BUT CONSTANTLY RISING
How the City of Austin Has Quiet
" and Unostentatiously Been
Forging Ahead Without Any
Semblance Of Boom.
BY HERBERT vANpERHooF.

ing called to the rapid development Of
the South. and especially the great South
west, but it is very hard for most of us
to cut entirely free from our earlier ac-
customed Ideas Of the various cities or
states and fully realize the meaning Of |
all the various changes which are taking |
place, the new industries which are being |
established, and the new regions which |
are being settled and are taking their
places among the working forces Of the |
nation. Some Of the results Of this great |
progress have already become plainly |
perceptible in the North by affecting our |
markets or our industries, but this is |
only the beginning, and the next decade
will probably see marvellous changes.
1t Is impossible, for instance, that such
great state as Texas can develop its
vast resources without its influence being
felt all through the United States Within
its boundaries are to be found great min
eral wealth, an apparently limitless sup
ply OF OIL vast timber regions, soil of
such varied nature that grain. cotton,
fruits, and vegetables of all descriptions
can be raised with truly amazing sue
cess, and numberless acres Of pasture
land especially adapted to the raising of
sources at her command and her ener-
getic. progressive citizens whose number
is being daily increased by the tide of
immigration which is constantly flowing
into the state, Texas must Of necessity
become mighty force In the financial and
industrial progress Of the nation, and
the day Of her glory is not far distant.
Railroads are penetrating all portions of
if,e ,nyry% $NS,,y fD.,
settlement and Increasing the facilities
for marketing the produce. Last year the
annual report Of the railroad commission
embracing LIZA miles of track. Since
this year opened another thousand miles
Of track has been either built or con-
agd the SIX
SO it will not be very long before this
great state will be covered with as close
tiers In the North and East.
Austin Worthy OF Pride.
Austin, the capital of the state, is city
which any state In the Union would be
Ing steadily, though. perhaps with less
ostentation and hustle than many other
Of the vigorous cities about it. It IS ad-
Of central Texas. where the country Is
rich and fertile, and the city itself is
beautiful, with it's magnificent capital and
cared for streets, and excellent street car
service. The residential sections are ex-
ceedingly attractive. In the neighborhood
where the wealthy citizens make their
SUI the aeisried s the eH 1ns to Of nnaited
income can also ind an artistic. com,
estate throughout the city has increased
rapidly in value during the last few years,
and there Is no reason why it should not
continue to do SO during many years to
investor need not fear that he Is making
q mistake when he buys city lots in
Fl 1850 Sg the t dty f haa had S Of
months old that number had increased
to 24,14 and the latest reports show that
Few cities not suffering from an artificial
boom could show a. better record than
stately Austin quietly presents to- the
Of the city reached the $40 0oo, 900 mark.
an increase Of about 100000 in two
years. That is stronger proof of the value
tistics cuiled from local real estate agep-
cies could possibly, be, when one is look
ing for chance to invest. money safely
Even e the land outside the city limits has
felt the general rise In value Large
manufacturing plants Of various kinds
have been established near the city and
Of the laboring classes into those locali
ties. so land that a few years ago was
used for small farming or pasturage has
g. A Wealth Of Material.
Building. materials Of the most substan-
tial varieties lie close at hand, for Travis
and Burnet counties are rich In IT their de-
wtli readily take the highest polish. The
marble has been discovered in white,
~ ov,A
the man who purchases land in these To-
calities and works his quarries as some
the n future us, holds the richest rewards.
Other regions Of Travis county are yalu-
able for the large quantities OF cement
to be found. and this same county ga, can
kilns. with outputs Of several hundreds
of barrels daily, and also of large
amount Of excellent guano, which is used
for fertilizing.
| Counties Of Great Crops.
The counties Of central Texas, north
and northeast Of Austin are noted for
soil is rich black loan. a black waxy,
generally, on the upland prairies and on
the tmbsrsd uRiands 1t is gray 81 Or 6laGk
vate. Along the rivers, especially the
Brazos bottoms. It is rich red-brown
alluvial, which yields excellent crops
l Cotton Is the principal pTOOuCt, anu tHS
yield is most abundant but corn. wheat,
and other grains are raised with remark
able success. Vegetables Of all kinds are
s srama' thrive v wonderfully Well In Milan
county are some very well known peach
orchards, and also large tracts OF land
devoted to the growing Of a fine variety
/ Of cantaloupes. All through central
Texas the land is well timbered with
/ oak. ash, black jack ebony, pecan. cedar,
! blackberry, and mesquite, so that there is
no scarcity Of building material.
While northern and western Texas are
the centers for the great cattle raising
industries, yet central Texas has its
prairies and rolling uplands are rich,
many fine herds to be found In all OF
the counties. The constantly increasing
| demand for grain and fodder in the cattle
| raising districts Of the north is develop
ing the resources Of central Texas, fer
the farmers, finding such a large market
| for their produce, are yearly devoting
/ more land to corn. oats. wheat and
i clover, and find that It yields them profit
able returns.
/ Truly a Land Of Promise.
To the investor and the homeseeker,
1 whether he is searching for city home
or farm, central Texas certainly seems
/ a land OF promise, for here he can find
| thriving cities, rich mineral regions. and
acres Of the most desirable farming land.