The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-06-12
THE MARKETS OF TEXAS.

1
| former letters were peculiar in one
thing, they were dominated and con-
troled by individual railway sys-
tens, competition stifled in large
measure in order that California and
the railroads might profit at the ex-
pense of other sections of the coun-
| try.
The scene is now changed and
Texas, with the exception of the
southwestern portion, Louisiana,
southern Oklahoma, and Cuba are
spread before us common battle
ground for the great commercial
forces of the country. Here we meet
California intrenched behind lbs
walls of prestige attained by the ex-
cellence of it's products and it's un-
rivaled packing, grading and sys-
tenn of marketing. Here strong in it's
geographical position is Colorado,
possessing name famous even in
foreign lands for it's Greeley pota-
toes and fruits from Grand Junction
and Rocky Bar.
We also meet the states of the
central and northern section with a
powerful advantage in their favor,
low railroad rates. Last but not
least, the states of the east and
north are strong in their wealth,
business ability, and low water rates.
Thus the whole country, in a
measure, struggles for mastery in
this section. Many competing rail-
roads enter this section and diverge
in all directions, giving in meas
ure an equal opportunity for all
competitors for the market. Here
in the last analysis not position, but
value, quality and appearance de-
cides who shall win the prize. This
section is well worthy of Idaho's at
tention today. Ask a Texan to de-
scribe his state and he will say, "It's
the U. s. in miniature; an empire in
every sense of the word; yet christ
ened Texas" The next census will
without doubt, find Texas with a
population of 100000 and rank
ing third among the states. Today it
raises more than half the cotton pro-
duced in the United States. It's stock
raising interests are of vast proper
lions and it is fast becoming CEN
ter for factories. Today Texas is at
tracing more new settlers than any
other five states in the Union. A
Fort Worth banker in speaking of
the possibilities in store for Texas
in the future, said, "Texas has only
passed it's first milestone; it is but
in it's infancy. Yet last year it's
crop was marketed for $400, 700, 900.
Can you dream of what the future
has in store for this great land?"
Texas and the adjoining states to-
day possess about 100000 inhab-
itants. These people labor to pro-
duce cotton, sugar and livestock.
Millions of dollars pour into these
states from many lands, yet Texas
and neighboring states despite their
wealth and position, cannot produce
potato to supply it's late market.
Their potatoes soon spoil and can
only be used to supply the early and
summer market. From the first
of September until the following
June northern potatoes must be i'm
ported to supply their 100000
people. If an Idaho farmer could
see a Texas oat, we'll, he'd be dis
gusted and pity the horse that was
compelled to eat it. The oats in
order to be placed on the market
must first be sheared so that it may
weigh the 80 pounds per bushel re-
quired by law. The oat has what
they call tail or beard which is
sheared off to reduce the bulk. On
account of the rain the oats are very
brown and oft times mouldy. Two
cars of big four oats raised by Mac
kie and Howard Bros, five miles
north of Blackfoot were shipped to
two Fl Worth grain dealers. One
of these dealers said, 81 have never
seen an oat to equal them" His
customers were amazed when told
these oats weighed rorty-two pounds
per bushel.
Our straight, grades of oats need
no statesmen in Texas. They carry |
their own merit. Yet excellent as
our country is for the production of
oats, We ruin large per cent by |
planting oats on wheat ground, using |
seed foul with weeds and cookie in
stead of taking care to fan the seed |
before planting. Many farmers es-
pecially in the Lost River country |
fail to treat the seed for smut. The |
oat is liable to this disease at any |
time. Last year Lost River lost at |
least 25 per cent or it's yield from
neglect in this particular, besides a
great reduction in the value of the
remaining grain. Smutty grain isn't
good marketable grain, but it is
great source of loss to the farmer
that fails to attend to treating the
seed before planting. We have one
of the finest oat producing sections
in the world. We can place our
best oats on any market, labelling
them in big black letters Raised
in Idaho" resting assured they have
ppfor t.dhavepputeisnIcef. cmfwypp
no superiors. The east and south are
awakening to the fact that we are
one of the finest grades of
oats used in the manufacture of oat
meal. Why not take pride in our
oats and keep them up to high
standard that will be credit to our
state?
Texas and Louisiana are compell-
ed to import large per cent of the
hay used. Colorado today finds a
market here for hundreds of cars.
They enjoy rates that we know
about. The Colorado and