East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-28

from the remainder or the state. This
secession movement has assumed tam
gible shape, and the necessary steps
are to be taken at the proper time to
bring about a division of the state. 1t
Is planned to either create q new state
out Of the segregated territory or to
attach II to New Mexico. Under the
terms Of the act of congress by which
Texas was admitted to the union, the
right was given the people of this new
state to divide her vast domain into
as many as four states at any time
they choose 10 do so. II is urged by
the neopie of western Texas that the
time Is now ripe to create at least one
additional state out of this vast do
main.
The territory which II is proposed
shall comprise the new state is oblong
In shape and embraces about $1,000
square miles or one-fifth of the total
area of Texas as II now exists. The
proposed new state borders the Rio
Grande for about 400 miles It isl
about $50 miles across II in one di-
rection and 225 miles in the other di- !
rection.
Should the effort that has been in.
augurated to create this new state |
prove successful It is probable that
Alpine Will be made the capital. It is !
thriving town, situated near the CEN
ter of the territory involved i'm the
movement, and is surrounded with
the natural advantages and resources
necessary.
The city of III Paso is situated in the
extreme western corner of the pro-
posed new state It is a town OF more
than 10000 population, and is grow
ing rapidly The secession or segro-
cation movement has a strong follow
ing there; I'm fact, It is said to have
the solid support OF the business men
and citizens generally of the place.
Joseph L. Sweeney. mayor Of FL Paso,
is one OF the active leaders in the
movement.
That portion Of Texas which II Is
proposed shall comprise the new state ]
has nothing In common with the re-
mainder of the state as II now exists, ]
either IN resources or business trans I
actions. 1t is 700 miles from El
Paso to Austin. the capital OF Texas. Z
Los Angeles, Cal, is nearly as close to ]
FL Paso as Austin. The territory west c
OF the Pecos river is 50 FAR removed !
from the more popuous parts Of Tex /
as that there is no bond Of sympa- q
thy between ethe people OF the pro- I
posed new state and those living in the Y
oder-settled portions. II is claimed {
that adverse legislation has greatly j
retarded the development Of the ma
tural resources OF the trans-Pecos re- Y
gion. d
Laws inimical TO this territory have l
been passed IN the face OF the objec-
ton and opposition of the people here
whom the legislation directly affected q
The territory west of the Pecos IS rich j
in minerals but 1t IS impossible to de- Il
velop these hidden riches on account
of the oppressive mining laws enacted i
by the legislature. The population
Of the trans-Pecos region Is made up
largely Of people from northern and
western states. The proposed new II
state belongs to the southwest geo cI
graphically and sympathetically. Bor- W
lerng on Mexico for several hundred y
niles. its people have a most friendly t'
ceiling for the neighboring republic OF
rhe stringent and unduly harsh quar- p'
lntine laws which are imposed against 81
Mexico by the state health department II
1t Austin have seriously interfered W
With business and traffic through the &c
q Paso gateway 1t is claimed that
restrictions against Mexico IN
re not needed in this high altitude te
nd the business interests OF FL Paso J'
md the whole trans Pecos region al
hould not be made to suffer in this ra
manner. II
Vast Public Lands. ''
There are more public lands I'm the ~
territory than in all Of "
he remainder Of the state put togeth- u"
r. These lands are now being taken
p and developed very slowly on ac- ''
cunt of the alleged harassing and ~
tactics pursued by the ~
tate land department against the new
ettlers Millions of acres of land arc N''
in the Alpine section for
lrmlng. It has been demonstrated
hat as frult-growing region, partic-
larly for apples and peaches, it is ."
qual to any in the country. The al
tude of the trans-Pecos territory
lnges from $500 to $500 feet. 1t is ~
region Of low mountains and rich an
alleys. 10
1t is claimed by the leaders Of the '''
ew state movement that If their ca
lans succeed the territory involved H''
the proposition will have a popula- we
on of more than 100000 people 'h'
thin five years from the time the see
ate is created. The richest silver ya
line in the United States is situated 90
{ Shafter in the lower part OF the 'e'
ew state territory. This is a fact
ot generally known. The mine Is Bt
vned by California people and has
cen producing silver at the rate of
bout $4,000 n month for the last
larter of century. The famous its
iicksilver mines Of the Terlingua dis ou!
let are also situated in the trans En
ecos region. I'M
The upper part of the Rio Grande rev
llley Is soon to be brought into kel
gh state Of development by means the
the great Eagle dam irrigation pro- the
ct which the federal government is in
lrrying out. This enterprise when hu
nished will add several millions of abe
ollars of taxable values to the terri an'
ry involved in the segregation prop