New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-21
In VASl0N OF TEXAS
NOT n WARLIKE MOVE
Peaceful Occupation by Army
of Homeseekers Under Way.

South and Southwest But for a patent
reason there has been no rush TO arms by
the citizen OF the states 20 resist In
stead. they stand ready with a welcome
to what have been shown to be among the
finest tracts OF land in the United States
and with climatic conditions that assure
freedom from the rigors Of regions further
north. The invaders are farmers IN the
main. but there is a not inconsiderable
sprinkling OF manufacturers and men IN
the trades
They all have the Texas fever those
who go TO the great state known hereto
fore principally a cattle raising country.
This fever is not physical but mental. II
Is only necessary TO visit the state to get
a fully developed attack OF it-an attack
that will last. And this fever-cal II en-
thusiasm-is based upon actual conditions
found throughout the length and breadth
of the vast region.
Texas is within 1000 square miles as large
as the New England States. New York.
New Jersey. Delaware. Maryland. Penn
sylvania, Virginia and Ohio combined,
which had a population in 1900 OF 2s.f3l.1s3.
At that time Texas had 3.O4s.7I0 population.
II is now said to have 100000. 1t is a
great deal larger than Germany. with it's
100000 people, or Japan. with it's f6. 732.13s.
And the great southwestern section physi-
cally has greater advantages than either
OF the foreign countries and. with the ex-
ception of COAL greater than the seaboard
states mentioned
Why, have only scratched the soil,
begun our mineral development and started
In on railroad construction" said a citizen
Of Galveston 10 a reporter for The Tribune
recently.
The surface area OF the state is go. 80
acreage about e5.OOooo0 are under fair cult
walton. and. measured by other states IL
is pretty fair scratching. to such an ex-
tent. in fact, that the products in cotton
lead the world. and in cereals it ranks with
the greatest states. II has supplanted Ber-
muda In the quality OF It's onions. its fruit
Is as fine a that sent 10 market from any
state, and IL has the advantage over every
other state in that Il produces all the
crops. has all the minerals in its mines
has quarries that produce marble and other
building material. and almost inexhaustible
timber
WHAT IRRIGATION HAS DONE.
Where rain is infreausnt irrigation has
been resorted to with surprising results
rice has become a remunerative crop along
the great length OF seashore, and alfalfa.
Is harvested several times a year Its fruit
area Is greater than that or California
With all the evidences OF the great pro
ductive quality OF the soil land is stIu
cheap Great tracts are being opened I'D
ana the railroads are reaching out 70 tap
every section OF the state.
There are large farms in plentv but b,,,.
ers are being encouraged in obtaining small
tracts. that VIII admit OF close supervision.
Onion farms and orchards OF ten acres are
numerous and remuneratfve. The state
government is in close touch with the de-
velopment. and all the advantages of A
highly developed civilization are being
brought within the reach OF the communi-
ties where farming IL the main pursuit
This seni-intensive farming. the devotion
OF small acreage To single crop cultivation.
is met with from the sea coast 10 far into
the interior. At Galveston. after a man
from the East lands from Mallory liner.
one Of the first objects 70 attract attention
is great sign inviting invaders TO take up
tracts for tue cultivation OF onions The
lands for sale used 70 be great ranches hut
they have been abandoned for the more Iu-
crative purpose Of farming
Lands that were at one time regarded as
worthless have been found especially adapt
ed for rice growing. owing 20 the moistness
OF the soil. They lie along the coast line
which is four hundred miles in extent
Distances down there seem great from the
Eastern point OF view. hut when in the state
the newcomer quickly adjusts himself to tn.
vastness Of area and the greatness OF dis
tsnces. A Journey in an almost straight
line may he made in Texas far as from
this city to Chicago
I'VE grow money here" Texan said 10
visitor who longed to be a real invader
They were on a train bowling along toward
at a station Boys swarmed around the
platforms with small baskets OF figs for
sale. Wagons containing many bales OF
cotton were unloading az the freight sta
tions. Barrels Of pecans were awaiting
shipment 10 the seaboard at a station far
beyond Houston. Fruit was there In plenty.
Vegetables Of all kinds were in barrels and
crates and boxes.
In this state every citizen. counting the
adults as one to four a conservative esti-
mate could have a farm OF forty acres
and there would be remaining domain OF
nearly two million acres unoccupied. Every
person in the state could have plot OF ten
acres. and there would he the same extent
Of land without an inhabitant. It is Only
by means OF such calculations that the
vastness OF the great Southwestern state
can be correctly understood
A MOST PLEASANT CLIMATE.
II is hot in Texas sometimes: Il is
warm and cool. and during occasional
brief periods cold. But there. as else
where the law Of averages holds good. and
the average in the Lone star state shows
a temperature Of delight and Of advantage
10 tire farmer. There are great plains
where a. at sea. there is never intense
heat There are valleys watered by crystal
clear streams. where crops are repeated
several times a year. There are uplands
where two-crop seasons are maintained
and where the altitude makes the climate
a JOY.
Texas slopes upward from the sea. grad
ually 10 he sure. but the great distance
brings the height above sea level far
above what the traveller would expect.
This natural drainage from the mountains
has furrowed the state with rivers. whose
banks are heavily wooded There Is much
timber, and there is the profitable pecan
tree. The great black-wax belt, as pro-
ductive as the most thoroughly fortified
soil extends through The state. region
OF perpetual richness.
Where this rare soil is lacking there
was at one time supposed to be hopeless
aridity. But irrigation has been intro
duced. The result has been far beyond