The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-10
TEXAS EXPECTS BIG DEVELOPMENT IN 1911. Financial Conditions Are Very
 Good TO BOOST GOOD ROADS Hucksters Face Occupation Tax--Texas Hen Doing Wonders in Develop
 ment of Southwest-Many
 Miles of Rond Built
TO BOOST GOOD ROADS

San Antonio. Tex. January s.-(Spe- cial.)-Bankers of this city and others in touch with financial conditions take most optimistic view of conditions, and predict for this year longer strides in de- velopment than those which characterized the year just closed. The rainfall of the past six weeks, being as much as inches in some localities, has put the great cot ton fields in excellent condition for prep aration for the coming crop. Already far mers are making improvements, broaden ing the farming area and preparing for the approaching seed time. Wholesale lumber men and others in touch with the situation in southwest Texas say that they have not had such prospects, and so many advance orders for material for all building purposes since previous to the panic of 1907. The slight freeze of Jan uary 24, while it did some damage to crops which mature in the mid-winter season, was very light upon the whole, citrus fruit not suffering in the least, since the low temperature did not extend far enough sout to reach the area de- voted to the more tender varieties, anu the satusma orange is hardy and will
 
 ditions give promise of a most profitable year throughout southwest Texas. In line with these promises many of the large ranches are being converted into small farms rented in most instances by those who have emigrated from the high priced land districts of the north.
 Senator H. B. Terrell will introduce bill in the thirty-second legislature of Texas providing for state highway com mission to cooperate with local officers of the state in the building of good roads. The bill will also provide for building continuous state highway using convict labor in its construction, from the Red river to some point on the gulf. This bill comes as the result of the good roads movement that is so active in all parts of the state. Senator Terrell also has under consideration bill which will pro- vide for the building of a highway across the entire state, passing through the most populous sections. The demand for such a road comes from two sources, that of the farmers and those interested in auto mobile transportation.
 Those engaged in the huckstering busi- ness in Texas find themselves face to face with the demand to pay occupation tax. Assistant Attorney General Brady has handed down a ruling in which he says that those engaged in trading mer- chandise for poultry and other country produce should pay such tax. For years it has been maintained that the huckster works a disadvantage to merchants in the country hauling their produce to mar ket and thus preventing people from the country coming to town to trade. It is said that the ruling of the attor- ney general, while in harmony with the law, Is also a stroke in the interest Of L, a6 r1o nf htlc mess and that it will operate to drive unreliable people and itinerants out of the trade. The ruling is in line with that of many other states where those in commercial lines pay an occupation tax.
 That the Texas hen is doing her part in the development of the great south west was emphasized during the holiday season just closed by the fact that the price of eggs dropped cents just at the time when the demand was greatest. A stream of eggs poured in from the farms and ranches to all the trade centers and if any one had dreamed that it could be possible to run corner in eggs at the Christmas season the busy old hens of Texas made a perfect nightmare out of such calculations. It is estimated that the poultry product of the state Is a source of income almost equal, in the az greate, to any other production of the farm. This, to a great extent, is due to the work and cooperation. of the many poultry associations and the general tendency to grow only the best and most profitable grades.
 Texas again leads the list of southern states in the number of miles of railroad built in the past year. In 1910, 204S.1 miles were constructed in the south and south west. Of this amount Tevas- built 791 miles, which Is far in excess of any other southern state. Development in proposed railroad construction for 1911 indicates that Teaxs will still lead the south and southwest section of the country. The year begins with 971 miles of proposed road part of which is already in course of construction.
 "A long time between drinks" made faulous by the remark of North Caro- llna's governor to the chief executive of south Carolina, sinks into insignifcance when compared with the long stretch be- tween ''nips' now made imperative by the "dry" movement in the northern part of Texas. The last saloon in Fulton, Ark, was closed yesterday. Closing this estab- lishment makes a continuous stretch Of 356 miles between Little Rock and Dallas, where there Is no place at which one can
 
 be the longest dry stretch in the coun- try.
 The Mormons of Utah and Idaho have just concluded another purchase of 6000O acres of land in northern Mexico, accord ing to report of Consul Luther T. Els worth, located at c. P. Diaz, Mexico. Referring to this purchase, prominent Mormon leader says that many of his people will settle in Mexico and that an- ,ther colony has been organized to settle on a 75, ,00O-acre tract. He also gives 1t out that an option has been taken on 500.OO0 acres more in the same district, and pre- diets that within IS months 5000 Mormon families will have settled in Mexico. All the land so far purchased will be farred by irrigation. Preparations are under way to build churches and schools in line with those who adhere to the Mormon faith.
 Louisiana Lawyer Dead
 Baton Rouge, La, January 9.-Judge T. J. Kearnan, one of the most prominent ,...~xo-., l., T o,,toiop and for yaa rs c1Ose-