El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-20

Pecos, Texas. April 1e.-POrter A
whaIey, secretary Of the Pecos Com
merciaI club. and an ardent advocate
OF better conditions in west Texas
and more justice from the state gov
eminent, has given to your CORES
pondent a letter from sdirector VIM.
B. Phillips of the bureau Of geology,
in the University OF Texas, regarding
conditions in west Texas.
Austin Tex, Jan. 80, 1912.
Mr. Porter A Whaley,
Sec'y. Commercial Club,
Pecos, Texas.
Ny Dear Sir.
1 have your letter Of the 26th. IN
which you refer to certain matters
to be presented 10 the next legislature
Dy senator Hudspeth, and / have also
seen the article in the Fl PasO Herald
on the same subject.
This Is all right and 7 hope that we
snail be able to accomplish something.
But whatever is done must be done
with the active assistance and SYM
patty of the people most concerned.
If the people west OF the PecOs river
want geological survey for any pur-
pose, oil, water, potash salts, other
mineral substances. etc, they must
speak out in no uncertain manner
believe in a careful consideration OF
the needs and then an active, per
Slstent campaign. 1t does very little
good for the commercial clubs, etc, to
pass resolutions and then forget all
about the matter.
What would beg to suggest is
something like the following: Let
general meeting of the commercial
clubs etc, and all others interested in
the matter be called to meet at some
central point in west Texas (there is
no better place than Pecos) and con
slider this matter in all of its bear
tngs, carefully and step by step This
frne -Hr1 Hra#1 60 Harrs
ness and for one business. 1t should
not scatter its efforts nor attempt to
do too much
Be sure to invite those who viii
look at the matter from the standpoint
of business and not from the stand
point OF politics To that meeting the
members Of the senate and the house
from that region should be invited
and urged to attend, for it is largely
through them that we may expect TO
accomplish the purpose of the move
ment The commissioner Of the gen
eral land office, the commissioner Of
ernor should be urged to attend, not
for the purpose OF bringing this mat
ter into the arena of state politics,
but solely for the purpose Of hearing
what west Texas people have to say
ana what they know that they need
The decisions Of that meeting should
be sent TO every newspaper in the
state and to every member OF the SEN
]
tial men who are not connected with
the state government. This would call
for a mailing list OF about 1900 names
AID provision should be made on the
spot for meeting this expense.
For my part I would undertake. in
addition to cash subscription TO the
funds to prepare a large map setting
I forth the location Of the mineral belt
in west Texas. the public lands still
remaining unsOld, statistics OF the min
cral PRODUCTION west of the PeC5s
river, etc.
There is no use In delaying this
matter The sooner IL IS threshed
out the better. After the fall cleo
lions the additional names Of newly
elected senators and representatives
could be added TO the mailing list and
their Interest in the matter aroused
There have been movements OF this
sort in west Texas, resolutions have
been prepared and adopted, but the
matter stopped there. This movement
Texas gets what 1t needs II IS
word in season and out Of season. here
a little and there a little until the
state as a whole realizes its duty 70
that portion Of Its domains
Now. is the Commercial club Of Pc
COS wiling to forward such a. move
ment to stand behind II, to see tina
such q meeting is held and to gather
together the people who should attend
it, If it is not, do not go into the
matter al all. Let ii stay just where
it is and maybe in the next so years
OF so things will be different
I am always willing TO help in mat
tiers of this sort II the people behind
them really mean business and not
hot air. OF hot air 7 have had more
than enough Of well advised move
ments that came to nothing we have
all had enough.
# can be Of any service in this
or any other matter please to com
mand me.
Very truly yours,