El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-25
By T. r. GORDON.

U mines 10 TINS sue curing Lne past
I year
Grain Crops in Big Bend.
The Big Bend country also has
I done its bit this year in adding to
E the grain production Of the country
[ for war food. Along the Rio Grande
l in Preside and Brewster good yields
Of wheat are being made In Gull
] berson. Reeves. Pecos and other
Z counties Of West Texas general crops
have been good this year despite a
long and damaging drouth, which
fortunately was broken by good gen
eral rains In time to save many
thousands Of acres OF growing crops.
The cattle industry, always an i'm
pCTrant one In west Texas, has SUI
fered this year as a result OF the
drouth, but the rains Of the past
three weeks have changed conditions
for the better and good winter grass
on the range is assured. which viii
bring to its former prosperity the
Texas cattle industry
Many millions Of dollars are repre-
scented in the great herds OF cattle
on West Texas ranges and the meat
supply OF the country receives from
West Texas and the Panhandle much
OF its best meats Efforts are being
put forward now by West Texas and
Panhandle Cattlemen to improve both
the quality and quantity Of cattle 20
meet the great demand caused by
the war and the improved condition
comparatively easy.
Town Growth Substantial.
West Texas towns have enjoyed
substantial growth during the first
half Of 1917. pec0s. Fort Stockton, ]
Grand Falls. Maria, Alpine. Sweet
water. on the edge OF the Panhandle, :
and a score Of other towns in the
West Texas country all have made /
substantial progress in building and f.
In increased population
New Railroads Being Built.
Railroad building, which has not
kept pace with the growth Of the
West Texas and Panhandle country .
in recent years entered upon re- I
vival OF activity this year which /
promises big things for the immCd- .
late future. From Midland, north I
west to Seminole where IL will have .
a rich cattle and farming country 20 .
draw tonnage. the Midland & North
western railroad IS being built and .
IS expected soon to be in operation.
New Road to Lubbock.
Another railroad, which viii have
an important bearing upon the
growth and prosperity of Western
Texas and the Panhandle IS 20 be
built from Lubbock into the Seminole
projected from Roswell toward
Seminole, which would be an eN-
tension Of the line from Lubbock, all
being. Il is understood Santa Fe
projects. A proposition made to EOs-
well by promoters Of the road. rep
by NJ. 3. Hereby, provides
that no bonus IS TO be asked OF that
city until the trains actually are
running there, when sum Of 100000
is 20 be paid.
New Line Projected to Fl Paso.
From Artesia. y NJ. TO Fl PaSo
an important line is projected which
VIII bring the Panhandle OF Texas
and Eastern New Mexico much nearer
.
/ large railway system has LEI IL be !
Known that ir would pr0ha hlv con- =
,rruct such a line after the big war
5 over
Another New Road UTder Way.
Laying OF steel on the North Texas
z Santa Fe railroad. is under way.
This road is to extend from ShattucK.
okla, through Ochiltree and Lips
.omb counties OF Texas. In the eX-
rene northeast corner Of the Pan
iandle. It IS TO extend to S1e7rman, 4.
.bout four miles from HansfO-d-
Big ranch and farm deals in the o
Panhandle and West Texas during +
he past six months have shown the p,
interest taken in this territory by %
outside capital and Il has been noted L
hat land prices are this year con- 7
higher than in previous =
-ears-
Educational Development Great. t
Completion and occupation Of the c
zig new state normal college at q
canyon City the securing by Alpine Il
4 the West Texas State Normal col
eye and the locating by the state at L
Abilene Of the West Texas AEricul- $
.ural and Mechanical college are the {
outstanding features Of educational .,
development during the year In ad- =
iition all OF the counties have added =
10 the number OF their schools and :
n many OF them new buildings have n
older ones which have been 4
)utgrOwu- &
On the whole. in practically every 81
inc Of industry and development
Western Texas and the Panhandle n
country have had substantial growth =
n the first half OF 1917 with every :
Indication that still greater and bet Z
er things are in store for the new :
empire Of the southwest