El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-08
DEVEL OPMENT OF WEST TEXAS IS
BIC PROJECT NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN

-uoprr ~ ,svt Teas shoud recognize the importance
Of the movement naugursted at Fort Worth IN the or
rzfiou Of tie west Texas chamber Of commerce. COM
oSe5 Of representatives Of communities throughout the
eSeru part Of the state. Properly supported can be
Of great service in the development ana uPonoine Of me
r Of the state which its interests are devoted An IN
fsirenf effort toward constructive development IS to be
The ain Of the organization It has made beginning BY ss
fzblshng headquarters with otticeS from which already
are eanating many helpful suggestions to the people Of
vest Texas.
rse-stou Of natural resources and the development
Of reclamation Of land nov Of minor value constitute me
att nees Of this part Of the state and should be the
Greatest issues before the people Development Of water
supplies ard the mpoundng Of those waters which are
already developed vital matters Undertaken on
ooprshensivs scale they the making Of west Texas
Thsv can only be undertaken large scale through
cpo1saon Of an the communities involved aided BY state
encouragement and direction. They offer certain guar
antes against disastrous drouths The failure heretofore
10 provide BY adequate legislation for the promotion Of
such q protection constitutes serious indictment
sRzinst the progTessiveness Of the state.
The new movement to encourage reclamation may be
Of service in aiding in the passage By the next legislature
Of statute adequate to the requirements Of conservation
and reclamation
Reclamation developmeut means water not only but OIL
sss The vest Texas farmer and the oil man are kindred
grits Both are pioneers taking their chances against
Odds and both are desirable builders Add the stocan
and tho Of producers IS formed Just as adventurous
pioneer farmers ard stoemen moved into an unknown an
apparently nhospsbe country, the oil prospetoIs are
-skiug their labor and money in opening new territory
The fart thzt the first big oil Development IN Sesl
Texas came after hesrt-beakng drouth made It posi-
for oil men the time Of greatest need, 10 alo the
fsers Of the district Thousands Of these farmers nave
received from leases their land, that made them
forget quickly the hardshps they had been through Thou
ssnds Of others found employment in the oil industry at
roo5 wages and thus have been able to provide tor their
families and lay away money for a new start
These facts were forgotten when was advocated
nf that the state look vel 10 the retention Of state
Isnds under which there might be oil This vas urged as
OF protecting the interests Of the people OF the
al. At least Of II taxpayers There is however, an op
uosug view There those who believe the interests OF
vest Texas can be served best BY opening up tie state
lands to development by private capital correspondent
writes IN this connection:
there nay be oil OF other minerals under the lands OF
~ Teas but to develop these mines to prospect for
them them requires the expenditure Of millions OF
dollars There have been than Is wells drilled IN the
Pscos country By private interests from Fl Stockton to
Roswell every cze Of which has been utter failure
ct IS vel known fact that much or more money IS
lost in prospecting for minerals than IS made out Of the
discovered minerals The state when it leases its mineral
rights on these public lands for private prospecting
serves onehh royalty In the lands and IN addition re-
oures an advance payment Of 10 cents and an
annual rental Of 81
This Is more oner0us burden than is demanded
BY private land for the development Of mineral
sources their land In any undeveoped portion Of the
Of Texas any amount Of acreage be obtained for
prospecting purposes by private individuals without the
payment Of cent IN advance and only the payment Of
ouesEth royalty IN oil is developed with the priv
egs Of three to five years for prospecting purposes upon
the payment Of anywhere from 10 to so cents
after the first year. If private land and ndvid
uas ind this msthOd profitable than their at