San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-12
BY MILTON EVERETT.

A great many large investments
sums in millions of dollars-have in
the past been made in all lines of in.
dustry except in the development of
agriculture, yet agriculture is the Ia
sis of all wealth, and the found ,tipn
of individual happiness and commm-
ity peace.
The question may be asked, "Why
Is il that some Of the men who con-
troll, and invest in various enter
arises, do not select the farming in
dustry for their investments? Why
do not more men invest large sums
where they not only can make money,
but other people also? Why not, while
making money, also make happiness
and communal prosperity?
Charles p. Taft, the millionaire Gin
cinnati publisher, tried it. He made
money for himself. His remuneration
was as large when spending his mil
lions in the development of farms out
of raw lands, as it would have been
if the expenditure had been made in
any other industry. Charles z. Taft
not only helped himself, but he helped
many others on the road to COM
potency, self-respect and happiness.
He did more. He proved what the
country could do, and many more
dollars in taxes go TO the support Of
. government, the building of roads, and
other public purposes.
The Town Of Taft.
Go down below San Antonio TO
the town of Taft on the San Antonio
and Arkansas Pass railway, and you
will find hundreds Of families, indi-
viduals numbered in thousands, who
have prospered because Charles z.
Taft decided to invest a million and
half dollars in making a waste place
OF cactus and mesquite blossom like
the rose of Sharon.
The question "Why do not men of
wealth make large investments in the
development of agriculture in South
west where there are millions of acres
OF uncultivated, yet fertile lands, is
not new one. 1t has been asked a
number of times, even by financIers
themselves. No less a financial au-
thority than Theodore II. Price, edi-
tor of Commerce and Finance, asked
the question in writing about what
Mr.. Taft was doing and proposed to
do in an article he wrote for Worlds
Work ten years ago in 1913, when
he said: "If the captains of indus
try and finance, who have done SO
much for American progress in other
directions, will study and emulate the
success of the Taft ranch and its
management, they may do much to
make our national life healthier and
happier" Ten years have passed
since Mr.. Price wrote these words,
and the benefits that have accrued
to Southwest Texas since he wrote !
Would be beyond belief to the unsee<
ing eye.
The Great Object Lesson.
The greatest number of people who
have been benefited, and they num-
Der in the tens of thousands, have
been benefited by being shown, by
example and not by precept, what q
wonderfully rich farming country this
Southwest Texas country is when
properly cultivated. Some people have
snown it for years, but it was left to
Taft to prove it. Every farmer who
moves into Southwest Texas first goes
to see the Taft ranch if he can, TO
note the methods of cultivation, to
see the kinds of livestock raised. and
To profit by the Taft experiences in
the saving and disposing OF farm
crops. And it may be said here. that
the Taft ranch is not n ranch any
More, but huge farm of about TO-
900 acres in cultivation in cotton. corn
and grain crops. where fine cattle and
hogs are raised. OF the total. Mr..
Taft under the direction and manage
ment Of Joseph f. Green, cultivates J