The Coolidge examiner., 1932-04-29
prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. u. c.
(WNU Seryice)


among Americas oldest inhabitants
The Lone Star state swiftly
marches in the opposite direction
toward modern progress.
Texas is so big So big that some
one said the people of Ell PasO jeer
at those of Galveston as being eff
fete easterners. In terms of people,
area, animals, crops, and natural
wealth she is so big and her region
al interests are so diverse that she
has outgrown her very constitution,
as a boy outgrows his pants. Laws
good for east Texas may be bad for
west Texas. States policies agree
able to the natives on the lower Rio
Grande may cause grief and pain
to those hundreds of miles away in
the vast Panhandle.
Merely to cOnfOund the newcom-
er, the native himself takes delight
in mentioning casually that his
state could swallow up more than
213 Rhode Islands and have a large
area left over and that it is farther
from El Paso to Beaumont than IL
is from New York TO Chicago. Her
governor rules more territory than
any king or premier of Europe has
in the continental limits of his
country, Russia alone accepted.
Were Texas as densely settled as
Massachusetts, she'd have more
than 131,000,000 people. In Texas
mere native Americans, starting
only with hard hands. strong wills,
and great energy, have built up
vast. rich and powerful common
wealth.
The human tide to Texas, so far,
has been steady, but never in any
sense a great migration. When
Stephen F. Austin founded his fa-
nous colony off the banks of the
Brazos. a little more than 100 years
ago, tie Texas population, includ-
ing Mexicans and Indians, was
probably not more than 5000 or
10000. In the next quarter of
century the state had only 100000
white inhabitants and $4,000 slaves.
Not till railways began to spread,
in the seventies, was its growth az
all rapid. In the last 20 years it
has gained more than 100000.
From the Middle Western states.
since 1920. more than 100000 peo-
pie have come each year to settle
in Texas. OF these immigrants. sc
per cent have settled in towns and
cities. The remaining IA per cent,
going to the country, have put close
10 1000 600 acres of new land into
crops. Since the end of the World
war, it is estimated that probably
100000 people have settled on new
farms in the vast Panhandle region.
Less Than Half Cultivated.
The enoromus agricultural po-
tentiality of Texas is shown by the
fact that, although less than half
of her arabic land has been put
under cultivation. yet in good
year she produces a billion-dollar
crop.
More than a billion dollars worth
of oil has been produced in Texas
in five years and the state probably
has more Ignite. or brown coal.
than the whole famous Ruhr region
of Germany. Her deposits run into
billions of tons. No one knows how
much. Her industrial population.
though long of minor consequence.
is now increasing fast.
With her abundant oil. gas Iig-
mite. iron ore. and other minerals.
the resulting gradual increase of
trade and industry is bound to
bring substantial growth to certain
Texas cities.
On the maps of the United States
used by the general staff at Wash
ington certain little flags are flying.
They indicate the strategic cities
of America, such as New York.
Chicago. San Francisco. and San
Antonio. Texas Besides its place
on the map. among the things which
give city strategic Importance are
safe and adequate food and fuel. in
easy reach. and ample transport.
In these respects San Antonio. as
we'll as Houston and Dallas. is we'll
supplied
To a singular degree, east Texas.
with her oil. Ignite, and other min
erals. her lumber. her excellent
means of transport. and her easy
access tO vast meat, grain and nat
ural gas supplies. is strategic
man spot whereon it is easy to
visualize great southwestern city
: Already Houston is conspicuous.
1T is the greatest spot-cOtton mar
ket in the world on its ship canal
If has huge storage for export oil
and grain-grain' sent from Iowa
Kansas and Nebraska for Liverpool
and Europe Fed by II railways