White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-04-21
prepared bv National Geographic Society.
WASHINGTON. D. Cl-WNU Service.

prepared bv National Geographic Society.
Washington. D. C)-WNU Service.
Z" 7HILE scientists are penetrat-
NIX ! ing the black depths Of caves
Wv in Texas to trace the lives of
their early occupants
Americas Oldest inhabitants-the Lone
Star state swiftly marches in the op-
posite direction toward modern prog
ress.
Texas is so big! So big that some
one said the people Of Ell Paso jeer at
those Of Galveston as being effete
fasteners. In terms of people, area,
animals, crops, and natural wealth
she is so big and her regional inter-
ests are SO diverse that she has out
grown her very constitution, as boy
outgrows his pants. Laws good for
east Texas may be bad for west Texas.
States policies agreeable to the ma
tives on the lower Rio Grande may
cause grief and pain to those hun
dreds of miles away in the vast Pan
handle.
Merely to confound the newcomer,
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 Ell
Paso to Beaumont than it is from New
York to Chicago. Her governor rules
more territory than any king or
premier of Europe has in the CONT
mental limits of his country, Russia
alone excepted. Were Texas as dense
ly settled as Massachusetts, she'd have
more than 131,00O,000 people. In
Texas mere native Americans, start
Ing only with hard hands, strong wills,
and great energy, have built up vast,
rich and powerful commonwealth.
The human tide to Texas, so far,
has been steady, but never in any
sense great migration. When
Stephen F.. Austin founded his famous
colony on the banks of the Brazos,
little more than 100 years ago, the
Texas population, including Mexicans
and Indians, was probably not more
than 5000 or 10000. In the next quar-
ter of a century the state had only
100000 white inhabitants and $4,000
slaves. Not till railways began to
spread, in the seventies, was its
growth at all rapid. In the last 20
years it has. gained more than 2,0OO, 900.
From the Middle Western states,
since 1920, more than 100000 people
have come each year to settle in Texas.
Of these immigrants, Sc per cent have
settled in towns and cities. The re-
naming ii per cent, going to the coun-
try, have put close to 100000 acres
of new land into crops. Since the end
of the World war, it is estimated that
propably 100000 people have settled
on new farms in the vast Panhandle
region.
Less Than Half Cultivated.
The enormous agricultural pOten-
TALLY of Texas is shown by the fact
that, although less than half of her
arabic land has been put under culti-
walton, yet in a good year she pro-
duces billion-dollar crop.
More than a billion dollars worth
Of oil has been produced in Texas in
Eve years and the state probably has
more Ignite, or brown coal, than the
whole famous Ruhr region Of Ger
many. Her deposits run into billions
of tons. No one knows how much.
Her industrial population, though long
of minor consequence, is now increas-
ing fast.
With her abundant oil, gas Ignite,
iron ore, and other minerals, the re-
suting 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 ut Washing
ton certain little flags are flying. They
Indicate the strategic cities of Amer
lea, such as New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, and San Antonio, Texas.
Besides it's 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 An
tonic. as we'll as Houston and Dallas,
is we'll supplied.
To 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 natural gas sup
plies, is a strategic may spot whereon
It is easy to visualize great south
western city.
Already Houston is conspicuous. 1t
Is the greatest spot-cotton market in
the world. On its ship canal 1t has
huge storage for export oil and grain
grain sent from Iowa. Kansas and
Nebraska for Liverpool and Europe
Fed by II railways and served by
numerous steamship and tanker lines
It trades with the world. Its destiny
is one of large possibilities.
Bigger and Better Cattle.
In all the kaleidoscope Industrial
transitions that are sweeping 30 much