Year: 1873




Dear Sir--Allow me, though q stranger,
TO occupy short space in your parer--a
few copi Is of which, with the Galveston
Daily News have fallen into my bands.
From these sources, learn that the people
of Texas at their last election, decided by
ba Hot, pcry clearly, tina. it was their wish
that the next Legislature should pursue n
very liberal policy towards all legitimate
enterprises in the line Of public improve
ments. This regard as move in the
right direction, and shows, that on this
question, the people Of Texas are far in
advance of the politicians. This being
the case, the responsibility now rests
will, the Legislature as to which policy it
will adopt, and its coming action must
determine the future destinies Of the State.
If it carries out the wishes Of the people,
the ,oide guage, or liberal policy will be
adopted. This will throw wide open the
avenues to prosperity; but if the narrow
guage policy is inaugnrated they will be
most effectually closed. In other words,
if the Legislature refuses liberal subsidies
to legitimate enterprises the prosperity of
Texas must be set back for many years
grant them liberal aid and in short time
will be seen degree Of prosperity unpar.
allelled in the history of the "Lone Star
State" To expect such prosperity with
out this aid, will be anticipating what will
never be realized.


Individual aid and enterprise-be it
ever so great-can never develop the vast
resources of such State rs Texas, only at
q snaips pace at least while combina-
.. .,,I. .v;l 10
so in very short space Of time. And
now which would be preferable, 60 on at
the sluggish rate you have been going or
grant liberal subsidies 10 strictly legiti
mate enterprises and develop your State
atonce? / will say, what thou doest, do
quickly.


From what l can learn, you have the
best agricultural and mineral resources in
the world, and it is for your Legislature
to say whether they shall lie dormant, or
come forth speedily to bless your common
wealth and astonish the world


l know the "penny wise" men will say
with Solomons sluggsrd, "There is Cain
in the way and we shall be slain, the
granting of subsidies will be giving away
entirely too much, and eur State will be
ruined but if your State gets back in
public Improvements in On increase of
revenue, in developed resources, fair
equivalent for its old, it will be no gift at
all--simply loauing the aid of the State
to enterprises which, when completed, will
return four fold into its treasury.


Does any man suppose for moment
that the great Pacific Rail Road would
ever been built without government aid ?
Would any sane man have it all undone
for what it cost the country? Do the
people of Texas suppose tho Southern
Pacific Dallas & Wichita and other Rail
Roads equally meritorious will ever be
constructed by individual capital alone?
The people of Texas do not anticipate any
such thing, or they would not have ex-
pressed so clearly their wish that the State
should lend helping hand. They have q
right to expect their Legislature to adopt
the wide gagus policy, and if it does 80
the comm onwealth will have its reward.
But in what shape will il come? answer,
II will set the State on the high way to
prosperity; it will increase the value of all
its agricultural and mineral resources
this will be the magnet that will attract
EN- mmigration-end immigration will bring
with it labor, capital and moral worth.


And now Mr.. Editor, it is not any in
tention to dictate to the people or the
Legislature os Texas, what they should do,
or not de. have never been in Texas /
can only view this question from my own
standpoint. It may be right aid it may
be wrong. This much can say that
thousands of men ut the North, to-day,
are waiting the result of this problem be-
fore tn ey will ush their capital in Texas
enterprises. 1t is law OF capital to seek
the best sources for investment. The old
heathen maxim THE Gods help those who
help themselves" is as true now as il was
in the days Of Plato. Northern capital
and enterprise is only waiting to see
what Texas will do for herself and with
your Executive, Legislature and Judicial
departments Of the State rests the respon-
sibilties Of determining whether they will
invite emigration, labor and capital to
you or drive il from you.


Yours truly,


WM. NJ. NELSON.


Wayne Co., Penn, Dec. 26th, 1872.