1 ? -
WHAT IjSAW AT FRANCITAS, TEXAS
Being a! Few Observations Made by Will M. Maupin During a
Recent Pleasure Tour of Ten Days Through the Lone Star State
Ouce upon time I asked an old tima friend of
mine, Jake Buckmeister; ' -
"Jake, did you ever buy a gold briek?"
Looking me squarely iu the " eye Jake replied
solemnly: n.-
"Nein, Billy. But I told you" vat I did vonee I
bought ed me vot I t 'ought vos a golt brick."
I know quite as well as anybody' that0 during the last '
decade lot of people have "boughted "vot dey t 'ought
vos a golt brick." " Youmayslipittous "wood planta
tions," "rubber plantations," "mahogany wood plan
tations," and all those pretty gilded "propositions that
look so almighty good on paper and 'which give you
that palpitating feeling around the epivardium every
time you think of the good money you pui" in to them.
Now I am pretty much of a Nebraska booster my
self, and although I have traveled quite a bit during the
last tou or fifteen years I have seen few sections of coun
try that seized upon my fancy quite so iightly as this
good state of ours. Therefore, it has been my habit,
every time anybody came to me with land proposition
: elsewhere, to say, so to speak, "Nay, nay, Pauline!" In
.this wise 1 have escaped some of theisaares that have
caught friends of mine for varying sums, runuing from
the initial payment of $10 down up-.to the final pay
ment under threat of suit. Most f;'the men who ap
proached me were strangers, but some were known,
either personally or by reputations vl haven't a doubt
that every one of them firmly believed-that his propo
sition was "O. K." and altogether the"besfcVver. If they
didu't believe it they couldn't sell their stuff. But, as
before remarked, none of these propositions appealed
to me. - 1' "
However, there came to me one. day -a gentleman I
had known for many years. I knew him t be as square
as a die, above any petty trickery, ami constitutionally
unable to engage in any propostion that was not on the
level. When he told me that he, too, had a Texas propo
sition I just smiled and listened. Then.,1 bought a little
tract on his say-so ?sight-unseen,"Trand I now be
lieve, candidly and honestly, that it was the best invest
ment I ever made, amount considered, f-
A few weeks ago I was privileged ' to go down into
Texas and take a peep at my land holdings, and to make
some study of what is known as "The Texas Gulf Coast
Country." It is my purpose here and now to tell my
friends just what I think about one particular section
of that country, and just what I think of. the gentle
men who are pushing the project. .-
First and foremost let me observe that after taking
a personal view of the land, of the people. now there, and
of the possibilities fronting it, I stretehed my credit and
bought some more of it. That. I believe, is about the
best evidence 1 can offer of my confidence, jn the gentle
men who are pushing this particular project, of my faith
in the future development of that particular section, and
of my belief that the land in question is a good purchase
now. For several years I have made a study of pro
duction, and I rather pride myself upon knowing as
much as any man living about the resources of Nebraska,
her climate, her soil, and her people.. This experience
leads me to believe that I am capable , of . fairly good
judgment in matters of this kind. ,
On December 3 I made a trip to Texas, going as far
as Brownsville, and closely observing all the country
between Dennison and the city on the Rio Grande. I
. t
saw some magnificent farminsr land and some that I
wouldn't give a penny an acre for. That, however, is
true of any other state. But I saw what seems to me
to be millions of acres of land capable of bringing forth
fruitful harvests under intelligent cultivation. Not on
harvest a year, mind you. but several harvests, for the
climate of the Gulf Coast country is such that fanning
and gardening may be pursued every month 'in the year.
Texas is a wonderful state. She is today offering the
opportunities that Nebraska and Kansas and Iowa of
fered a generation ago. and without the: pioneer priva
tions that the men who made those sfatesj'had to un
dergo. '
It is. however, of one particular, section of Texas
that I desire to speak at this time that' portion of it
now being handled by Schwind & Mater" of Hineoln. and
known as the "Nebraska Colony" at. Franeitas. This
tract of land lies in Jackson and Matagorda eounties..
bordering upou Palacios hay and lying between the
branches of the aranchua river. If is one of the
most beautiful tracts of land I ever saw." viewed from
the utilitarian standpoint. It is a very level tract, with
just enough slope to afford good drainage wholly free
from mesquite or sage brush; with fine timber border
ing the river's branches, and with soijjthat seems to
me splendidly adapted to farming of all' kinds suitable
to such a climate. And such a clima! Situated near
the Gnlf of Mexico there is an invigorating breeze, laden
with the salt tang of the ocean, always blowing gently
through the summer, mitigating the heat and making it
pleasant, especially at night. This same breeze blow
ing from the Gulf through the winter months prevents
anything approaching the rigorous winters of the north.
It appears to me that the least item of expense in the
FVaneitas colonv is that of fuel, for all that is needed
is for cooking purposes, and with native oil to be had ;
for next to nothing, and with plenty of timber within
easy reach, the fuel problem is practically solved.
I made something of a study of the rainfall while
I was in that section. Not since the establishment of
the government weather bureau in Texas has this par
ticular section of that state suffered from, drouth. True,
the rainfall has varied, and at times the supply is not
all that could be desired but there is always enough
to insure against total failure. But this great tract or
land is in what is known as the "artesian belt," and at
small expense any landholder may secure a never-failing
and abundant supply of water. At FVaneitas is an ar
tesian well flowing a splendid stream of water enough
to supply a small city. Similar wells are to be found
all over the tract. The rainfall, or water supply, is
solved in this section.
One year ago the "Francitas Tract" was a great
cattle range. One year ago there was no Francitas. To
day several hundred former Nebraskans are making
homes upon this tract, and Francitas is a prosperous
little town of perhaps 400 inhabitants, with a fine depot
a public park, three good hotels, several general stores,
drug store, hardware store, and a splendid weekly
newspaper. It has no magnificent homes, for the citi
zens are all pioneers making homes in a new country.
But these homes are all handsome, all new, all well kept
and Francitas is a little town that will delight the eye.
I would not undertake to make comparisons between
the "Francitas Tract" and other tracts of Texas land
now being offered to northern investors. " There may be
better, but I doubt it. That there-are many poorer I
am convinced by investigation. . But I would eommend
the "Francitas Tract" to any of my friends who ara
thinking of seeking a new home in the Gulf Coast Coun
try of Texas. I have investigated it. I have known
its promoters for nearly twenty years, and I know that
neither of them would, for any amount of gain, misrep
resent or seek to take advantage of a patron. As a
newspaperman of almost thirty years' experience I have
traveled with many a landseekers'" excursion. Schwind
& Maher manage their excursions differently. I have
seen promoters get a car load of land "seekers in tow.
lock them in the car and allow no " one to converse with
them until the land was viewed and- 'every possible sale
made. Schwind &Maher never do this. "Any land agent,
who so desires may undertake to lure 'away' their-possible
patrons. Anybody's literature is allowed on a Schwind
& Maher excursion. Indeed, these gentlemen gladly take
their prospective purchasers over and through many
another tract that is being exploited by others, being
perfectly willing to have the merits of their proposition
judged in comparison with the merits of other propo
sitions. There is exhibited in this a confidence in their
proposition that must," perforce, carry ' immense weight
with the careful and thoughtful prospector.
The soil of the "Francitas Tract" is a sandy loam,
unusually fertile and not in need of any other fertilizer
than intelligent cultivation and erop rotation. It will
grow practically anything corn, oats, alfalfa, cotton.
It is an ideal fruit and garden truck country. It will
grow figs, oranges and peeans. It is the natural habitat
of the sweet potato, and as for tomatoes, cucumbers,
cabbage, cauliflower and kindred vegetables it can have
no superior. It produces all kinds" of garden truck at
a time of year when the northern markets are erying
for them, and when only the Gulf Coast Country and
Florida can produce them. I have eaten the finest of
tomates in February grown in theGulf Coast Country.
And the climate is such that something may be kept
growing on the land all the time, every month in the
year.
But do not make the mistake of thinking that be
cause the land is fertile and the climate mild, that one
may prosper here merely by purchasing a piece of land
and cultivating it in a desultory sort of way. To pros
per here requires just as hard work, and just as much,
of it, as it requires in Nebraska. The greatest advantage
that this Gulf Coast Country has over Nebraska, as I
see it, is that the man who is seeking land may acquire
it here more cheaply than in Nebraska, and he need
not have so much of it in order to make a living and lay
aside something for old age. The men and women who
go to Francitas must expect to endure many of the hard
ships that were endured by the pioneers of Nebraska.
Not nearly so many nor so severe as the Nebraska
pioneers endured, for there are no rigorous winters, no
danger of drouth, no laek of railroad and market facili
ties, and no lack of neighbors. Indeed, in Francitas any
Nebraskan may well feel at home, for here are hun
dreds of former Nebraskans. all remembering the old
home state with love and pride, and always ready to ex
tend a hearty welcome to the industrious, honest Ne
braskan who is seeking a home in this New South.
In the country of which I speak one must study
soil conditions, just as one must study soil conditions
in Nebraska if one would secure the best results. Not
everything will grow anywhere, nor. anything grow
everywhere. That is as true of Texas as it is of any
other state or territorv.
I want to pay a tribute to the people of Texas, tak
ing the state as a whole. They enforce laws down there
better than in any other state I know, not even excepting
my own beloved state of Nebraska. And they have a
splendid code of laws. Both Texas and Nebraska have
laws prohibiting the drinking of intoxicants upon any
railroad train. The difference is that the law is enforced
in Texas. Both states have laws prohibiting tile carry
ing of concealed weapons. It is enforced in Texas. It
is a misdemeanor to play cards upon the train in
Texas, even for fun. There is no "negro problem in
Texas, although the negro population is immense. In
Jackson county, wherein lies the major portion of the
"Francitas Tract" there is a "White Man's Union." It
is frankly organized for political purposes to provide
a "white man's government." By this I do not mean
that it would be possible for the negroes to elect a
county officer without such a "union," for the negroes
are in the minority in Jackson county. But before the
organization of this "union" the negro was an important
factor, in that he was always selling his vote to th
last and highest bidder. In this way he was corrupted,
and along with him the white man. He became mot
shiftless than ever, depending upon the sale of his vote
once a year to keep him from going hungry for twelve
months. Finally the white men met, regardless of parti
san affiliation, and organized the "White Man's Union."
Any man who desires to become a candidate for county
office may file it. Then the white men have a primary
all their own, and the successful candidates are plaeed
upon the regular primary ballot, seldom more than one
for any one office. Election day is as quiet as a Sunday
in a Nebraska village. The county officers are some
times republicans, sometimes democrats. Their party
affiliation cut no figure. But they are white men,
elected without expending a dollar for campaign ex
penses other than the filing fees and a few notices in the
newspapers. As a result the negro, cut off from his
"graft" has gone to work. He is happier, he is more
prosperous, and even he is well satisfied with the plan.
This plan has done more for the negroes of Jaekson
county, and several other counties where similar plans
are in operation, than any other one thing during the
last ten years.
I am not advising "anyone to leave Nebraska. ' I be
lieve its possibilities and opportunities are equal to those
of any similar area of country anywhere on earth. But
if I have any friends in Nebraska who are thinking of
leaving this good state and seeking a new home in Texas.
I certainly eommend this "Francitas Tract" to their
careful attention. I am not a "practical farmer," but I
have made a study of soil conditions and climate, and I
claim to know something of productivity. If I were
considering moving from Nebraska and locating in a
newer country, I certainly would make my home in the
Gnlf Coast Country of Texas, and I as certainly would
make it as near to the thriving little town of Franeitas
as possible. FVaneitas and the surrounding country
have a splendid future before them. Those who build
homes there, stick to it and work intelligently and in
dustriously, will prosper. That they will endure some
hardships is almost a certainty for snecess in any good
line of endeavor is only won through sacrifice and hard
ships. But the rewards are bound to be ample in time.
Those who buy land in the "Franeitas Tract" for in
vestment purposes need have no fear of the outcome. It
will be worth more and more with the advancing years.
The near opening of the Panama canal is sure to greatly
benefit that seetion. The rapidly growing demand for
tillable land, "together with its constantly growing
scarcity, of a surety means a. steady advance in land
values. So, then, I say: If you are determined to leave
Nebraska and cast your fortunes elsewhere, by all
means investigate the propositon offered by Schwind &
Maher.
And now a dosing word abont these gentlemen who
are selling land in the "Francitas Traet." As I said
before, an intimate acquaintance of nearly two deeades
assures me that they are absolutely "on the square."
That they are enthusiastic over their proposition is only
natural. But they have results to show that warrant
all the claims they make. They have loeated .hundreds
of people, and after visiting among them and makinz
careful inquiry, I candidly assert that I have yet to
and one of their customers who is not well satisfied.
They have founded and bnilded a town that is rapidly
becoming known throughout Texas for its enterprise, its
stability, and the high character of its citizens. They
have fulfilled every promise they made and more. If
you invest with them the results depend upon your own
energy and industry, for you will have everything at
hand which kindly nature has vouchsafed for the com
fort and well being of mankind. You win have the
companionship of real neighbors, not near-dwellers. Yon
will have the refining influences of the chureh. the edu
cational benefits of srr.! -m1s. the benefits of good
railroad facilities, a sP:ei.,Lu r.lmate, a fertile soil, and
an opportunity to build for y.uvrself a home in a eonn
try that is bound to be in good time the storehouse o'
the world.