“ Agriculture. The enormous area of Texas with its favorable physical and climatic conditions has made it one of the leading agricultural States in the Union. In 1900 there were 125,807,017 acres, or 74.9 per cent. of the total land area, included in farms. This was three times greater than the corresponding area in any other State, But the improved area—19,576,076 acres—was not so great as in some other commonwealths. The average size of the farms, which decreased rapidly prior to 1880, has increased since that year, being 357.2 acres in 1900. ”

“ In 1810, when the great revolution in Mexico against Spain had begun, the Southerners sympathized intensely with the natives, and before very long were lending secret aid to Mexico. A filibustering expedition into Texas was led by James Long, a Natchez merchant and ex-officer in the United States Army. At Nacogdoches Texas was declared a republic and a provisional government organized; but the Spanish forces soon broke it up. For several years the coast of Texas became a rendezvous for pirate and adventurer. ”

“ The Texas ginneries first introduced the custom of pressing the cotton after ginning into the so-called ‘round bales,’ and this process is becoming very general. The manufacture of flouring and grist mill products is a growing industry, drawing its supply from Oklahoma and the Indian Territory as well as from the large local production. The extensive railroad interests of the State have necessitated a large number of repair shops, employing 2354 wage-earners. The manufacture of saddlery and harness is a thriving industry centred largely in the city of Dallas. ”

“ The southern plateau or Grand Prairie region is older, being of Lower Cretaceous formation, and this formation also skirts the central Paleozoic area on the east. It is succeeded on the east by a band of Upper Cretaceous strata constituting the Black Prairie belt. Beyond this the entire coastal plain is composed of marine Tertiary deposits. Workable beds of bituminous coal occur in the central portion of the State, and large deposits of lignite are stretched along the western border of the coastal plain. ”

“ The Constitution of that date prohibited any further issue of bonds, except for war purposes, as well as the lending of the State's credit to private enterprises. Because of the difficulty of paying the interest, the debt continued to grow for some time and in 1880 reached its maximum of $5,566,928, after which it steadily declined. The policy of the State has been to buy its own bonds for investment of the school and university funds. The income of the State is derived mainly from a general property tax and sale and lease of public land. ”

“ Following out his plan of reconstruction, June 17, 1865, President Johnson appointed as provisional Governor A. J. Hamilton, a man conspicuous in antebellum Texas politics. A convention was called which adopted the Constitution in force in the State prior to secession, with amendments recognizing the abolition of slavery, renouncing the right of secession, conferring civil rights on freedmen, repudiating the State debt incurred during the war, and assuming the tax which had been laid by the United States Government on the State during the period of secession. ”

“ The rainfall decreases rapidly westward, so that in the western part it is insufficient for agriculture. In the eastern portion near the mouth of the Sabine River the rainfall is sometimes over 60 inches, while in the extreme south, even near the coast, it is sometimes only five inches in a year. The normal annual average at Galveston is 49 inches, at Corpus Christi 30, at Austin 34, at Abilene, nearly in the centre of the State, 25, at Amarillo in the Panhandle 22, and at El Paso 9 inches. ”

“ Representatives are elected for terms of two years from counties or districts of contiguous counties according to population, being apportioned one to every 15,000 inhabitants, provided the number should never exceed 150. The Legislature meets biennially at a time provided by law and at such other times as the Governor may demand. If any member removes his residence from the district or county for which he was elected, his office becomes vacant. ”

“ The per cent. of illiteracy is not nearly so great as in most Southern States, being, in 1900, 14.5 of the total population ten years of age and over—whites 6.1 and blacks 36.0. The State is exceptional among the States of the South in that the public schools have a heavy endowment—a fact largely responsible for its educational progress. In September, 1902, the permanent school fund aggregated $42,563,229. ”

“ The area devoted to oats, the only other important cereal, is also increasing. The cereals mentioned, except wheat, which is confined more to the north, are grown in nearly all parts of the State. The Gulf Coast region is well adapted to the cultivation of rice, and since 1897, in which year rice irrigation began, much progress has been made in rice culture. In 1902 the area in rice was estimated at over 200,000 acres. The greatest development has occurred in the vicinity of Beaumont and in the Colorado River Valley. The acreage in hay and forage in 1899 was 148.5 per cent. ”

“ The corresponding figures for January are 52.7° at Galveston, 44.5° at El Paso, and 31.9° at Amarillo. On the coast the temperature seldom falls below the freezing point, while in the northwest it may fall several degrees below zero. In the western uplands, on the other hand, the temperature rises above 100°, while on the coast the maximum is between 90° and 95°. In winter the State is subject to severe north winds, known as northers, which often lower the temperature 50° in a few hours. ”

“ The old system of leasing convicts is being abolished, and the convict farm system has developed in its stead. The State owns two large farms for male convicts and smaller ones for female convicts and consumptive convicts. Convicts are also worked upon other than State farms according to the share rent system. Others are leased to farmers or for railroad work. From 2000 to 2500 convicts are annually employed upon share or contract farms, and about 400 upon the State farms. ”

“ In March, 1836, two parties, one under Johnson and the other under Grant, were captured by the Mexicans, and the prisoners slaughtered; also Fannin's command, which had been in possession of the Goliad fortress, surrendered and was shamelessly massacred. In all, nearly five hundred Texans met death. ”