Texas produced, in 1886, 69,213,000 bushels of corn on 4,417,688 acres, valued at $38,759,280; wheat on 529,104 acres producing 5,383,000 bushels, valued at $4,844,700; oats, on 552,966 acres, producing 11,369,000 bushels, valued at $5,684,500; cotton, on 3,771, 740 acres, 1,499,698 bales, valued at $61,102,188; other field crops, on 125,444 acres, products valued at $1,524,686; or a total value of field products, $111,915,354. January 1st, 1888, Texas had the following live stock: horses, 1,225,803 head, valued at $38,115,135; mules, 193,488 head, valued at $10,032,254; milch cows, 772,716 head, valued at $10,972,567; other cattle, 6,336,504 head, valued at $63,077,993; sheep, 4,523,739 head, valued at $6,864,744; hogs, 2,279,082 head, valued at $6,436,128; a total live stock value of $135,498,821; grand total of agricultural and live stock products amounting to $247,414,175. The total of assessed values of all properties in Texas for 1888, $730,225,123. The total commerce of Texas, imports, exports and coastwise trade, amounts to nearly $200,000,000 per annum, even with the limited harbor facilities now enjoyed. Deep harbors would add from 100 to 200 per cent, and make Texas second to no state in America in commerce, etc. The following recapitulation of Texas statistics we glean from Hon. F. B. Chilton's reports of January 1st, 1888. They are, somewhat, but not materially at variance with United States statistics, owing probably to the fact that the following is one year later than the government reports: Of which there are pine and cypress, acres Number of acres of public free school lands, controlled by the State 66 66 State University lands Other school interests.. 66 66 66 Asylum lands (Deaf and Dumb, Lunatic, Blind and Orphan), 100,000 acres each... Number of counties (none less than 30 miles square). And enough territory to organize an additional Number of bales of cotton raised, 1887 66 bushels of corn raised, 1887. 66 66 66 of oats raised, 1887 66 of wheat raised, 1887 Estimated live stock in 1887.. 66 66 of hides, 1887, about Estimated population of 1887.. Number of miles of railway, 1887 And number of miles to be built in 1888. Taxable values of 1887..... Rate of taxation. Value of farm products 274,356 175,587,840 20,000,000 46,000,000 26,000,000 *40,000,000 Endowment fund of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College.. $147,769,202 $2,285,451 $2,300,000 $13,884,316 $32,505 $500,000 $12,000,000 $215,600,000 While Mr. Chilton estimates the value of railways in the state at over $200,000,000, it is a remarkable fact that no Texas railways have ever yet paid a dividend, accounted for probably in the marvelous amount of railroad extensions indulged in by the various railroads, and the vast mileage necessary to traverse the state, some of which must unavoidably pass through large stretches of unoccupied territory. Texas is almost an empire within itself, and forms no small portion of the vast empire that stretches from the "Father of Waters" on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is the key to the great treasure vaults of the Great West. The establishment of deep harbors on the Texas coast will open the door which will admit of the West; "the greater half of the continent" interchanging commerce with the world without the intervention and extortion of the east, and build up a Texas such as the early Texas fanatic never dreamed of, or the most sanguine of present sages ever conceived. In size and resources Texas surpasses almost any European country, and the Great West collectively surpasses all of Europe combined. CHAPTER VII. CALIFORNIA-1542 TO 1889. PRIOR to 1542 California was practically unknown, and the name, probably, originated through a Spanish romance, published in 1510, in which the author speaks of an island which he called California Island, a place where an abundance of gold and precious stones was to be found. The Spaniards, the great explorers, fitted out a fleet in quest of the island of so much abundance, under the command of one Cabrillo, and in 1542 they coasted along what is known as California, as far north as Cape Mendocino, in 42 degrees north latitude. In 1579 Sir Francis Drale, in command of an English fleet, plundering Spanish commerce, coasted along California as far as 48 degrees north latitude and it is believed sailed into San Francisco bay to overhaul his vessels; he claimed the country in the name of England, and named it New Albion. The country, however, remained unoccupied, except by a few Jesuites, until 1767, when the Franciscan friars entered and occupied California, driving out the Jesuits with the aid of a proclamation of the King of Spain, backed by armed coadjutors. They succeeded in establishing various missions, succeeding in bringing under their submission the mass of the aborigines, and prospered well until Mexico became independent (in 1822); that marked the turning point in the Franciscan rule, and their power gradually waned until 1840, when they were entirely broken up. The Indians were treated by these missions as little better than slaves; they were, however, taught frugality, and prospered in a wordly way, intellectually they were very little aided by the missions. In all there were twenty-one missions, the first being established in 1769, the last in 1820. They were all well located, the priests having displayed excellent judgment in selecting the best garden spots for their settlements. The indian population was large, even up as late as the cecession of California to the United States by Mexico in 1848. The mission indians numbering at that time about 30,000. In 1880 there were but 11,630 indians in the entire state. Just prior to the United States coming into possession of California, there was great rivalry between England, France and the United States over this Mexican possession, and in 1842, Commodore Jones, of the American navy, captured the fort at Monterey, and raised the stars and stripes; the next morning, however, he hauled down his flag The and made satisfactory apology for the mistake. Both European countries were charged with attempting to wrest this country from Mexico; such a thing the United States would not tolerate. result being that when war was declared with Mexico by the United States, that General Fremont, who had been upon a scientific investigation on the Pacific coast, abandoned his explorations in May, 1846, and made his way to Sonoma, where he organized a battalion of mounted riflemen, and on the 5th day of July recommended a declaration of independence. Commodore Sloat, on a United States frigate, put in at Monterey on July 2nd, and on the morning of the 7th, invested and took possession of the fort, and hoisted the stars and stripes, with no intention of imitating Commodore Jones' example, by hauling them down again. He immediately issued a proclamation declaring California to be a part of the United States. General Fremont in obeying the orders of Commodore Stockton, (who had superceded Sloat), instead of those of General Kearney, who ranked the Commodore, and assumed command, got himself into trouble and was court-marshaled, found guilty of "mutiny and disobedience." President rejected the finding as to mutiny, and remitted the penalty on the other count, but General Fremont refused the clemency and resigned. He afterwards conducted several successful expeditions overand to California, and served the government most faithfully in his explortaions in the Rocky Mountains, and he is regarded almost universally as the conqueror of the territory. The At the close of the war with Mexico California was ceded to the United States in the treaty of peace ratified May 19th, 1848, and immediately the question came up whether it should be admitted to the Union as a free or a slave state. Congress adjourned March 4th, 1849, without settling the question, or even forming a territorial government. San Francisco was, however, made a port of entry and the customs laws were extended over the country. Meanwhile, in 1848, gold had been discovered, and a grand rush had been made to the new Eldorado; the population had increased rapidly, the matchless harbor at San Francisco had attracted the commerce of every nation, presenting a centre of attraction for the restless and energetic of every race and clime. September, 1849, the people held a convention, which framed a State Constitution, in which slavery was expressly forbidden. September 7th, 1850, congress passed a bill admitting California as a free state, but as a compromise left New Mexico and Utah, (organized on the same day as territories), open to its introduction. The gold excitement was now at its height. fortunes were made in a day, and a constant stream of gold flowed eastward, intensifying the excitement. Speculation ran rife, and property in San Francisco was held at fabulous prices; lots were worth gold coin enough to carpet them; all forms of gambling were regarded as legitimate business; adventurers and crimi |