Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 28, 1939 Page: 1 of 8
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For a Greater, Better Palacios Country—Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, Living
SUBSCRIPTION $1.75 AND $2.00 PER YEAR
PALACIOS, MATAGORDA COUNTY, TEXAS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1939
VOLUME XXXII NUMBER 52
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Youth of Texas Have
Big Stake in Welfare
Of State Oil Industry
Dallas, Texas.—The youth of
Texas have a bin slake in the fu-
ture welfare of the oil industry of
the State, which already is its out-
standing industrial enterprise, with
a $230,000,000 annual payroll, from
which lives one sixth of the popula-
tion, declared George C. Gibbons,
executive vice-presidetn of the Tex-
as Mid-Continent Oil and Gas As-
sociation, in an address here.
Gibbons told the Civic Federation
of Dallas that the maintenace of a
public attitude that will foster de-
velopment and expansion of the in-
dustry means profitable employ-
ment and greater opportunity to
engage in individual business enter-
prise for the on-coming geenration
of Texans, both in oil and in other
industrial activity that will develop
in Texas, with public encourage-
ment.
"The petroleum industry and its
allied branches spent in Texas last
year $755,000,000 for leases and
royalties, payrolls, materials, sup-
plies and taxes," Gibbons said. "It
refines 80 per cent of all the crude
oil produced in the state and it
produces 40 percent of all the man-
ufactured products of Tex^.s, being
by far the State's largest manu-
facturing enterprise."
The most widespread misconcep-
tion in Texas today is the belief
that the oil industry is paying less
than its fair share of the taxes in
this State, Gibbons declared.
"There is but one way to answer
this oft-repeated mis-statement,
and that is to give the exact fig-
ures," he said.
"In 1938, Texas oil producers
paid in State and local taxes more
than $44,000,000, according to of-
ficial figures taken from the tax
records of the State and its local
taxing sub-divisions, and it was di-
vided as follows:
"State gross production tax, at
2% percent, $15,333,421; State reg-
ulatory tax, at 3/16 of one cent per
barrel, $892,862; State franchise,
gross receipts, social security, per-
mits, car and truck licenses and
gasoline taxes paid by the industry
on gasoline used by its own vehicles,
$3,432,625; State ad valorem taxes,
$4,886,380.
"To this must be added $19,545,-
520 of ad valorem taxes paid to
local sub-divisionr of Texas that are
empowered to levy taxes, making
the total $44,090,808. Dividing this
figure by 476 million barrels of oil
produced in 1938 gives an average
tax figure of 9.3 cents that was
paid on every barrel of oil produced.
"Studies projected for 1939 on the
basis of the 1938 tax rolls indicate
at this time that the total State and
local taxes this year will average
at least 9.8 cents per barrel. This
is the highest tax collected on oil
among all of the oil producing
states."
Pointing out that the potential
profits of the industry arc still
largely underground ,in the form
of oil reserves, Gibbons stated that
under proration it will be many
years before the average oil opera-
tor can recover his original invest-
ments in wells.
"We have seen our market de-
mand in Texas shrink by 50 million
barrels with the past two years, due
largely to the fact that other oil
producing states have the advant-
age of Texas in their proximity to
consuming markets, transportation
rates and taxation," Gibbons said.
"Unfortunately, Texas has no mo-
nopoly on oil production. Within a
short time, much new production
has come into the picture in Illinois,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi,
and Nebraska. Some of these states
have no restriction on production,
and all have lower tax rates than
Texas."
Permanence of the oil industry,
he said, is assured by the fact that
there are now proved reserves suf-
ficient to maintain present produc-
tion rates for 21 years in Texas,
with mpch exploration and develop-
ment under way that will largely
increase these reserves. Latest fig-
ures, Gibbons said, show there is
oil or gas production in 147 coun-
ties, with exploration under way in
98 additional counties, leaving only
nine of the 254 Texas counties with-
out oil exploration activity under
way at present.
Sadler to Speak
Jerry Sadler, member of the
-Texas Railroad Commission, will be
the principal speaker at the two-
dollar "Old Hickory" Dinner to be
held at the Lamar Hotel in Hous-
ton, Saturday, January 6, which is
sponsored by the Andrew Jackson
Democrats of Texas.
J. T. (Thad) Scott of Houston,
general chairman of the sponsors
committee, said that his group had
selected Mr. Sadler as the principal
speaker because "he is the one man
in political life in Texas who closest
resembles those things which made
Old Hickory Jackson, the outstand-
ing leader of the plain people's
Democracy of our Nation."
DRIFTUIOOD
DRAGGED UP BY THE
BEACHCOMBER
Collegeport Girl
Killed Accidentally
Ruby Wells, daughter of Mrs.
Ida Wells, of near Collegeport, was
killed accidentally Thursday night
when she was carrying a shotgun
from the car to the house. Justice
of the Peace, G. R. Halliday and
Constable Zeke Noble, were called
to the scene where an inquest was
held and the verdict of accidental
death was rendered. Funeral ser-
vices were held in Matagorda, Fri-
day afternoon from the Methodist
Church with the Duffy Funeral
Home in charge.
District Court to
Convene in Jan.
District Clerk, J. Grady Walker,
has announced that District Court
will meet on January 1 and June 1,
in 1940 instead of March and Octo-
ber as it was this year.
Owing to Monday, January 1, be-
ing a holiday, court will convene
Tuesday, January 2, and continue
for six weeks.
Nellie Newsom—the very sound
of her name evokes to mind the
'words of the last Proverb; words
describing a virtuous woman whose
price is far above rubies . . ." She
seeketh wool and flax and worketh
diligently with her hands . . . She
bringeth her food from afar . . .
she layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff . . .
she stretcheth out her hand to the
poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands to the needy ... all her
household are clothed with scarlet
. . . her clothing is silk and purple
... in her tongue is the law of
kindness . . . she looketh well to
the ways of her household and eat-
eth not the bread of idleness . . .
Her children arise up, and call her
blessed; her husband, also, and he
praiseth her . . . Give her of the
fruit of her hands; and let her own
works praise her in the gates."
What more can be said of her;
what can words of ours add to the
praise "her own works" sing of
her? Her gentle spirit will walk
, with us always. The memory of her
I kindness and sweet humility will
| bring a melody to all the future
, years.
* * •
We took a long trip the other
night—clear back to our childhood.
To the days when Mr. Rhea had a
theatre in the building Calvin Doug-
las now occupies; when Kathleen
Williams and Pauline White held
forth in weekly thrillers. Yes, we
saw an old-fashioned movie, one of
the strips now sold for home movie
machines, evidently what was left
of an old flicker after its best days
were done. There was Charlie Chap-
lin with his mustache, spread feet,
and pie-throwing skill, in toto.
There were the ladies with smudg-
ed eyes, kimono coats, and a hair-
do that looked like it had been slept
in for a week. The action was so
fast we had to view the reel threie
times to catch the drift of the story,
if any. Though the years between
may be short, the road the industry
has traveled from making merely
moving pictures to creating the
artistic photography of today is
certainly a long one.
# * ♦
While we are on the subject of
drama, aren't some of the farces
being enacted across the water
amusing? Such as the Soviet's
triumphant announcement that
Stalin received a unanimous vote
in his district for.whatever he was
running for. It must be wonderful
to have the support of one's people
in that manner.
Interesting Facts on
Shrinkage of Fish
Most anglers know just how fast
fish can put on weight and length
once they are caught—the greatest
growth taking place the following
winter around the fireside—but
there is a lot of guesswork connect-
ed with how much a fish shrinks,
although there are fairly accurate
tables to go by.
Ordinarily and in round figures,
a fish weighing a pound will shrink
about an ounce in weight within
eight or ten hours after it is re-
moved from the water. Fish weigh-
ing 5 pounds will shrink about 5
ounces and this table can be carried
out in the same ratio for almost
any fish and the answer will be
fairly accurate.
The measurement of fish vary
after they are taken from the wa-
ter, the girth shrinking more than
the length. Actually there is little
shortening of the length of the fish
even after it has dried out com-
pletely because the bone is much
more solid than flesh.—Hook and
Shell Weekly.
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Leasing Texas Oyster Reefs
Recommended by Official
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WW WW sur VI
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TJELEN HAYES, one of Am-'-l-aV. foremost actresses, posed for
A this poster to aid the Finnish r. Ilcf drive headed by former
president Herbert Hoover.
One Out of Six Texans on
Relief ... Do Conditions
Warrant Such Dependency?
Austin, Dec. 23.—If Texas oyster
production is to be materially im-
proved, the legislature will have to
permit leasing of natural reefs to
individuals, in the opinion of J. B.
Arnold, director of the coastal di-
vision of the game, fish and oyster
commission.
Arnold, whose headquarters are
in Corpus Christi, said Saturday he
would recommend that step to the
commission and the legislature at
its next session.
Asserting there was no doubt pro-
Attendance at
Rotary is Slim
Due to this being a holiday week
the attendance at the Rotary Club
meeting Wednesday was far below
par and two Rotarians from Port
Lavaca were present making up
absent meetings.
Vice-president T. S. Brandon was
in the chair, President Newsom be-
ing out of the city. Secretary Feath-
er was also out of the city and Jack
Appleton filled his place. A report
of the Ladies Nite was given and
all judged the affair as being a
huge success.
Rev. Ramsey was in charge of
the program for the day and gave
one of the most interesting and
helpful talks of the year, using for
his subject, "A Father's Point of
View to his Sons or Children." He
brought out many strong points of
view and it was regretted that time
did not permit a round table discus-
sion of some of the pertinent facts.
It is the hope of all who heard Mi-
Ramsey that he will be on the pro-
gram again soon and the entire
membership there to hear the mes
sage he will have for them.
TWO MARRIAGES DURING
HOLIDAY SEASON
The holiday season would not be
complete with no wedding to report,
and this week two are announced.
One took place Saturday night,
when Miss Fairy Bingham and Le-
Roy Hogg were united in marriage.
The ceremony was performed by
Rev. John Parten in Port Lavaca
and was witnessed by a number of
their Palacios friends who accom-
panied them. We extend these popu-
lar young people our heartiest con-
gratulations.
The other young folks for whom
the wedding bells rung were Miss
Annie Eversole and Mr. Franklin
(Shady) Lane, who took their vows
Sunday noon in Brownsville at the
Methodist parsonage, Rev. Moore
officiating. Following the ceremony
the newly-weds made a trip to Old
Mexico, returning to Palacios, Tues-
day night when they were greeted
with hearty good wishes by their
many friends. Mis. Lane is one of
the county's most popular school
teachers. She taught two terms at
Turtle Bay and thi? year is a mem-
ber of the faculty at Wadswortb.
"Shady", as we all know him, is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Lane
of this city, and is one of the town's
best mechanics, lie is now with the
Foley Motor Co., and the Beacon
joins the friends of these worthy
young people in extending congrat-
ulations.
The W. P. A. Canning Kitchen
opened Wednesday and will operate
all this week and open again on
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 1940, when pro-
ducts will be taken care of and
orders received. All who have green
vegetables of any kind are urged
to bring them in, or if they will
notify the kitchen supervisors they
will call for them.
In this State are economic condi-
tions so bad that one out of every
six Texans must be on some form
of government relief, or is it the
system we have developed of ex-
tending aid far beyond anything
ever known in the past?
Whatever the answer to the ques-
tions, something is certainly wron ;
Change Made in
Volleyball Schedule
Due to the fact that three of the
games that were to be played before
the Christmas holidays were post-
poned there is a slight change in the
schedule for the remainder of the
first half of the season.
The revised schedule follows:
Men
JANUARY 2:
Faculty vs Crawford
JANUARY 4:
Firemen vs Humble
JANUARY 9:
Humble vs Faculty
JANUARY 11:
Crawford vs Humble
JANUARY 16:
Firemen vs Faculty
JANUARY 18:
Firemen vs Crawford
Women
JANUARY 2:
C. P. & L. vs Faculty
JANUARY 4:
Crawford vs Bridgettes
JANUARY 9:
Faculty vs Crawford
JANUARY 11:
C. P. & L. vs Bridgettes
JANUARY 16:
Faculty vs Bridgettes
JANUARY 18:
C. P. & L. vs Crawford
STANDING OF CLUBS
Men
Team P W L Pet.
Faculty 3 3 0 1.000
Firemen 3 2 1 .667
Humble 3 1 2 .333
Crawford 3 0 3 .000
Women
Team P W L Pet.
Crawford 3 3 0 1.000
Bridgettes 3 2 1 ,667
C. P. & L 3 1 2 .333
Faculty 3 0 3 .000
I when that proportion of our people
are relief clients. Such a showing
does not fit in with the picture of
' Texas as one of the richest regions
'in natural resources to be found in
the world.
Granting that there are many
whose condition necessitates public
aid, there surely must be room here
for a more widespread practice of
the virtue of self-reliance, and the
development of individual initiative.
The survey revealing approxi-
mately 1,000,000 Texans sharing in
some form of relief, as presented by
the Austin Observer, discloses the
number of clients each relief agency
has, as follows: National youth ad-
ministration (in school) 22,000,
(out of school) 15,000; old-age pen-
sioners, 121,646; surplus commodity
recipients, 147,021; certified to W.
P. A., 580,490; C. C. C. enrollment,
14,700; State eleemosynary institu-
tions, 19,685; Confederate pension-
ers, 4035.
Add to this number all those who
are on the public payrolls, as of-
ficials or regular employes, and it
is not difficult to understand why
taxes are high, and are going high-
er.
The best hope the taxpayer has
for relief is in reduction of the
number in the classifications of
certified to W. P. A., surplus com-
modity recipients and National
youth administration. No dimuni-
tion of old-age pensioner numbers
may be reasonably expected. The
number will increase. Likewise, if
this dizzy age remains, the number
in eleemosynary institutions will
gain. More and more people will go
goofy.—Houston Post.
Mrs. J. R. Elliott and daughters,
Miss Mary Allene, of Freeport, and
Nannette, of San Marcos, spent
Christmas in Corpus Christi, with
their son and brother, Rupert Elliott
and familv.
Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Perryman of
Beaumont spent Christmas here
with their daughter, Mrs. J. L.
Koerber and family. They were ac-
companied by their grand-daughter,
Miss Melba Koerber who is in train-
ing at the nursing department of
Herman Hospital in Houston.
554 Grade Crossings
Eliminated Ly Texas
Highway Department
Austin, Texas.—Dec. 26.—Fig-
ures released by the Texas High-
way Department on Grade Crossing
Elimination show that 521 grade
separations' have been built from
1917, the beginning of the Highway
Department, to August 31, 1939,
with 33 under construction or ap-
proved for construction, making a
total of 554. There were also 814
grade crossings eliminated by re-
location of the highways, with 16
more under construction or approv-
ed for construction, total 830.
While the majority of the grade
crossings have been eliminated in
recent years, this is an average of
63 eliminations for each of the 22
years the Department has operated,
and over 5 a month. In addition,
highway protection flashing signals
have recently been installed at 148
crossings, and 21 more are being
installed or are approved for in-
stallation.
The result of this important
means of safeguarding the travel-
ing public is reflected in a 14% re-
duction in fatalities in accidents at
railroad crossings for the first 10
months of 1939 over the same
period in 1938. In some states,
grade crossings on streets or high-
ways with very little traffic are
closed as an inexpensive and a cer-
tain mean^ of averting collisions.
Present Texas laws will not permit
the Highway Department to close
railroad grade crossings.
duetion of the tasty mollusks could
be increased, the director declared
private cultivation by companies on
the Texas coast had been a uniform
failure and it remained for the
state to exercise more rigid control
over the reefs.
Unique Problem Seen
"Texas has a unique oyster prob-
lem of its own, due to its laws, past
experience with the industry and
some difference in the environment
of the oysters themselves," he stat-
ed. "Oysters will not grow every
place on the coast. They are pro-
lific and probably have already
established reefs at practically
every part of the bottom that is
suited to them.
"The idea that a large part of a
bay can be planked down with oys-
ters in thousand-acre blocks is an
impossibility. It is possible with
care to increase the size of the nat-
ural reef but in this state reefs are
not leasable."
Production Declines
Arnold noted a decline in produc-
tion for the fiscal year ending Aug.
31, 1939, as compared with the year
before and pointed out that during
the previous year, October yielded
95,967 pounds as compared with
only 57,855 pounds in October, 1939.
Camparable figures for November
were: 1938, 118,301 pounds and
1939, 112,293.
The director admitted that occa-
sionally a new reef might be estab-
lished artificially.
"But this is not common," he
said, "and efforts to profit by sow-
ing oysters over large areas are
foredoomed to failure for, except in
a few spots, oysters will die.
Louisiana Reefs Leased
"In spite of the vaunted oyster^
culture there has been a steady de-
cline in production on the Atlantic
coast. Most of this culture has con-
sisted of removing seed oysters
from natural beds to fattening
grounds. It is clearly seen that here
production still depends on the con
dition of the natural beds. This is
perhaps the reason for the decline.
"The maintenance of production
in Louisiana depends on prolific
seed beds and the fact that private
individuals were able to lease nat-
ural reefs years ago. These indi-
viduals care for their reefs. In Tex-
as all reefs are public and no one
cares for them."
Arnold said the life history of the
oyster was fairly well understood
and there was enough knowledge
at hand to permit a beginning in
the direction he proposed.
200 Couples Attend
Christmas Dance
Notwithstanding the inclement
weather Monday night the Christ-
mas dance at the pavilion was a
grand success. More than 200
couples enjoyed dancing to the
music furnished by Arch Haley and
his orchestra. Mr. Graff announces
Hezzie Henderson and his orchestra
will play for the New Year Eve
dance and a large crowd is antici-
pated for the New Year frolic.
Silly things are called hats and
silly things get under them.
Garden Club News
Now that Christmas rush is over
we can all get back to our "dirt
digging." Even tho it is rather
chilly out doors there is much gar-
den work that needs to be done. We
must make plans now for our spring
planting; all dead and diseased
branches must be cut off and burn-
ed and, in fact, a general cleaning
made of the whole place.
As we drive about, we notice a
few calendulas in bloom. These, of
course, were planted early and, un-
less we have some extreme cold
weather, will soon be in full bloom.
Haven't you enjoyed the Christ-
mas lights this year? Nearly every
house you pass has a lighted tree
or candle in the window so that all
may share its beauty. At first we
thought we would keep count and
see just how many there were, but
we soon became so rushed with the
usual last minute activities that we
lost all count. However, we feel
sure there were at least twenty out
side decorations in the residential
section. In the opinion of the com-
mittee who inspected these decora-
tions, the following homes deserve
special mention: Bill Clement, Carl-
ton Crawford, Mary Dismukes, J.
C. Stulting, Amy Hall, and Clyde
Aldrieb. There are many many
more which are well worth driving
by to see. Of course, there are also
many beautiful trees and decorated
windows in the business section. As
a result, the entire community
seemed to say "Merry Christmas"
to all. Publicity Chairman.
HAPPY NEW
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Dismukes, Mrs. J. W. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 28, 1939, newspaper, December 28, 1939; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth412169/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.