San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 88, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 29, 1914 Page: 53 of 78
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SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS: SUNDAY MORNING. MARCH 29, 1914.
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tion that fl concern is going to open up a
tract nut far from here. Jus fun soon
we have sold out the Edlnburj proppsl
tlon. The men at rhe.h^acl of it hove al
ready given it out th^rthey intend to show
us how to sell good land. They say we
are selling lit prices ridiculously low when
the manifold advantages of the country an
taken into consideration
Gentlemen. I would have you remember
that other land which will be placed up
the market when this is all taken up will
In many Instances, \ i doable in pri
You may ask me why, this Js so. The
answer is easy. There Ik only a limited
supply of this wonderful Vall#»v land. The
demand for it, the maimer in which it
bring developed and the luxuriance ol
its money-making crops enter into one of
the agricultural marvels of the present
time. If there were several millions in-
stead of approximately 9.000 acres of this
delta, there woudl be a different story to
tell. Prices generally would be lower, ob
vlo UBly.
Before the beginning of the present revo-
ution about two years ego he handled
some of the biggest deals ever nut over in
Mexico. Ills directorv of lanrl men is a
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N THE settlement and development of that vast region known generally as
* the Southwest, enterprise and far-sightedness have brought about condi-
tions which have caused the whole country to marvel. In the United States
great numbers of settlement and colonization propositions have been inaugu-
rated and carried forward to success more or less complete in the past two
decades. Raw lands have been cleared, arid regions reclaimed, lakes and
swamps drained and made to produce wonderful crops in the never ending
process of feeding the multitudes; thrifty colonies have been established, for-
tunes made and peace and progress encouraged. Millions of acres of land
which twenty-five years ago was practically worthless when measured by the
agricultural standard—land that was popularly known as a part and parcel of
the "wild and woolly west"—is today under cultivation and regularly adding
its quota to the world's supply of foodstuffs. Year by year are the once great
trackless wastes becoming more restricted and circumscribed. The population
is ever increasing and the energies of man ever reaching out into the waste
places of the earth in search of propositions that may be turned to account.
In Texas, in that vast region called the territory of San Antonio; in that
big country in which the Alamo City is practically without competition, the
process of spreading the germ of agriculture has probably had no counterpart
in the history of the world, yet the start has only begun. A man whose
knowledge of the Southwestern country is intimate, says;
"The territory of which San Antonio is
the center and beacon, which territory ex-
tends on the south and southwest to the
Kio Grande, Is only in the (Jawn of its de-
velopment. Statistics prove that i^>t more
than 25 per cent of the territory has been
developed. In other words, only a small
fringe of this great, coutnry has been
touched by the hand of progress and enter-
prise. Its full development means a coun-
try the like of which the sun has not be-
fore shown on. Those who have recently
Joined in this great movement tyul those
who make investments in the next few
years and hold on to them are just as cer-
tain to share in the magnificent profits of
the near future as we are certain the sea-
sons will roll around in their regulaj^order.
No other country on the globe has a
brighter future than Southwest Texas."
VALLEY A SHINING EXAMPLE.
The man responsible for the foregoing,
whose opiniou is backed up by thousands
of others, is willing to admit that in all
this vast region of peace, progress and
plenty there is only one Lower Rio Grande
Valley, and that in this wonderful Valley
there Is but one Edinburg. Of all the set-
tlement and development propositions In
the United States the past decade it is
extremely doubtful if there has been any
whose history has carried such sustained
and absorbing interest as that dealing with
the country from Sam Fordyce to Browns
vllle. Here Is a country approximately
sixty miles long by fifteen miles in width,
nearly every acre of which is as rich, as
productive and as fertile as the famed
Valley of the Nile. It will grow success-
fully most anything accustomed to germi-
nate in the soil; it matures crops almost
every month in the year; its yields are so
abundant as to be staggering to the be
lief of the uninitiated, and its power to
produce wealth is unchallenged and its
praises are sung throughout the agricultu-
ral world.
Edinburg is close to the heart of this
wonderful delta, so close, in fact, that
tbere is nothing better in land values in all
the Valley from Sam Fordyce to the sea.
Like other regions the Edinburg proposi-
tion, comprising some 40.0u0 acre*, was a
sort of trackless waste until John riosner
and William F. Sprague established a sys
teiu of canals and brought to it the water
of the Rio Grande. This was not longer
ago than a year A trip through that sec-
tion today would cause one to seriously
doubt tbe truth of this statement. Bow-
ever, the records are the best evidence.
The development of the Edinburg land
in every direction from the county seat
probably is unprecedented, even in this
valley of wonders, this valley of luxuriance
and delight.
Having brought in the water, the next
step was to bring settlers to the Edinburg
lands. In other words, it was determined
that the land should be sol«l to actual, set
tiers to be cleared, planted and cultivated.
The Jackson-Vrecland Land Company of
Kansas City was selected as soiling agent
for the proposition, and this selection on
the part of Messrs. Closner and Sprague
proved a wise one. It was not untiL
August of last year that the contract was
signed with the Jackson -Vrecland Land
Company. It was several months subse-
quent to tbe contract date that the com-
pany began bringing homeseekcrs to Edin-
burg. \}*hat has happened since then reads
almost too much like fiction to be printed
in a real estate story.
HANDLES RIG PROPOSITIONS.
The Jackson-Vreeland Land Company is
one of the big concerns in the promoting
business. It is one of tbe best organized
and best known and equipped companies
of this character in all the country. It
is not given to wasting time on small
propositions. The two men at the bend of
it are men of big ideas. They are on to
their jobs. and. therefore, successful.
Among the illustrations on this page
will be found a picture of Jay M. Jack
son, senior partner of the big land con-
cern. He is shown in his "working
clothes." In other words, the big. happy
man snapped immediately after he
had ffuished addressing a crowd of home
seekers regarding the wonders of the
Valley, tbe value of its acres, and the
power of the soil to make money to its
owners when properly handled. The
homeseekcrs were intensely interested in
the talk, at the conclusion of whicfc Mr.
Jackson felt that he had done a pretty
good hour's work.
In numerous sections of many States, as
well as in Mexico, Mr. Jackson is well and
favorably known as a land man of keen
foresight and almost unlimited resource-
fulness. He has handled propositions in
Canada, in the Panhandle country and in
Mexico. To cover the field of his activities '
aud operations in a brief sentence, his j
handiwork has been known In practically j
every emigration district opened up in the
United States ia the past twenty years, i
tandard work, and copies of it are to be
found in nearly every large real estate
office In the United States, also in Canada
and Mexico.
"You have been in the business of pro-
moting and selling so long you must be
a millionaire by this time." was suggest-
ed to Mr. Jackson on a recent trip into
the Rio Grande Valley.
"Far from it," was the characteristic
brief reply. Then tly big land man con-
tinued :
"I admit that at times I have been
prosperous—have made bushels of money.
But there have been lean as well as fat
years. You may not know it, but promot-
ing big land propositions is an expensive
undertaking, and while fortunes are some-
times made in enterprises of this kind,
oodles of money can ne and often is lost
at the fascinating game.*
.Mr. Jackson deals with prospective pur-
chasers frankly and fairly. He affords
them every opportunity to investigate what
ho offers before makiug a purchase. He
tells thf whole story and makes no effort
at concealment or dissimulation. His meth-
ods inspire confidence, and confidence is
the highest element of salesmanship.
L. M. Vreelaud, whose picture also ap-
pear.- t»n this page, had valuable experience
in handling Rio Grande Valley inn-i before
he and bis associates contracted to sell
the Edlnburr lands, therefore he is quit**
well known throughout that region of
prosperity. Discussing the Edinburg
lands eeently, Mr. Vreeland said:
PRICE OF LAND NO BAR.
"Since taking hold of the Edinburg tract
last August we have sold out approximate-
ly 7?» per cent of it. The record is al-
most unprecedented when it Is understood
that we did not begin selling until sev-
eral months had elapsed after we took hold
of the proposition. If homesckers con-
tinue to grab the land at the same ratio
they have purchased it the past four or
five months, the entire proposition will
have been sold out before the middle of
the coming summer. This i/act alone
spesiks eloquently of the chaja^ter of the
land we are offering. If it were not as
r« presented it is hardly likely hundreds
of farmers would almost f:• 11 over one an-
other in their desire to own this quarter-
section, that eighty or the other sixty.
"The cnilre Edinburg proposition is com-
posed of the highest nrlced land our com-
pany has ever offered to th»» nubile, and
we have handled score* of Msr proposi-
tions in different sections of the coun-
try. In the past our company has handled
many propositions comprising cheap lands
dirt cheap, in fact. The Edinburg coun-
try is strictly a home-making proposition.
In this favored section it does not pay to
own the land and allow it to remain un-
developed indefinitely. While the price Is
not as high a« in other sections of the
Valley, it is high enough to encourage de-
velopment rather than to make it attract-
ive ms ::n investment to await enhancement
ns the result of adjacent improvements.
The men who are settling round Edinburg
are citizens of high cla*s. progressive and i
enterprising. If they were not of this j
olas* they would not be nutting their
money into Valley soil. The extremely
and shiftless classes are not found
for the reason they nre not finan-
cially able to eain a foothold. This j
fact means i great community of enter- j
prising, intelligent, proeres^Ive men and
womeu who will get the best out of the
land and promote the true community
>pint. There is no mixing up of tbe de-
sirables and undesirables."
Jay M. Jackson, in addressing a crowd
of homeseekcrs and investors ealhered on J
one «.f the picturesque spots of the Edin-
burg country, on the o~ asion of a re< »*nt
excursion, discussed land prices, and taid :
DISCUSSES LAND VALUES.
' The prices at which land is being offered
you are not high when compared witu j
pric - a«kod and received In other sections |
of the Valley which have been under de- i
veli.prient for the past mx or seven years.
Soil, climate, location anu possibilities con- |
sWred as they should be, this is really
the cheapest land in all the country of the
Southwest. Land is worth Just what you
can make out of it. If you can make
$100 mi acre out of it annually it is
worth four times as mue has land that
will make tou $2 "an acre a year. No one
will undertake to refute this «tat°ment.
if you think th* prices of this land
ar* high. Jn«t wait until it Is all swld j
out ; then you will bet something about j
high priced land. I have correct informa- i
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"There is but one Lower Rio Grande
Vallcv and if von wait to become a sharer
of the harve-ts that will follow the full
development of it oou would do well to
establish yourselves while there is yet
time."
HOME-GROWN LEMONS USED."
Even in midwinter the excursionists in
the Valley nre treated to lemonade made
of lemons pi' ked fresh from tree* in the
citrus frnit groves. <»n this page is a pic-
ture of a sroiip of home^e^kcrs from far
sway point* North. East and West, enjoying
lemonade servlde on a- ttrus fruit planta-
tion by several of the good woncn of the
Valley. The time was early in March, but
the sun was hot and the delirious drink
wai §rc.-..} enjoyed. After r.Xrcsumeau
4if r ■■ ■ i-i .« ,
i Lad been served ti e excursionists were
| taken for a stroll amontf i.^e ora::ge, lcui-
| on and fig trotes. The sight w.-.s an in-
teresting one, to mo>t of tbe v.ntors at
least, ^'articular note was made of the
it-inon trees leudlng under their load of
matured fruit. It doub.ful if any spot
in Southern California ever held out a
stronger appeal th;in was found right here
in the Valley in the immediate vicinity of
the Edinburg-lands.
The time of this particular \lslt was im-
mediately following one of the dlsaatroas
*t»li*z*rds which swept the Northern States.
Tbere had been a slight frost in the Val-
ley. but its effects, even on the tender
shoots of the citrus trees, was hardly
noticeable. No effort is made to conceal
iht fact that Uiete tome to the Valley
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country an o :a«!onal frost, but it is never
heavy enough to be blighting.
PROVEN CITRUS FRUIT BELT.
The Lower Rio Grande Volley is a
proven citrus fruit belt. It ha< every es-
?eutial of soli, climate and location pos-
-•-ied by Southern California waere fand
Is extremely ( heap ;it SoOO to $1.UI0 an acre.
Most of it ^11* much higher. Citrus fruit
culture in the Edinburg country is fully as
promi>ing as it is in Califoruia aud Flor-
ida. There is every reason to believe that
equal results could be obtained if orchard-
Ws would adopt and adhere to the same
manner of culture and protection. Here in
tbe Valley are to be found a large number
of citrus fruit orchards, most of which
have been set the past two years and are,«
therefore, not old enough to be bearing.
Cut there are groves cf bearing trees that
are producing profitable crops.
In connection with this industry it must
tc remembered that the Valley :s two or
three days nearer the Eastern markets
than California, a matter that meuns near
ly everything to the man in the business
of growing oranges and lemon*.
Two million dollars invested in land, in
a single proposition should be classed with
"big business." Since the Jack sou-Vree-
land Land Company took charge of the
selling end of the Edinburg tract the . on
pany has closed contracts with actual set-
tlers approximating this immense sum.
«The above read.ng natter or«p«red
special ami staff writer* for a general
lxu; aeJ further development of tiu#
aud as such is inserted as an a4v« ~ '
I
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San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 88, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 29, 1914, newspaper, March 29, 1914; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth432517/m1/53/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.