Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, February 22, 1918 Page: 1 of 8
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ATOES
per cwt.
ande Grain Co.
Sfcibmte
APPLES
Just Received
Bio Grande Grain Co
LTME IV.
MERCEDES, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1918.
NUMBER 52
ARAS IN
m DEMAND
Bean of the Valley
iterests Food Ad-
ministration
LEGISLATURE GALLED
IN SPECIAL SESSION
MAY EREGT THEIR OWN WARNING TO GROWERS
PRECOOLING PLANT OF CASTOR SEANS
Governor Sets Next Tuesday as Date
For Solons to Asssemble
Again.
ALEXANDER MARKETING CO., ES-
TABLSHES IN MERCEDES.
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS SEEK
TO BEAT THE FARMER.
SALE OF CROP
SEEMS ASSURED
Peden Would Know
[ow Many Pounds
rill Be For Sale
[D PRICE DESIRED
>araWill Add a $100
It Acre Crop to the
Valley Lands
Tribune, in the issue of Jan.
shed an article showing the
be made from the growing
‘eDara bean, the small navy
ently introduced here. The
article^ Wits froth the pen of Rev.
J. C. Boyd, who had successfully
grown and marketed a number of
acres on bis farm at Mercedes last
fall but his name did not appear as
the author of the communication.
Among other things the article stat-
ed that there was a ver~ good mar-
ket for the beans and that the gov-
ernment was willing to take the pro-
duct at high prices for use in the
army.
As a result of this communication
the Tribune received a flood of let-
ters from farmers throughout the
Valley who took issue with the state-
ment that there is a ready market
for the Tepara bean and stated that
ey- had been unable to dispose of
i?Gps at fair "rices. One of
scribers at Mission said that
jrad a car load ready to ship and
been unable to find a market
it. Another at McAllen wrote
he and his imtoiediate neighbors
load two cars
b^rtainly did seem strange that
^prere should be any question about
"marketingone of the principal and
most important commodities used in
the army and navy and Mr. Boyd
and the Tribune immediately got
busy to ascertain why these farmers
should have, difficulty in disposing
’Of their crops.
Probably the best answer to this
question is a letter from the Federal
Food Administration written to Mr.
Boyd by Food Administrator Peden
of Houston. It reads as follows
“Please advise us as nearly as
possible the number of bushels or
of pounds in your community; car-
-loads is rather an indefinite de-
scription of quantity because of the
minimum or maximum requirements
in shipping.
‘We do not understand why you
;.are having difficulty in finding a
market for this product. Please for-
ward a sample pound, and we will
see what can be done in placing
them. There is a great demand over
Jthe country for beans of all charae-
[detr and I feel that trade only needs
to know of yonr sunply.”
A letter from Mr. E. W. Cole, who
I represents the U. S. Food Adminis-
Itration at Austin is also to the same
[effect. It reads:
“Referring to yours of January
t6th relative to Tepara beans, will
lay that a party in Laredo, Mr. F. W.
[Vlalley, sold 3000 pounds of Tepara
>eans in Houston, Texas, for 12c per
hound delivered. They were re-
fcleaned and hand-picked. As men-
tioned in a previous communication,
lvrou should be able to dispose of your
pupply if your price is in line, and
^.mples were submitted to proper
|ties who are or could be interest-
this product.
The only way to dispose of your
Surplus would be to communicate di-
rect with some broker or wholesaler,
Supply them with sample and price.
|\Iany are not aware of the existence
>f this bean and when educated to
|the fact that tlie~ are equal to the
“law in every respect except size, a
|eady market will be created where
^rops could be sold.
“Trusting that you will see fit to
[ubmit sample and price to pros-
[octive buyers, I am,” etc.
Following receipts of these letters
number of brokerage and whole-
sale houses were communicated with
and assurances received that there
I will be a ready market for all the
ITepara beans that can be raised here
land at prices that will make the
growing .of the commodity very
[profitable. Harlon & Harlon, well
iwn produce dealers of Dallas,
fhat they are willing to con-
for all the beans that can
in the Valley this year at
its per pound. However,
is considerably less than
3d the grower can expect
jCar load was shipped
bout a week ago
Austin, Tex., Feb. 19.—Governor
Hobby today issued his proclamation
convening the thirty-fifth legisla-
ture in its fifth called session to be-
gin at 10 a. m. Tuesday, Feb. 26,
or one week from today. The gov-
ernor submits eight subjects and
adds a ninth proviso reserving the
right to submit other matters of
“vital importance” is understood to
have special significance—that is,
that trivial and local matters will
not be offered the solons.
The proclamation makes no refer-
ence to the findings of the legisla-
ture investigating committees n.or to
amendments to the election law.
These matters will come later, if
at all. The governor tenders the
liquor and vice subjects described in
his statement of last Friday, which
constitute five of the separate items
submitted, and three additional mat-
ters—relief for the drouth-stricken
areas, legislation making effective
the conservation amendment to the
constiution and an adequate and uni-
form depository law. The first item
is the ten-mile zone prohibition law.
In giving the depository law mat-
ter to the special session it is known
that the governor will insist that the
legislature require that all state
funds which can be deposited in
banks be placed where it will draw
interest, and the best rate of interest
possible.
No hint is given by the governor
as to what he will do with the
recommendations of the investigating
committees and the question of pro-
viding majority nominations. Judg-
ing from today’s proclamation, the
governor considers the subjects
therein submitted as paramount to
committee recommendations and
election law changes. It is felt here
that if the legislature expeditiously
handles the subjects given it the
governor will submit the other mat-
ters from time to time. It may take
two sessions of thirty days each to
complete the program.
For An All Year Round Business-
Will Buy Vegetables and Sell
Seed and Feed.
Would Require Cash Deposit of Grow-
er on the Acreage
Contracted For.
Boyd has disposed of his entire crop
at from twelve to fifteen cents per
pound.
Another letter has been received
from the Federal Food Administ 'a-
tor _ which is of much interest he. 3.
It is as follows:
“We have your very kind letter
or the 24th and appreciate your ex-
pression of gratitude for assistance
this department has been able to
render you in the disposition .of your
Tepara beans.
“Regarding to the development of
this crop in your section, we will
gladly render any assistance in giv-
ing publicity to the splendid oppor-
tunities for this crop.
“We will soon inaugurate a cam-
paign of publicity, encouraging
greater crop production in 1918, and
shall work in co-operation with all
other departments of the state and
national government in speeding up
production. v
If you will kindly give us some-
tuing like an outline of the territory
in which Tepara beans can be grown
in your section and something of the
cultural methods, the ease of pro-
ductions, and the probability of
yields-and profits, it will assist us
m giving publicity to the “more
Deans” campaign.
It would appear from these letters
that the Tepara bean of the Lower
Valley has been entirely modest and
that with proper advertising and
publicity it will take its place this
year among the commodities that are
m great demand.
Even at eight cents per pound the
growing .of the Tepara bean is very
profitable. It is planted in August
at a time when the land is not in
demand for other crops and may fol-
low a crop of corn or cotton. It
requires no irrigation, in fact, the
only danger to the crop is a contin-
uous period of rainy weather. One
thousand pounds per acre is a fair
yield which would mean $80 per
acre even at eight cents per pound.
Add to this from one-half to one
ton of fine hay worth around $20
per ton. Besides this it is one of
the very best soil builders and reno-
vators there is and makes a fine cov-
er crop. Fifteen pounds of seed are
planted per acre. The crop is grown
and ready to harvest within ninety
days from planting. As no irrigation
is used very little cultivation is
needed, in fact, the heavy growth
soon entirely covers the ground thus
affording a perfect shade. The beans
are harvested dry by pulling the
vines and placing them in shocks.
The expense .of this is about $1.00
per acre. Add to this 25 cents per
bushel for threshing or about $4
per acre.
It is said that the Tepara bean is
five per cent richer in protein than
the Michigan navy bean of
merce.
The Alexander Marketing Company,
who have been operating in the
building of the Unit Marketing Sys-
tem for the past few months, have
moved to the old Valley Grain and
Feed warehouse, where they will
have plenty of room to take care of
their large stock of goods.
The Alexander Marketing Company
is a Texas corporation, operating on-
ly in the Rio Grande Valley, and is
altogether a local organization, but
is one of the companies affiliated
with the Nash .organization, which is
the largest and strongest fruit and
vegetable organization in the world.
This concern has behind it not only
all the money needed to carry on
its business, but has also the bene-
fit of all the many jobbing houses
of the organization in other places
through whom to distribute the vege-
tables from the Valley. It also has
the benefit of the buyers for the or-
ganization to get the very best of
seeds, feed, apples, potatoes and oth-
er such merchandise that this com-
munity consumes at first hand prices
thus cutting out intermediate pro-
fits.
This concern will maintain its or-
ganization and remain open for busi-
nes sthe entire year; they will al-
ways be ready to take care of the
wants of the farmers of this com-
munity.
They say they want to build up
slowly, strongly, conservatively,
handle all outgoing vegetables they
can, sell safely and well, and keep
always on hand a supply of such
seeds, feed and produce as this com-
munity wants it to carry that can be
handled on a satisfactory basis.
They have purchased the cold stor-
age plant of Mr. Roy Campbell at
San Benito, and have in mind the
erection of a similar plant at Mer-
cedes to take care of their inter-
ests in the upper end of the Valley
while their San Benito plant will
care for the lower end of the Valley.
During the summer they will bring
in from California straight and mix-
ed cars of all California fruits and
vegetables, in addition to operatng
very largely in hr.oom corn, cotton
and field corn.
NEW MARKET REPORTS
TO BE POSTED DAILY
Mercedes Bank Makes Arrangements
to Display Complete Daily Reports
on Bulletin Board.
com-
GOV. FERGUSON APPLIES FOR
WATER TO IRRIGATE LAND
The shippers of Mercedes and, in
fact, the Valley, are to have the
benefit of the service' of the daily
market reports recently inaugurated
by the U. S. department of agricul-
ture. The headquarters ,of the bu-
reau for this section has been estab-
lished at Houston and daily reports
will be forwarded from there.
The Hidalgo County Bank of Mer-
cedes has arranged to receive the
reports and immediately post them
upon the bulletin board at the bank.
This will be of great benefit to the
farmers of this section as they will
be able to keep fully informed as to
the price which they should receive
for their commodities.
The Tribune will also publish a
weekly summary of the markets
which, supplemented with the reports
of the bjureau of crop estimates will
be of great value.
The daily reports will cover the
market situation of all the principal
purchasing points. They will not on-
ly give the prices but also the quan-
tity of produce arriving daily and the
points from which shipped.
-o—--
PEACE FORCED ON RUSSIA.
Bolsheviki Leaders Lose Nerve Un-
der Threatened Renewal
of Invasion.
Evidently some one has been try-
ing to “put one over” on the farm-
ers as appears from a letter from
the war department directed to Coun-
ty Agent W. Z. Miller.
It is well known that the govern-
ment will be in need of great quan-
tities ,of castor oil for use in the
aeroplane service and contracts have
been made with a number of firms
and individuals for the growing of
the castor beans at a price to be
paid by the government of $3.00.
Fortunately the farmers here have
carried on their negotiations through
Congressman John N. Garner and
are consequently safe.
The following is the letter referred
to:
War Department, Office of Chief
Signal Officer, Washington, Jan. 19,
1918.—From Office Chief Signal Of-
ficer; subject: “Aero Supply Com-
mittee” Literature.
1. This .qffiee has been advised
that you have recently received lit-
erature from so-called “Aero Sup-
ply Committee” in which you have
been urged to grow castor beans.
This literature promises a price of
$3.00 per bushel for castor beans.
A form .of contract was also sent
you for execution, which required a
deposit of $1.50 per acre with the
“Aero Supply Committee” as evi-
dence of good faith. All this litera-
ture was in such form that one
might get the idea that the “Aero
Supply Committee represented the
government.
2. This is to advise that the “Aero
Supply Committee” has absolutely no
authority from the war department
to make contracts for the growing
of castor beans. The duly author-
ized representatives of the Signal
Corps are making contracts with cer-
tain persons for the growing of cas-
tor beans and these persons are au-
thorized to make sub-contracts in
certain approved forms. However,
no contract has been made or will
be made with the “Aero Supply Com
mittee” or with anyone connected
with it.
3. This letter is sent to you for
your information.
By authority of the chief signal of-
ficer.
CHAS. VAN WAY,
Lieut. Co., Si’gnal Corps.
GO. COMMISSIONERS
APPOINT TREASURER
Geo. Linesetter Will Succeed John
Clossner as Custodian of Public
Funds of Hidalgo County.
VERY ACTIVE SESSION
OF TOE CITY COUNCIL
Finances of City to Be Put on Busi-
ness-Like Basis—State In-
spectors Coming.
Austin, Tex., Feb. 17.—Application
has been filed with the state board
of water engineers by former Gov-
ernor James E. Ferguson for a per-
mit to divert water from Little River
in sufficient quantity to irrigate a
cents. ^ And Mr. (farm of 350 acres in Bell county
London.—Russia is now forced to
sism peace upon the conditions pro-
posed by Germany, says an official
Russian statement received here.
The .official statement was signed
by Premier Lenine and Leon Trotzky,
the foreign minister. It protests
against the German resumption of
the war and says the council of
people commissaries is now forced to
declare its readiness to sign a peace
as dictated by the delegations of
the quadruple alliance at Brest-
Litovsk. It promises to give a de-
tailed reply without delay to the Ger-
man peace conditions.
The statement was transmitted
through the wireless telegraph sta-
tions of the Russian government to
the government of the German em-
pire at Berlin.
-o-
Wood pulp is spun into a thread
and then woven into a fabric, the
warp of which is linen thread. It is
said to be durable and to stand
washing five or six times. It is util-
ized for clothing of all kinds, but
especially for underwear.
The commissioners’ court in ses-
sion at Edinburg Saturday appointed
Geo. E. Linesetter of Pharr as coun-
ty treasurer to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of John
Clossner.
Mr. Linesetter is one of the well
known residents of the county and
has been the proprietor of the Pharr
hotel for a number of years.
At the incorporation of Pharr as
a municipality under the commission
form of government Mr. Linesetter
was elected the mayor and still holds
that office.
A few months ago he was appoint-
ed one of the commissioners of the
Hidalgo County Drainage District to
fill a vacancy caused by the death
of J. H. January.
The appointment is a popular one
and the incumbent will make a good
official.
WILL PREVENT SHIPMENTS
OF TUBERCULAR CATTLE
Mexico City.—The government has
decided to enforce strictly measures
to prevent the importation into Mex-
ico from the United States of tuber-
cular cattle. It is asserted that the
bringing in of diseased cattle from
north of the Rio Grande, where the
American meat inspection service
makes their slaughter impossible,
has caused epidemics in Mexico.
--o--
Small Per Cent of Taxes Delinquent
Austin, Tex.—Seventy-four county
tax collectors have made reports to
the controller’s department, and they
show that an average of only 8 per
cent of the taxpayers are delinquent.
This is regarded as an excellent
showing with prevailing war condi-
tions, when it is considered that the
percentage of delinquencies of all
counties in the state last year was
6 per cent.
The regular monthly meeting of
the Mercedes city council was held
Monday night with the mayor and all
the members present.
W. H. Hackler was appointed to
make the assessment of taxable prop-
erty for the present year and ar
rangements made to have a com-
plete inventory of everything liable
to taxation for city purposes. Each
taxpayer will be furnished a blank
upon which he will be required to
make the proper rendition. A hoard
of equalization will then review the
values and increase them when they
have been rendered too low. The
occupation taxes will also be collect-
ed from those liable for them. The
council also took steps to enforce
the collection of the road taxes.
If the taxable property in the city
is properly assessed and equalized
and then collection made together
with the occupation and road taxes
it means that the resources of the
city will be increased probably fifty
per cent, making possible many pub-
lic improvements which are badly
needed.
No Rendition of Property Last Year
No rendition of property whatever
was received last year and appar-
ently very little effort made to col-
lect the occupation or road taxes.
As a result the city closed the year
with a nice deficit. There are a
number of pieces of real estate in the
city upon which taxes have never
been collected. Payment of these
taxes will be enforced even if it is
necessary to sell the property at tax
sale. Altogether, the finances of
the city are in anything but a satis-
factory condition. There is no pub-
lic indebtedness except for warrants
issued p,nd these amount to about
$1500. But the holders of these
warrants present, them as rapidly
as there is any money to pav them
and the result is that the treasury
is always depleted with no money to
meet any emergency or even pay the
ordinary expenses of maintaining the
streets, parks and other improve-
ments.
_ The proper .assessment and collec-
tion of taxes will rapidlly relileve
this condition.
Better Street Lights.
The council also took up the mat-
ter of a greatly improved street
lighting system and it ite believed
that arrangements for this will be
consummated in the near future.
Arrangements were also made for
a representatives of the state de-
partment to make a personal in-
spection of the premises of every
resident in the city limits to -be
followed by a rigid enforcement of
the legal requirements. This will
result in placing the entire city in a
perfect sanitary condition. The en
tire expense of this inspection will
he paid by tl$e state.
A statement of -the financial con-
dition of the city with an itemized
account of the receipts and disburse-
ments is being prepared and will
be published as soon as completed.
FOOD CROPS
A NECESSITY
Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Ousley
Points Out Why
SOUTH MUST GROW
ITS OWN BREAD
All Northern Wheat Will
Be Needed for Army
and Allies
PATRIOTISM DEMANDS
That We Plant with a
View of Helping the
Nation
REDFIELD SAYS BUSINESS
AFTER WAR IS UNCERTAIN
Columbus, 0Audience Infers Coun-
try is Concentrating on
Present.
Columbus, O.—It is impossible to
say what commerce or business con-
ditions will exist after the war or
what conditions the busines inter-
ests of the country will have to meet
in the years following the war, Wil-
liam C. Redfield, secretary of com-
merce, told Columbus business men
in an address here.
His inference was that the govern-
ment now is making little effort
to obtain a solution of that ques-
tion, but instead has turned its whole
attention to the needs of the pres-
ent hour.
“VICTORY BREAD MUST CONTAIN
NOT MORE THAN 80 PCT. WHEAT
Houston, Tex.—The Houston Mor-
ris plan bank was chartered at Aus-
tin Friday with a capital stock of
$100,000, with James A. Baker, Paul
B. Timpson and Ennis Cargill as in-
corporators. A committee was ap-
pointed recently to make tentative
arrangements for opening the bank.
About ninety persons in Houston
have subscribed for stock. Accord-
ing to the present plans, the institu-
tion will be opened about March 1.
Loans will be made on personal se-
curity and the promoters hope to fill
a need that is not cared for by the
state and national banks. *
Any baker will be permitted to ad-
vertise his product as “victory”
bread if it contains not more than
80 per cent wheat flour. No stipu-
lation is made as to what ingredients
shall compose the other 20 per cent
so long as they are selected from
the list recommended by the food
administration, which includes corn
flour and corn meal, barley flour,
oat meal, rice and rice flour, potato
flour, etc.
Until March 3 rye flour may be
used in making victory bread. After
that date it will be placed on the
same basis as wheat, as rye flour is
now being shipped to the allies.
Bread made of graham or whole-
wheat flour may be termed victory
bread.
-o-
Plans and contracts are completed
for the construction of two smoke-
less-powder plants, each to cost ap-
proximate! $50,000,000. The estimat-
ed capacity of each is 500,000 pounds
of powder a day, and from 10,000
to 15,000 men will be employed at
each plant.
The initial output at each factory
is expected not later than next Au-
gust. Much of the product will be
available for the allied nations.
Washington, Feb. 13. — “If the
South neglects this year to provide
her own food and feed, she is likely
to suffer serious privation, and she
will put a burden upon the nation
which may prolong the war and ev-
en imperil our victory,” says Clar-
ence Ousley, assistant secretary of
agriculture.
“I am aware that these are strong
words,” continues Secretary Ousley,
“bu they are none too strong, I
am not expressing an alarmist per-
sonal opinion. I am seeing through
the eyes of forty-eight agricultural
colleges and .of county agents in.
nearly every agricultural county. I
have recently crossed the continent
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I
have studied the reports gathered by
the department’s 18,000 representa-
tives and as many more employes
of the agricultural colleges. I have
considered the conclusions of the
International Institute of Agriculture
at Rome which has reports from all
the world.
“The plain, hard truth is that with
40 million people withdrawn from
productive industries and engaged in
the business of destruction, it is not
humanly possible for production onh
the whole to exceed normal demand,
i he question is whether production
can equal necessitous demand.
“England, France and Italy must
be sustained or their populations
cannot stand the strain. They have
been .on scanty rations for more than
three years. The chief cause of Rus-
sia’s collapse was hunger. Soldiers
cannot fight when their wives and
children are starving.
Transportation May Be Lacking.
“Secretary McAdoo has given
v armng that transportation may be
lacking in 1918, to haul food and feed
to states and communities that do
not provide for themselves. Many
cattle have been sacrificed in the
drought regions of the northwest and
southwest during the last f^w
months because railroad cars could
not be obtained as needed. Military
movements must have first consid-
eration, and military movements will
be greater in 1918 than in 1917. The
prime question for the farmer is not
what product will bring the highest
price, but what products will insure
food for his family and. feed for his
live stock, and the answer is: a
vegetable garden, a milk cow, a
brood sow, a poultry flock, ample
corn, oats, peanuts, etc., and then as
much cotton or tobacco as he can
cultivate well.
Patriotism Demands That We Be
Self-Sustaining.
“It is the highest demand of pa-
triotism—it is the first requirement
of living—that in 1918 every state,
every county, every neighborhood,
every farmer, be as nearly self-sus-
taining as possible.
“For the South to plunge on cot-
ton or any other speculative crop and
to depend upon the corn belt for
bread and meat will be for the South
to engage in a gamble which may
cause privation to its people and dis-
aster to the nation. For any man
now to determine his business opera-
tions from the standpoint of profit
alone, without regard to the nation’s
needs, is for him wilfully to profiteer
in the blood of his fellows who are
fighting in France for the preserva-
tion of the republic. No man can
be excused for not taking his share
of the responsibility.
Appeals to Southern Men.
My whole life has been spent In
the South. I know the Southern far-
mer. He will do his duty as he sees
it. I am appealing to every man in
the South to make known these
facts—to consider it his business to
make them known, and I shall have
no doubt of the results. If they are
not made known in a way to im-
press the crisis that confronts us,
there may he hunger in this boun-
teous land or hunger over yonder
in Europe, where it will spell ruin
for all thaij is worth while in Ameri-
ca.” j
/
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Hoyt, L. T. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, February 22, 1918, newspaper, February 22, 1918; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth635069/m1/1/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.