Texas

teks'as, the largest state in the American Union. From the fact that it was for a time an independent state and adopted a flag with one star, it is popularly known as the "Lone Star State." It lies on the Gulf of Mexico between the Red and Sabine on the north and east and the Rio Grande on the west. Area, 265,780 square miles. Texas revolted from Mexican rule in 1836, and was admitted to the Union in 1845. The capital is Austin. There are 246 counties, the largest number in any one state. Delaware has but three.

TOPOGRAPHY. The surface of the state comprises coast swamps, plains, rich black prairie lands, broken country abounding in chaparral of thorny mesquite, rugged mountains, and semi-arid grazing lands,--enough of each to make a state of ordinary size. The general course of the rivers is south-eastward. They afford few waterways and little waterpower. The climate varies from that of New Mexico to that of southern Louisiana. The rainfall at Galveston is hardly less than sixty inches a year, at Austin thirty-two, and at the northwestern border, five.

MINERALS. The mineral wealth of the state has not been developed. There are coal measures in the central portion. Copious petroleum wells have been located in the southeast. There are known veins of silver, copper, lead, tin, cinnabar, and iron. Building stones of various sorts abound in localities.

FLORA AND FAUNA. Forests like those of Louisiana may be found in the north-east. The hills of the Pecos region bear pine. The Rio Grande Valley is largely a region of cacti and prickly shrubs. Extensive tracts have been rendered highly fertile by irrigation. Buffalo, that is, bison, were formerly numerous, but are now extinct. Vast colonies of prairie dogs render certain regions half grassless. Other prairie animals are the coyote, jackrabbit, and antelope. The panther, bear, deer, and opossum still find shelter. The jaguar, peccary, armadillo, and other Mexican animals are found near the Rio Grande. The mocking-bird is found near the Gulf. The quail, turkey, and numerous waterfowl are sought by hunters. The centipede, tarantula, scorpion, rattlesnake, and other unwelcome animals are found in certain localities.

AGRICULTURE. Texas is preeminently a rich, prosperous, agricultural state. Named in order of acreage, the chief field crops are cotton, corn, wheat, hay, and oats. Orchard fruits, vegetables, sweet potatoes, peas, sorghum, potatoes, sugar-cane, peanuts, and tobacco are raised. Cotton is the great money-producing crop. It brings in about $14 an acre and is worth about $80,000,000 a year. There are large areas of fertile land in the Pecos and Rio Grande valleys awaiting irrigation. Truck farming is attracting attention.

PRODUCTS. Texas leads the Union in the number of cattle, but ranks second in the money value of live stock. Sheep and cattle are contending for the ranges. Mules are depended on for farm animals. Texas produces one-fourth of the cotton-seed oil pressed in the United States. Cars, pottery, flour, machinery, liquors, saddlery, and harness are important articles of manufacture. The state is well provided with railways. Galveston is the chief port. Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas have large commercial and manufacturing interests. The assessed valuation of Texas in 1908 was $2,200,000,000.

EDUCATION. A double system of free schools is maintained. For the whites there are over 200 high schools in the various cities. Three normal schools are maintained at Huntsville, San Marcos, and Denton; a state university with between 1,000 and 2,000 students at Austin; an agricultural school at Bryan. A normal school for colored teachers is located at Prairie View.

POPULATION. In 1900 the population of the state was returned at 3,048,710. Of this number 620,722 were negroes. San Antonio, the largest city, had a population of 53,321. Ten other cities, Houston, Dallas, Galveston, Fort Worth, Austin, Waco, El Paso, Laredo, Denison, and Sherman had over 10,000 inhabitants. At the time of the census, thirteen per cent of the native whites and seventy-five per cent of the negroes were unable to read or write. The leading religious denominations are the Baptist and Methodist. The Roman Catholic church, the next in point of numbers, claims about five per cent of the population.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See Alamo; Crockett; Santa Anna; Prairie Dog; Irrigation