New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 7

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1 > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"Law is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together. Wherever her temple stands there is a foundation for social security, gen- eral happiness and the improvement of progress of our race. And whoever labors on this edifice with usefulness and distinction, whoever clears its founda- tions, strengthens its pillars, adorns its entablatures, or contributes to raise its august dome still higher in the skies, connects himself, in name, and fame, and character, with that which is and must be as durable as the frame of human society."

The first meeting of the Texas Bar Association was called at Galveston in the year 1882. At this meet- ing tentative plans were made for a permanent or- ganization and many lawyers expressed their will- ingness to co-operate with the new organization. Among the charter members of the association were some of the most prominent attorneys of Texas, amongst whom are: James L. Autry, of Houston, James A. Baker, of Houston; Colonel W. L. Craw- ford, of Dallas; Senator C. A. Culberson, of Dallas; R. V. Davidson, of Dallas; Walter Gresham, of Gal- veston; T. S. Henderson, of Cameron; Charles F. Hume, of Houston; Rudolf Kleburg, of Austin; John Lovejoy, of Houston; B. F. Masterson, of Galveston; Judge T. S. Maxey, of Austin, F. D. Minor, of Beau- mont; Anson Rainey, of Dallas; N. A. Rector, of Austin; Judge Seth Sheppard, of Washington, D. C .; W. S. Simpkins, of Austin, R. G. Street, of Galves- ton; B. D. Tarlton, of Austin; Charles F. Todd, of Texarkana, and John C. Walker, of Galveston. It is to these "old guardsmen" that the association is in- debted for its existence and it is through their ef- forts that much of its success has been gained. In their constitution they provided that annual meet- ings were to be held for the purpose of "advancing the science of jurisprudence, promoting uniformity of legislation in the administration of justice throughout the state, upholding the honor of the

profession of law, and encouraging intercourse among its members." Galveston was selected as the permanent convention city and for twenty years it continued to be the annual meeting place. The first president of the association was Thomas J. Devine, of San Antonio, who was one of the early Texas settlers and who had won a substantial reputation throughout the state as a lawyer of great ability. By 1900 the membership had reached the hundred mark and it was thought advisable to change the meeting place of the yearly convention from city to city. This policy being carried out, the next meeting was held at Dallas. By means of interest thus stimulated the membership began to increase and by 1914 it had approximately five hundred named on its roll, while at the present time the membership is over the thousand mark.

As stated in the constitution the purpose is to aid the state in its legal and governmental prob- lems. In furtherance of this aim the yearly con- ventions are devoted to a thorough discussion of problems of the state. Committees are frequently appointed to consider and report to the state legis- lature changes in existing laws which might be advisable and by this means many state laws have been greatly changed to the advantage of the people.

The presidents of the association, who in their time were among the most prominent men of the state have been: Thomas J. Devine, 1882; T. N. Waul,1883; J. H. McCleary, 1884; B. H. Bassett, 1885; A. J. Peeler, 1886; T. J. Beall, 1887; W. L. Crawford, 1888; F. Charles Hume, 1889; H. W. Lightfoot, 1890; Norman G. Kittrell, 1891; Seth Sheppard, 1892; John N. Henderson, 1893; S. C. Padelford, 1894; Thomas H. Franklin, 1895; William L. Prather, 1896; William H. Clark, 1897; William Aubrey, 1898; Frank C. Dillard, 1899; Presley K. Ewing, 1900; M. A. Spoonts, 1901; James B. Stubbs, 1902; Lewis R. Bryan, 1903; T. S. Reese, 1904; H. C. Carter, 1905; H. M. Garwood, 1906; A. L. Beaty, 1907;A. E. Wilkin- son, 1908; Yancey Lewis, 1909; William H. Burges, 1910; Hiram Glass, 1911; R. E. L. Saner, 1912; John T. Duncan, 1913; W. W. Searcy, 1914; Allan D. San- ford, 1915; John L. Dyer, 1916; Frank C. Jones, 1917; Charles K. Lee, 1918; W. L. Estes, 1919; and Claude Pollard, 1920.

For thirty-eight years the Texas Bar Association has been the largest association of its kind in the Southwest. It has furnished the national halls of Congress many able men and many are the learned jurists that have come from its ranks. Ever mind- ful of the duties that rest with the association the members are continually striving for the greater, better Texas, and many are the measures of reform which it has been the means of having introduced and passed through the legislature of this state. The preservation of our state institutions is depend- ent in no small degree upon the patriotic zeal of this body of lawyers, and the things for which they contend, and, if always true to the heritage of the history of our state and its institutions, it may al- ways be said of her:

"Though storms and tempests thunder on its brow And oceans break its billows at its feet,

It stands unmoved, and glories in its height."

THE LUMBER INDUSTRY OF TEXAS

By JOHN H. KIRBY

T HE Lumber Industry, with all that it in- cludes from the initial stage of logging to the fin- ished product, constitutes the third greatest manufacturing activity of the United States and also ranks third among the industries of the Lone Star State. Though Texas as the largest state in the Union has more forested area than any other state, she has a "stand" much smaller than that in several other territo- ries. One estimate gives 40,- 000,000 acres of wooded land, but this is inaccurate and, in fact, it is practically impos- sible to make an exact estimate for much wooded land is unfit for commercial lumbering. As our state varies greatly in climate and physiography, practically the whole range of forest trees found in the temperate zone is within our borders. Four general lumber belts may be mentioned-East Texas, greater than all the others combined, the Grand and Black Prairies, Edwards Plateau and territory west of the Pecos River.

The distribution of lumber producing trees may be given as follows: In the coast plain, along swamps and sluggish streams, pines-the most valuable- tupelo, magnolia, sweet gum and other species; in the alluvial bottoms are the hardwoods-the oaks the most important in quantity and value-ash, hickory, gum, holly and other hardwood species; in the in- terior of the coast plain the loblolly pines and hard- woods abound, while pines are also on sandy ridges and hardwoods in the half-swampy flats. The Hardin County "Big Thicket" of Hardwoods is famous as being almost impenetrable. North and east of this area are the long leaf pines. And Texas has the last large stands of the long leaf pines for which

Lumber Mill of the Kirby Lumber Company at Voth, Texas our state is famed far and wide. Between this area and the Red River westward to the Black Prairies are the short leaf pines and accompanying hard-

woods. The Grand and Black Prairies, bounded by the Brazos and Nueces Rivers and the Coast Plain, abound in live oaks. The Edwards Plateau, mostly west of the 98th meridian, has hardwoods in canyons and about streams with post oak, mountain oak, and cedar brakes of extensive area on hills and bluffs.

Practically all logging and saw mills are in East Texas-from which it is again seen that East Texas comprises all the most valuable forests of the State, forty-eight counties in number. There are no pub- licly owned lands here. Three holdings alone include 22.1 per cent of the total stand of which six-sevenths is the long leaf pine-an enormous concentration, and eighty-one largest holdings of the state have 55.3 per cent of the total stand or 72.2 per cent of the most valuable woods. The total stand for East Texas is estimated as 66,000,000,000 board feet, of

Airplane View of One of the Plants of the Kirby Lumber Company. at Voth, Texas

which the long leaf pine leads with over 22,000,000,- 000 board feet with the short leaf pine close on to it. It is estimated that the annual cut is 2,099,130,000 board feet or 3.2 per cent, at which rate, not allowing for reforestation, it will require about thirty-one years to exhaust the timber supply of Texas.

Eleven and eight-tenths per cent of the total volume of Texas manufactured output are from the lumber mills and wood using plants, while 33.5 per cent of all wage earners in the manufacturing indus- try of Texas are engaged in the manufacture of lumber or lumber products, working in 799 plants.

To summarize then, the Texas lumber business has 799 manufacturing plants employing 33.5 per cent of all manufacturing employees of the state, putting out 11.8 per cent of the total of the Texas manu- factured output; the distribution of timber varies from the tupelo and cypress of the swamps of the East and Southeast to the cactus on the high, dry western plateaus with 150 varieties of valuable timber producing trees between; the annual "cut" is about 3.2 per cent of the total "stand" which is estimated as 66,000,000,000 board feet in which the long leaf pine leads with about 25,000,000,000 board feet, six-sevenths of which are owned by three hold- ings while 81 holdings have 72.2 per cent of the most valuable woods, and America's last large stands of the famed long leaf pine are in the state of Texas.

HISTORY OF HOUSTON BANKS

By JOHN T. SCOTT President of First National Bank

H OUSTON is the home of the first bank ever organized in Texas, as it can boast of having had so many other things first. The banks and trust compa- nies of this city have played a very important part in the growth and development of the city and today Houston is one of the leading finan- cial centers of Texas, con- tributing in every way to the orderly and permanent growth of Southern Texas.

Houston's first bank, the Commercial and Agricultural Bank of Texas, was charter- ed by the congress of Coa- huila and Texas to S. M. Williams and associates in 1835, one year before there really was a town of Houston. Its authorized capital was $1,000,000.00 and $100,000.00 was paid in. It was a bank of issue. The first president was S. M. Williams and the first cashier was J. W. McMillan. Constant warfare was made against it and it finally went out of business in 1859, when the supreme court annulled its char- ter. Texas chartered no banks until after the adop- tion of the Constitution in 1870, so this was the only chartered bank in Texas for many years. Soon after the death. of Mr. Williams the affairs of the bank were wound up by B. A. Shepherd, who had become one of its principal owners.

Several of the early merchants such as T. W. House, Sr., Cornelius Ennis and - W. J. Hutchins, conducted banks of their own in connection with

First National Bank Building Main to Fannin Streets at Franklin

their cotton and mercantile transactions. In 1854 B. A. Shepherd engaged exclusively in the banking business and so he was the first man in Texas to do so. Practically all the banking business in the

SOUTHWE ".TI UN TR

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Second National Bank Building, Corner Main and Rusk, Houston, Texas

state was done in Houston and Galveston until after the Civil War. The Commercial and Agricultural Bank of Texas was also engaged in lines other than banking. The first national bank of Texas, now known as the First National Bank of Galveston, was organized in 1865 and was the first National bank in the state. In 1866 the First National Bank

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

of Houston was organized by T. M. Bagby and others, Mr. Bagby becoming its first president. Later Mr. Shepherd became president and after his decease his son-in-law, Mr. A. P. Root, succeeded him. After the death of Mr. Root Mr. O. L. Coch- ran, another son-in-law of Mr. Shepherd, became president. In 1915 John T. Scott succeeded to the presidency of the bank and is serving in that posi- tion at this time. The original capital of the bank was $100,000.00. In 1906 it increased to $500,000.00, in 1909 to $1,000,000.00 and in 1912 to $2,000,000.00. The total assets of this bank today exceed $30,000,- 000.00. In September, 1909, the deposits were less than $5,000,000.00 while in April, 1912, they had grown to about $9,000,000.00 and at this time the individual and bank deposits exceed $34,000,000.00. F. M. Law, W. S. Cochran and Sam R. Lawder are vice presidents and O. W. Jackson, cashier.

The City Bank of Houston was opened November 1st, 1870, with a capital stock of $250,000.00 and was so engaged for about fifteen years, but was

Public National Bank Building, Main Street and Preston Avenue

forced to suspend payment in 1885. Col. B. A. Botts was its president until his death in 1885. W. R. Baker was chosen to succeed him. This bank sus- pended payment September 19th, 1885, and went into the hands of Major B. F. Weems, receiver. Mr. Baker was the principal loser, but it little affected the financial standing of the city. In 1874 the Houston Savings Bank was organized and did business until February 21, 1886, at which time Dr. D. F. Stuart was appointed receiver to wind up its business. There was not a great deal of money invested so the losses were very small.

In 1886, twenty years after the First National Bank began business, the Commercial National Bank was organized with a capital stock of $500,000.00.

This bank grew rapidly, did a large business and later was merged with the South Texas National Bank. In 1889 the third national bank of Houston was chartered as the Houston National Bank. In 1909 they obtained a new charter under the name of the Houston National Exchange Bank. Today the bank is known as the Houston National Bank and has a capital and surplus of $1,300,000.00. Jos. F. Meyer, Sr., is president and Melvin Rouff and Jos. F. Meyer, Jr., active vice presidents. This institution has grown rapidly. In 1902 its deposits were about $360,000.00, in 1912 $3,000,000.00 and in 1925 nearly $11,000,000.00. In 1890 the South Texas National Bank was chartered with a capital stock of $500,000.00. On March 2nd, 1912, this bank absorbed the Commercial National Bank, the new bank thus formed is known today as the South Texas Commercial National Bank with a capital and sur- plus of over $2,500,000.00 and resources in excess of $28,000,000.00. Captain James A. Baker is pres- ident and S. M. McAshan is vice president. The Union National Bank of today represents three original banks. The Union Bank and Trust Com- pany was chartered in 1905 under the new banking laws of Texas, receiving charter number one. It effected a consolidation with the Planters and Me- chanics Bank in 1908 and in 1910 it absorbed the Merchants National Bank. At this time it became a national bank with a capital of $1,000,000.00. Total deposits today exceed $17,000,000.00. Assets today are in excess of $20,000,000.00. J. S. Rice is chair- man of the board, R. M. Farrar is president, George Hamman and T. C. Dunn active vice presidents.

In 1907 the Lumbermans National Bank was or- ganized with a capital of $400,000.00 and surplus of $100,000.00. Two years later it absorbed the City National Bank and in 1910 the American Na- tional Bank and the Central Bank and Trust Com- pany turned over their assets to it. The name was changed to the Second National Bank in January, 1923. The capital and surplus is $1,600,000.00 and deposits over $15,000,000.00. S. F. Carter is pres- ident, Guy M. Bryan, C. S. E. Holland and Hudson P. Ellis, active vice presidents. The Harris County Bank and Trust Company was organized in 1907, having one-half of its capital stock of $25,000.00 in its banking house. It failed in July, 1907. In January, 1910, the Guaranty National Bank was organized with a capital of $20,000.00. In March, 1918, the capital was increased to $50,000.00. Six months later it was increased to $100,000.00 and in December, 1921, it was nationalized. The capi- tal stock today is $200,000.00. The deposits are nearly $2,000,000.00, with total resources of about $2,500,000.00. John D. Dyer is president and W. L. Dyer active vice president.

In 1912 the National Bank of Commerce was or- ganized with a capital stock of $500,000.00. Its deposits in 1912 were $800,000.00 while in January, 1926, they were over $11,000,000.00. Its resources are nearly $13,000,000.00. Jesse H. Jones is pres- ident, N. E. Meador and A. D. Simpson, active vice presidents, and A. F. Fisher, cashier. In June, 1915, the bank that is today known as the State National Bank was organized under the name of the State Bank and Trust Company. On December 19th, 1921, it was nationalized. The capital stock is $500,000.00 and total deposits are about $5,000,000.00. J. A.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Wilkins is president, and H. M. Wilkins, vice pres- ident. The Public National Bank was organized December 1st, 1921, by J. Lewis Thompson and asso- ciates and has a capital stock of $300,000.00, with deposits over $2,500,000.00. J. H. Tallichet is pres- ident, and Carter Stewart, active vice president. On April 3rd, 1919, the Citizens State Bank was organized by A. C. Bell and others, with a capital stock of $100.000.00. The deposits are about $600,- 000.00, with total assets of about $700,000.00. W. H. Irvin is president and A. V. Pace, vice president. On July 30th, 1919, the People's State Bank, with a capital stock of $150,000.00, was organized by Louie Cohn and associates. The Marine Bank and Trust Company was organized and acquired the business and good will of the People's State Bank, February 24th, 1925. The capital is $300,000.00 and deposits over $2,000,000.00. D. W. Cooley is pres- ident and T. P. Priddie, Jr., is active vice president. The First Texas Joint Stock Bank was organized in April, 1919, with capital stock of $500,000.00. C. S. E. Holland is president. The Gulf State Bank was organized in May, 1919, and its capital stock is $100,000.00 and has deposits of over $1,000,000.00. D. S. Cage is president, and Eli Marks is active vice president. The Seaport National Bank was organized in 1924, with a capital stock of $250,- 000.00. W. S. Meyers is chairman of the board and president, and Phil Stillman, active vice pres- ident. The Central State Bank of Magnolia Park was organized in March, 1923. F. A. Baldinger is president. The Labor Bank and Trust Company was opened in November, 1925. It has $110,000.00 capital stock and surplus. Senator Charles Murphy is president, C. L. Killingsworth and B. C. Bukowski are active vice presidents.

The Federal Reserve Bank established a branch in Houston in 1919, and now has a modern banking house at 1301 Texas Avenue. The Federal Land Bank of Houston was organized and opened for business in Houston, March 26th, 1917. It has a capital, surplus and undivided profits of more than $7,500,000.00. M. H. Gossett is president, R. D. Johnson, treasurer, and John V. Van Demark, sec- retary.

The trust companies of Houston, as well as the banks, have assisted materially in the advancement of Houston and have filled the need that is beyond the sphere of the bank. Houston is the home of some of the strongest trust companies of the South. The Houston Land and Trust Company is a parent organization of this nature in Houston. It was organized in 1875 and was originally chartered to do land trust business only and until it was reor- ganized in 1889 it did an unimportant business. At this time it was reorganized for the purpose of doing regular mortgage and trust business and since that time it has aided greatly in the growth of this city and surrounding territory. It has a capital stock of $1,000,000.00, with deposits in excess of $4,200,000.00. P. B. Timpson is president. The Texas Trust Company was organized July 12th, 1909, with a capital stock of $500,000.00. In 1909 the Southern Trust Company was organized and began business in January, 1910, with a capital stock of $500,000.00. In September, 1909, the Bank- ers Trust Company was organized with a capital stock of $500,000.00 and with a paid-in surplus of

$25,000.00. The capital was later increased to $1,- 000,000.00. In 1911 the Texas Trust Company was merged with the Bankers Trust Company, the cap- ital becoming at that time $2,000,000.00. In 1920 the name was changed to the Bankers Mortgage Company. The total assets of this institution exceed $3,000,000.00.

In 1911 the American Trust Company was organ- ized with a capital of $500,000.00. The Fidelity Trust Company was organized in 1914. It has a

FITE

GUARAT

Rolle's

BUILD

COLBY'S

State National Bank Building, One of Houston's Sky-scrapers

capital and undivided profits of over $250,000.00. Judge W. W. Moore is president. In February, 1917, the Guardian Trust Company was organized by C. M. Malone and associates. It has a capital and surplus of over $600,000.00. Captain James A. Baker is president, C. M. Malone, active vice president. On April 12th, 1920, the San Jacinto Trust Com- pany was organized by George F. Howard and others, with a capital and surplus of $110,000.00. The capital stock is $300,000.00 and surplus $125,- 000.00. George F. Howard is president, and E. C. Barkley is active vice president. In May, 1925, the Federal Trust Company began business and has a capital stock of $200,000.00 and deposits of about $500,000.00. C. H. Bryan is president and Floyd Ikard, vice president. The Guaranty Trust Com- pany was organized in 1924, with capital stock of $100,000.00. J. A. Elkins is president and J. W. Keeland is active vice president.

HOUSTON'S INDUSTRIES AND OPPORTUNITIES By R. M. FARRAR

President Houston Chamber of Commerce

P ICTURE to yourself a

city of a million souls, a city traversed by a net work of transit lines; with elevated railways along the principal streets and sub- ways under the Ship Chan- nel; with beautiful homes stretching over the level plains now vacant; with hun- dreds of industrial plants sending their volume

of mingled smoke and flare into the sky; with ships flying between here and all parts of the world-then you will vis- ualize the Houston of the fu- ture. This is a dream, you say, perhaps it is, but isn't the Houston of today a dream compared with the Houston of a quarter of a century ago? Those who know local history will admit that it is.

In all the history of American cities there is not a more brilliant page than that of Houston's mar- velous growth, commercial and industrial advance- ment.

The fundamental factor in this growth has been the ship channel. Located on a deep water harbor, where 18 railways meet ocean going vessels from all ports of the world, Houston holds undisputed sway as the commercial, industrial and financial center of the great Southwest. No other American city occupies a more favored position. A land locked harbor, with 50 miles of water frontage for the accommodation of industrial plants, with an empire of rich and productive land from which to draw her trade, her rapid ascendancy to the position of a world port is universally recognized.

Keen sighted investors, recognizing the superior advantage offered by Houston as a great distribut- ing point for world markets, are already coming into the field and the water front is becoming bordered with a multitude of industrial plants. Facts are stubborn things, and facts will prove that no other American city can show a more rapid and substantial industrial growth.

The present splendid waterway is to have still further improvement. Funds have been appropri- ated for deepening the channel to 30 feet, with a width of 200 feet at the base, five and a half million dollars have already been spent in improvements, and two and a half million dollars more will be spent in the immediate future. Nor will the work stop when appropriations now available have been spent, but improvement will continue until the port is the finest on the American continent. Its natural advantages are undisputed. The channel is an arm of fresh water reaching 50 miles inland from the high seas and affording safe anchorage in time of high winds. This situation constitutes the ideal port. The depth will be abundant. There will be no locks or dams necessary. The stream is as calm as a mountain lake, and is bordered by woodland

and plain constituting an everchanging panorama view of scenic beauty. Municipal wharves and docks have been constructed at a cost of $3,250,000, and this is but the beginning of im- provements to follow. Private capital is now building docks and wharves to serve the many industrial plants along the channel. A Municipal Belt Railway connecting the wharves with the 18 railways entering the city of Houston af- ford a service for all tonnage received and sent through the channel. The turning basin, where ships begin their return voyage to the sea is 1100

Niels Esperson Building, the Tallest Office Building in Texas and One of the Finest Buildings in the South

feet wide at the top and 1000 feet at the base. Its present ruling depth is 25 feet. This will soon be extended to 30 feet, and the water area materially extended. Plans for these improvements have been submitted to the United States Board of Engineers, and the work will be done along scientific lines.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 7

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416