The Francitas Bee (Francitas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1911 Page: 1 of 4
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The
FRANCITAS
Bee
VoU
Francitas, Jackson County, Texas, January 28, 1911
NEBRASKA COMMENT.
Some Notes that May fee of interest
to the francitas Colony About
the Home .Folks.
A Nebraska newspaper pic-
tures Governor Aldrich wrapped
in a heavy overcoat, a scarf
and a big- cap pulled down over
his ears. The point of the car-
toon however was not the cold
weather but that the governor
was cutting politics out of the
legislative work. The fact that
the people of Francitas are wear-
ing summer clothes the garb of
the governor attracted their at-
tention.
The Nebraska legislatur e
spent two weeks naming its com-
mittees. This was due to a di-
vision of the wet and dry forces
•and each was sparing for advant-
age. In the house it was a case
of the .committees naming the
committees, that authority being
taken from the speaker.
Several of the Nepraska papers
are commenting at some length
on whether W. J. Bryan can come
bank. Mr. Bryan received a very
decisive defeat at the Grand
Island convention over county
option at the hands of his own
party., but in the November elec-
tion the mail he bolted, the demo-
cratic nominee for governor was
defeated. So it is very probable
a test of the Bryan strength will
be made when the democratic
state convention convenes to
select delegates to . the next
national convention.
Gilbert M.Hitchcock congress-
man from the Second Nebraska
district has been elected United
States eenatcr to succeed Elmer
J. Burkett. Mr. Hitchcock and
Senator Burkett submitted their
names to the voters at the late
election under the so called Ore-
gon plan of electing fruited States
senator. The former received
the majority vote and his election
was simply a ratification of the
action of the people. Mr. Hitch-
cock is editor of the Omaha
World Herald.
On a test vote the Nebraska
legislature showed up strong in
favor of New Orleans for the
holding of the exposition to cele-
brate the opening of the Panama
canal. We congratulate the Ne-
braska legislature on its wisdom
in refusing to endorse San Fran-
cisco.
Judge Ames of Lincoln, Neb.,
died last week, after a long ill-
ness. Judge Ames was one of
the well known attorneys of Ne-
braska and for many years was
a member of the supreme court
commission. He was a candi-
date for supreme judge some
years ago and lost the nomination
to Judge C. B. Letton who is now
on the bench.
The Nebraska legislature has
not yet decided whether it will
pass a county option bill. The
“official” bill is not the one sev-
eral of the optionists want. Until
agreement is made noses cannot
be accurately counted.
Senator Tibbetts is trying to
cut off Jasper L. McBrien head
of the university extension de-
partment without any appropria-
tion for his work. McBrien can
give Senator Tibbetts cards and
spades and beat him out in the
fight. He will not only get his
appropriation but it is almost a
certainty it will be increased if
McBrien wants it increased.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES.
Board Elected at Opening of Fran-
citas by Contract Holders
Makes Statement
Mr. Fisher has moved into his
residence built on his lot south-
east of the business part of town
and the home of his sonClarance
Fisher is just about ready to oc-
cupy.
The board of trustees which
was elected by the contract hold-
ers of the Valley Fruit Farm and
Garden company to supervise
the auction sale of town lots and
farms at Francitas, has made its
report telling of the distribution.
The board was composed of
Walter A. George, A. L. Bixby
of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Dr.
F. W. Back of Flager, Colorado.
The report urges the contract
holders to follow the recom-
mendation of the meeting here at
the time of the opening that all
contract holders give their share
of the proceeds of the improved
property to the construction of a
school, water works and other
city improvements.
The report is as follows:
At the Division Sale of the lands
of the Valley Fruit Farm &
Garden Company at Francitas,
Texas, the contract holders and
representatives there assembled
on December 10, 1910, in accord-
ance with the notice previously
given by the Company, elected
the undersigned trustees.
We beg to report that in ac-
cordance with the plan of sale of
the Company under which every
contract holder had purchased
his undivided interest in the
property sold by the Company,
we proceeded to ^supervise the
sale. We appointed A. D. Pow-
ers of San Antonio, Texas, Auc-
tioneer, and H. H, Philpott,
Francitas, Texas, Clerk, and' the
sale proceeded strictly in accord-
ance therewith, and continued
until every undivided interest
had been disposed of and the
2774 farms and town lots bid in
by the 2774 purchasers who were
present or their representatives;
we, the trustees, acting on behalf
of all contract holders not per-
sonally present, and not other-
wise represented. Com p 1 e t e
record was made of the number
of the farm and the number of
the lot in the town of Francitas
purchased by each contract hold-
er. This record certified to by
us, is now in the hands of the
Company and we have instructed
them to send to e^very . contract
holder not personally present at
the distribution, notice of the
number of the farm and town lot
in the town of Francitas that was
bid in by him, and we are advised
by the officers of the Company
that this has been done.
Under the terms of the plan
of sale, the Company agreed at
the time of the opening to deed
all the property sold, to the trus-
tees in trust for the purchasers,
the trustees then to execute deed
to every contract holder uoqii
final payment. The Company
had present at Francitas deeds
properly executed conveying the
title of this land to the trustees
elected and offered to turn over
these deeds together with ab-
stracts to us, in full compliance
with their agreement. At the
meeting of the contract holders
and representatives present on
December 10th, however, on our
recommendation, it was voted
unanimously to have the Com-
pany make deeds direct to the
purchasers and deeds will there-
fore issue from the home office
of the Company as promptly as
the large amount of work involved
can be accurately done.
We feel that we may well con-
gratulate every purchaser of a
Francitas farm on the auspicious
opening of this promising colony.
The high class of citizens repre-
sented at the distribution of these
lands was a credit to the states
from which they had assembled
and speaks volumes for the
future of Francitas. We believe
there was never assembled to-
gether such a company of people
where there was present more of
a spirit of harmony, helpfulness
and fairness than existed during
the opening at Francitas.lt would
have been hard to find a better
pleased lot of people anywhere
and all were enthusiastic.
It must be remembered., how-
ever, that the future of the town
and the settlement and the rapid
increase of the value of the hold-
ing's of each contract holder there
will depend upon the number
who go at an eafly day to make
their homes there, and this will
depend upon no other one thing
as much as upon the erection of
a good school building in the
town and upon a system of water
works owned by the city, provid-
ing proper fire protection and
water for the residents. The
Company has already donated a
magnificient artesian well flow-
ing a constant stream of pure
water and it is necessary only to
provide the engine, stand pipe
and proper laterals to complete
as good a system of waterworks
as any small town in the courltry
can boast of.
The contract holders present
and the representatives there
assembled decided to relinquish
their interest in the pro rata
share belonging to the contract
holders, in the money realized
from the sale of the improve-
ments donated by the Company^
We think this is a most admir-
able idea and in view of the small
amount which each contract
holder is asked to relinquish com-
pared with the large advantage
which would accrue to all of the
contract holders by the erection
of a school building" there at once,
and the establishment of a suit-
able water system, we believe
that very few of the contract
holders will decline to acquiesce
in what was the unanimous senti-
ment of the hundreds who were
assembled at Francitas during
the opening and relinquish their
interest for that purpose.
The buildings which the Com-
pany had agreed to erect to be
sold at public auction at the open-
ing were turned over by the Com-
pany to the trustees and offered
for sale. We were instructed by
the contract holders and repre-
sentatives present, to sell these
buildings on terms, one-third
cash and the balance in one and
two years. No bid was received
for the hotel which, in the judg-
ment cf the trustees, was ade-
quate, and we therefore bid in
the hotel on behalf of all the con-
tract holders for the sum of Seven
Thousand ($7,000) Dollars, and
are holding it in trust subject to
future sale when a fair price can
be realized. Under the above
terms, the other buildings were
sold for the gross sum of $7,-
145.()0. There will be in our
hands at the expiration of two
years when all moneys are re-
ceived from the sale of these
buildings including the hotel, a
sum of money of which your pro
rata share will be about $5.00.
The Company expended in im-
provements upon the Francitas
Lands and town site, for build-
ings,artesian well, graded streets
and miles of graded roads, and
including One Thousand Dollars
donated towards securing a suit-
able depot, a sum of money* ag-
gregating between $25,000 and
$26^000. We thought it would be
but fair to everybody to call upon
them to contribute One Thous-
and Dollars more which would
LOCATES ’HANNA PARTY
Francitas so impressed Wyoming
Man tlfat he buys Inad for
ail his Neighbors.
No. m
DR. GEBHARDT HE RE.
Editor of German Frie Presse Bays
a Farm at Francitas and Will
Erect Large Residence.
H. P. Hansen of Hann, Yv7yo.,
has bought 150 acres adjoining
Francitas for, 25 residents of
Hanna. Mr. Hansen was sent
to Francitas by the Hanna club
with instructions to thoroughly
inspect the gulf coast lands.
After an investigation Mr. Han-
sen bought at Francitas. So well
pleased was he with the soil and
the climate that he increased
his own individual purchase from
10 to 30 acres.
It is the intention of the'Hanna
club to fence the entire tract at
once and begin its development.
Trees will be put out as soon as
the ground is in condition and
fruit will be raised on a large
scale. The contract has already*
been let for this work to the
Francitas Land and Improve-
ment company*.
“We formed a club in Hanna”
said Mr. Hansen “and I was se-
lected to come to the gulf coast
and buy the land if I found con-
ditions satisfactory. We had
heard so much of the Francitas
district that we concluded it
must be a good place to live.
Several of those who have bought
as club members will remove to
Francitas, but in the meantime
we will work the land in. one
body.”
Mr. Hansen inspected the land
thoroughly and spent consider-
ate time in an investigation of
the soil. He was entirely satis-
fied after his inspection and
closed the deal for the land.
. --WX- -Ji.........»t-----T'~". ■.........—
NEW CHURCH SIM
G. J. Phelps, S. C. Holton amd IMS-t
Kingman Ejected Trustees-tm-.
Look After Construction,
tion of donating- dollar for dollar
as much money as will be do-
nated by the contract holders
from the fund which will finally
be on hand belonging to the con-
tret holders if all of then! relin-
quish their interest in the fund.
The company has agreed to do
this. We therefore think that
the recommendation of the con-
tract holders and representa-
tives at the opening should be
carried out, and we trust you
will view the matter in the same
light and realize that the school,
water works, and other improve-
ments there will enhance the
value of your holdings far beyond
the small amount thus relin-
quished.
We are enclosing herewith a
blank for that purpose. If you
are in harmony with this idea
and wish the money thus ex-
pended, please sign, this blank
and return in the envelope en-
closed and the trustees will car-
ry out your wishes to the best
of their ability*.
Channel Noble has built a lit-
tle home on the north side of the
business part of town near the
wind mill and will shortly occupy
it. Mr. Noble has rented his
fruit farm at Palacios and will
go into business here.
Hon. L. Ward and son visited
in Francitas recently*. The great
Francitas district was carved out
of land formerly^ owned byr Mr.
Ward, who is one of the very dis-
tinguished citizens of the gulf
coast country. Naturally* he
takes an interest in Francitas
which is well for the town, inci-
dentally. While here Mr. Ward
subscribed a goodly* sum for the
erection of a Christian church
and asked to be called upon when
a school house is to be built. The
doors of Francitas will always be
open for a Ward to enter.
Order your nursery supplies through
S C. Holton, local agent for Alvin
Dr. Herman Gebhardt editor
of the German Frie Presse of
Lincoln, Nebraska, one the most
widely circulated newspapers in
the United States spent several
days in the Francitas district
recently and before leaving
bought 120 acres of land and left
the plans for the erection of a
large residence. Dr. Gebhardt
expects to remove his family here
some time in the spring, just as
soon as his home is completed.
In company with Colonel John
G. Maher president of the Valley
Fruit Farm and Garden com-
pany^, G. J. Phelps local manager
of the company, August Krause,
Will Clark, J. M. Young, Captain
Alman, Ed Long and others, Dr.
Gebhardt went hunting for a
few day^s on the Carancachua.
The party succeeded in getting
many geese, duck,quail, squirrel
and other game.
“I have visited the gulf coast
and I believe I have made a pretty
thorough inspection of the coun-
try” said Dr. Gebhardt. “The
entire gulf coast pleases me im-
mensely, but the Francitas dis-
trict to my mind is better than
the other country; which I visited.
I think that or I would not have
bought my farm here.
“Within a few years this entire
Francitas district will be s’o close
ly settled that it will be impos-
sible in my opinion to buy any of
the land. It will be the orange
orchard of the United States.
There will be much farming done
here. It is the ideal place for a
home.
“The town of Francitas to me
was a great surprise. I had
heard that it was growing rapid-
ly;, but had no idea that so many
houses had been built or so much
land broken and so much busi-
ness was being* done here. It is
a beautiful place. I like the idea
of all the houses and the stores
being painted white. And the
depot, that is white also. It is a
white city in every way and it
will be a credit to the men who
founded it.
“I have decided to cast my lot
with the people of Francitas be-
cause I have faith in the country
and its future. The soil is good.
The climate is unshrpassed any-
where in the United States. I
have been here a week and I have
enjoyed life to the utmost. And
the hunting? It is a paradise for
the sportsman.
“The orange grove which is
now being set out along the rail-
road right of way will make this
city; one of the most beautiful in
the entire state and I predict
that it will be a show place within
a year or two and land men will
be bringing* their prospective
purchasers to Francitas to show
them what Texas soil and cli-
mate will do.”
Dr. Gebhardt proved himself a
good mixer while in Francitas
and left behind him many warm
friends who will be on hand to
extend to him and his family a
warm welcome upon their return
in the spring.
The residence which Dr. Geb-
hardt will build is to contain 11
rooms. It will be two stories
and have wide gallaries, screened
for-sleeping rooms. It commands
a view of the beautiful Caranca-
chua to the east and to the west.
Within a very short tmrnliVasK---
citas will have a church ©£F wm—
siderable dimensions. Thne iir-t-
ter part of the week a nu;n'£l«.?r«kf
those interested in the ino< e-inewt
met in the office of the- Y'dLSe*-,-
Fruit Farm and Garden, aster-*
\
pany to discuss plans
struction of the building,,. .A&Av*
a short discussion it waskteal:??, i
to select a board of threetvrc’Silte.'fe*. '
who will attend to the wo-r
now on and who will look;,.
the building and select ifeep kU
upon which it is to be e:re rh;*U.
The board of trustees ' seAeAA®
is composed of the following::; €.2...
J. Phelps, resident manager.-- Vi
the Valley Fruit Farm: serif!
Garden company; Fred Kin-g~®S3.o
and S. C. Holton.
The announcement was
at the meeting* that more tlsasa
$700 had already been raise;®.
'go into the building* fund,.. VLiis.
money was solicited by FJrrs,;,.
Holton and Mrs. Kingham.
more than $400 of it was ksuvst--
scribed-within four hours, vefejer -
they started out.
At the committee: meetih-qg
C. Holton was elected chahrnrar® >
and Mrs. Arthur Kingmkcs, vas:-
elected secretary.. The
of trustees will have .full droise •
of the work in the future asaA xs--'
all three-of the trustees are -baaa&fe-f
ling good business men
things, there- is no doubt,: -i&asfc
within a very* short time: vvgV: ,
will be started on the brikliVfy...
place the Company in the posi- Japanese Nursery Co.
No. 8.
Postoffice
Established!'
Washington, 33..C., Jan. 26,.
Philpott, Francitas, Texas*—3L«stt»sr*
received. Postof&ce will be estaei ikteSJL
today. Norris
The above telegram was receiJtrJL-x&v.
we go to press.
Misses Sylvia Holton and Natalie
Young spent Saturday night and Sun-
day at LaWard. Having informed
their parents they expected to be gone
over night there was no girl hunt or-
ganized.
Mrs. Richa spent a day lot JMmr
City* since the last issue of !OVe-;
Bee.
The residence *of M. Pe
is about ready for the famUA: Ao-'-
move into, as is the residemse xA
his son-in-law.
Dr. Mackey’s office- will"nssssop
be ready* for the painters;.. Ylsev
doctor and Hugh Mulletr..,
brother-in-law have done the: usxr—
penter work.
Dr. Mackey was- agretfeaxSrfy: -
surprised and pleased *
by the arrival of a quartefekUMsb ■
friends from Norfolk who -isntte
down to look’*after*their lasmfn,,
Mr. Thomas has finished!
house and it is now in the
of the painters. Mr. TTj&jmk.?*
built far back on his lot amlhiter
he will build onto the fresuk jar
modern and up to date
The Smith' home, a large*
of some 8 rooms two. st-ovik-ib Av
about ready* for the family.;, ffe.
Smith has built probably tfee-
most costly home in Frassuii®*- *
and the house will long* lie m
model, even when the town •.
to be a city of some proportfesRasw.
As soon as he can get i
j to it R. M. Hay slip expect
build a house for rent. -
slip is now too busy at bib ■ vcsk-
penter work to do anything bsser
himself but as soon as- 'vxjpsT
slacks up a bit, he will get r
on his own house.
George Papineau hasr
work on his residence om vA.--
south side and it will so©£-?. .%&?.-
ready for occupancy*. Mr,...
ineau has been so busy
houses.for others he has kaC
time to build one for h9eca«tL-
The new home will contaixLtAgf&L
rooms.
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Philpott, H. H. The Francitas Bee (Francitas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1911, newspaper, January 26, 1911; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth638427/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephen F. Austin East Texas Research Center.