TEXAS.

On January 9, 1902, a corporation known as “The Texas World’s Fair Commission” was chartered under the provisions of the laws of the State of Texas on application of citizens of Texas, and appointed Texas World’s Fair Commissioners by Hon. Joseph D. Sayers, then the governor of the State.  It was believed by the commission that with State aid to the extent of $200,000 added to sums that had already been guaranteed by subscribers, the State could make a creditable showing at the World’s Fair in competition with other States and Territories.  Accordingly the commission memorialized the twenty-eighth legislature for an appropriation of $200,000.  The bill which sought to authorize the appropriation was reported to the house and was opposed by the governor of the State on two contentions:  First, that the constitution did not authorize such an appropriation, and, second, that the limited revenues of the State would not justify it.  When the commission failed in this direction, a meeting was held to determine whether the commission should attempt to go ahead with the work or abandon the enterprise.  The commission decided by an overwhelming vote that Texas could not afford to deny herself participation in a universal exposition where all the States and Territories of the United States would enter in friendly competition, and the executive committee and the general manager were instructed to proceed with the organization.  The task of reorganizing the work by counties was resumed, but with limited success.  The plan was to call upon the counties for a sum equal to 2 cents on the $100 property valuation, with which to create the Texas World’s Fair Commission fund.  Out of 243 organized counties in the State the following subscribed and paid the amounts set against them: 

El Paso, Tom Green, Tarrant, Dallas, Harris, Jefferson, Galveston, Smith, Nueces, and Comal.

Navarro, McLennan, Grayson, Travis, Harrison, Collin, Palo Pinto, Fannin, Lamar, and Bexar counties endeavored to raise the assessments set against them, but did not succeed in doing so, although their subscriptions in the aggregate were generous.  The subscriptions from the counties mentioned amounted to $49,096.34.

The railroads of Texas subscribed approximately $25,000.  Early in the organization of the commission the Texas Bankers’ Association passed a resolution calling on its members to assess themselves for the Texas World’s Fair Commission fund at the rate of one-tenth of 1 per cent on their capital stock.  About one-half of the banks of the State subscribed and paid on that basis an amount in the aggregate of $11,672.65.  The State Lumbermen’s Association gave $3,133.  The Texas Cattle Raisers’ Association subscribed $2,150.

The above sums, augmented by scattering amounts from different sources, constituted a total fund to the commission of $126,780.14.

The Texas commission was composed of the following-named persons: