Texas

Population.

On April 1, 1930, the population of Texas, ac cording to the Federal Census, was 5,824, 715. This was 1,161,487 more than in 1920, when the pop ulation numbered 4,663,228. In 1910 the population was 3,896, in 1900 3,048,710, in 1890 2,235,527, in 1880 and in 1870 818,579. In 1930, as in 1920, Texas ranked fifth among the states in total population, but its density was low with 22.2 in habitants per sq.m. in 1930 as compared with 17.8 in 1920. The 1930 density was slightly more than half that of the United States as a whole. There were in 193o 19 counties with a dens ity of over 55 inhabitants per square mile. These are found chiefly in a strip from Fort Worth and Dallas north-east to the Red river and south-west through Waco, Austin and San Antonio, with a branch strip south-east from Waco to Houston and Galveston. Except for the branch strip most of the counties are in the black soil belt. Of the 254 counties 74 had populations averaging less than ten inhabitants per square mile, the most thinly settled areas being the Edwards plateau and Trans-Pecos region.

The population is predominantly native-born white of Anglo Saxon extraction. The larger portion came originally from Ten nessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and other States of the older South, with, however, especially in recent years, an appreci able addition from the Middle Western States. Despite the large preponderance of native whites, Texas has received more emigrants from foreign countries than any other Southern State. In 1930 there were 98,396 foreign-born whites in Texas, or 1.7% of the total population. In addition there were 173,886 white persons born of foreign parentage and 154,011 born of mixed parentage. These three classes together, representing a classification known to the Census Bureau as "foreign white stock," comprised 7.3% of the total population of Texas and 9.9% of the white population. Mexicans, constituting the bulk of the recent immigrants, were classified apart from the "foreign-born whites" in the 1930 cen sus. The number of Mexicans increased to 683,681 in 1930 from 647,826 in 192o. They comprised 11.7% of the 1930 population.

Mexican immigrants have crossed the Rio Grande primarily in response to a demand for labour on the ranches and farms of southern and south-west Texas. The Federal immigration restric tions apply to them, but restrictions are lifted for the temporary immigration of Mexican labourers to satisfy certain seasonal de mands. Besides the great length of the Mexican border prohibits an adequate guard to prevent unlawful access to the country. Most of the present Mexican population is along the Rio Grande and in south Texas, but throughout the cotton belt there is an appreciable scattering. Germans and Austrians were next in im

portance. There were 25,913 foreign-born Germans and 153,362 of German stock, 3,33o foreign-born Austrians and 11,217 of Aus trian stock; 12,282 born in Czechoslovakia, 5,467 in Russia ; 4.589 in Poland; 6,55o in Italy; 6,782 in England; 3,523 in Ireland; in Sweden and 4,525 in Canada. Most of the German and Austrian inhabitants are found in south-central Texas where they constitute a thrifty element of the agricultural population. The negro population of Texas in 1930 was 854,964, or 14.7% of the whole. The negro has increased in number since 1900 but not in proportion to the increase in total population. The negro migration to Texas is not large. The negroes are almost all in the eastern half of the State, principally along the eastern border, the Gulf coast and in the cities. In 1930, 525,135 negroes were rural dwellers and 329,829 lived in cities, the city element showing the greatest increase between 5920-3o.

The total urban population in 1930 was 2,389,348, or 41% of the whole, as compared with 24.1% in 1910 and 17.1% in 1900. The chief cities with their 1930 and 1920 populations were : Houston, 292,352, 138,276; Dallas, 158,976; San Antonio, 231,542, 161,379; Fort Worth, 163,447, 106,482; El Paso, 102,421, 77,56o; Beaumont, 57,732, 40,422; Austin, 53,120, 34,876; Gal veston, 44255; Waco, 52,848, 38,500; Port Arthur, 50, 902, 22,251; Wichita Falls, 43,690, 40,079; Amarillo, 43,132, 15,494. Other cities with a population over io,000 in 1930 were Abilene, Big Spring, Brownsville, Brownwood, Cleburne, Corpus Christi, Corsicana, Del Rio, Denison, Greenville, Harlingen, Laredo, Lubbock, Marshall, Palestine, Pampa, Paris, San Angelo, San Benito, Sherman, Sweetwater, Temple, Texarkana and Tyler.

Government.

The State's fourth constitution adopted in 1876 remains the basis of the government. Since its adoption there had been (1935) over 7o amendments, the majority of them in volving but minor points. An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the legis lature, and is adopted if approved by a majority of the voters at the next election.

The legislature is composed of a senate of 31 members, chosen by popular vote for four-year terms, one-half the body retiring every two years, and a house of representatives of 15o members (the constitutional maximum) elected biennially. Bills may origi nate in either house, except bills of revenue, which must originate in the house of representatives, but can be amended or rejected as other bills in the senate. Regular meetings of the legislature are biennial, opening upon the second Tuesday of January in odd numbered years. Special sessions may be called by the governor.