Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-11-09
THE. LONE. STAR STATE.
Letter from g.! NELSON Smith, Esq.

From.tbe' Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot Of
the.l7th of September, We repubiish tho
following excellent letter by the Hon. G
Nelson smitb,..of Philadelphia, now io'
sometime sojourner in our city:
DALLAS, August 80, 1872.
This is the largest and most i'm.
portant town on the whole line Of
the Texas Central railroad from
the city of Houston 70 Red River,
but that it will maintain its posi-.
tion depends upon the public spir-
it and enterprise of its citizens. The
simple fact off being on the line
of the Texas Central and the Tex;
as Pacific railroads, is not alaSl
sufficient to insure it continprMce
of its present pre-cmineneeFe all
other places. 1t shoul c6t rely
upon Being a railroad town, bat
shonld become manufacturing
town. To"maintain its prcseut su-
premacy its citizens should be in
vesling their capital in manufac-
lures of various kinds, in maca-
damizing their streets and paving
their side walks. and in otherwise
improving the comfort and health
of the place.
..Where is doubtless an active spir-
it of enterprise in Dallas, not met
with in Texan towns generally.
The completion of tho road to this
point has infused now life into it's
old inhabitpnts and brought 10 it
business mon from Corsicana, ,Groes-
beeck and other places, who are
erecting buildings and entering in
to business with considerable splr-
it; but what will give the most i'm
portanco to Dallas and assist large
ly in making it the.greatest,in inland
city in thsQoNsht WAPbc the con.
struction Of the Dallas and Wichita
railroad. A charter was granted
by tho late Legislature for the build
ing of a railroad from this place to
Wichita county, running into the
very heart of the great mineral re-
gion of Texas. Tho finest quality
of copper orc, and in inexhnusti-
Bile quantities is found in Wichita,
Young, Archer and adjoining coun-
ties. Specimens of aim ost pure ore
have been found everywhere in
.heso counties. Ifthis charter was
in the hands Of somo of our Penn
sylvania capitalists and railroad
men it could bo made tho incest
railroad enterprise in the State, in
deed one of the best paying roads
in the Union. The Texas Central
company is desirons of obtaining
tho charter, and will, upon the
completion of their road TO Red
Rivor, secure this charter and build
the road, as it will bo the most i'm
portant feeder that tho road will
have in the State. The Dallas and
Wichita road will tap the richest
mineral lands in Texas, and if half
is truth that is said of them. the
richest in the world. A rich lead
mino has been discovered IN Jas
per county, aud gold dust and rich
specimens of gold and copper
quartz have been discovered in
Burnet county. Here is tho rich
est enterprise that any of our Penn
sylvania capitalists and railroad
builders could possibly embark
in.
This great State, in the far of
southwest, is rapidly filing up
with q thrifty and industrious class
of immigrants, who are utilizing
her vast and large variety of re-
sources. In these days of railway
supremacy in common, her citizens,
particularly her new comers, are
watching with eager eyes the build
ing of railroads. They arc look
ing forward to the rapid construc-
ton of the roads approaching her
from the north, bat most especial
ly are they looking to the compile
ton of the Texas Pacific road. But
although railroads arc doing much
towards building up Texas, the
people are sensible of being impcs-
ed upon by her railroad companies,
in their ex0rbitant charges on both
passengers and freight. The trade
Of Texas is really suffering on ac-
count of the outrageous high rates
and small accommodations on her
different railroads The oxtrava-
CANT charges OF Texas railroads is
q serious drawback on her trade,
The Galveston and Houston rail
road company, on their first show
ing Of the proceeds Of the road
realized q net profit Of thirty-thrcC
per cent. per annum on the invest
/ inent. The Houston and Texas
Central "a netting a still greater
per ceDtnge, while the CONSTRUCTED
norton Of the Texas Pacific road