Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-31
THE CONGRESSIONAL ExcURsIomIsrs IN TEXAS.
G Galveston, its Enterprise and It's Lit
tie AX-The HarbOr Needs Deepen
fng-NOrthern Texas-A 6O-ahead
State-The shed and Canvass Cities
Of Northern TeXas-TOO Much Land.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Star. ]


have reached Galveston, and have been the re-
cipients of a wonderfully hearty greeting by the
people here. st. Louis has been fairly surpassed
by this little city OF twenty thousand inhab-
itants; and New orleans will find it no easy
matter to come up to the demonstration made
by Galveston in horror o. its visitors. Calves
ton, of course, like all the other places visited
by the party, has its own little AK to grind in
welcoming the Congressman. She wants Con-
gress TO clean out her channel, which, before
the war, was from 20 to ?5 feet deep, but is now
only about 12k feet. Vessels drawing more
than that consequently have to discharge a
portion Of their cargo into lighters, at an ex-
pense of from 80 to % per ton, which the bust
ness men OF Galveston, who are making very
energetic Efforts to increase their commerce,
iind heavy tax.
THE GROWTH OF GALVESTON.
Galveston partakcs largely of the unmistake-
able spirit OF industry and enterprise pervadng
the state. Since the close of the war, or dating
from 1865, the heavy flow OF emigration into
Texas has caused a rapid increase in the popu-
tatiOn and business of this city. The receipts
of cotton for the present year are estimated al
$50 900 bales, and there has been large increase
in the exports of cattle to New orleans and
Havana, and generally Of beef, hides, taliow,
horses, wool, cotton-seed oil, and oil cake. Gal
OF steamers from ten to twelve arrivals per
week; a weekly line of large steamers from New
York; and line just star ted direct from Liver
pool OF light draft, designed to 60 over the bar
without lightering. This Liverpool line is doing
so well that the English stockholders propose To
build enough steamers for a weekly line. There
are also several steamers plying regularly be-
tween Galveston and Havana carrying cattle,
and there are regular lines of sailing vessels to
Northern and Southern ports The recent i'm
20, tant railroad operations in Texas are adding
much to the business of Galveston, well a.
qulckening business actively all through the
state. In no state in the Union has there been
so much railroad building OF late a. in Texas.
and nowhere have the returns IN the way OF
freight or passenger traffic been so immediate:
and this growth must be greatly increased and
accelerated or the completion of the network
or railroads now in progress, which viii open
up every part OF the vast extent OF fertile land
in this state and the adj acent Indian territory
Galveston may not reap all the advantages OF
this business growth until her harbOr il i'm
proved; but the business men here show so much
intelligent activity that 1 do not doubt they
will make their harbor what they want il; with
or without Congressional aid. Calves on, il
ceedingy salubrious position; though il does not
altogether escape the yellow fever.
ABOUT TEXAS.
Entering Northern Texas from the rich but
unoccuped Indian Territory, and traversng
the State by the newly opened Kansas and
Texas railroad, we had opportunity to
sote the spirit of progress manifested every
where, and the manner in which emigration l.
pom ing into the State. Seventy-three thousand
| emigrants passed through Galveston last year
| and more than two hundred thousand entered
| the State. Yet such is the immense area OF
Texas, which is large enough to make half a
dozen ordinary states, that it is estimated that
not more than one fifth of the arabic land o:
| the State is enclosed. Away up in Northern
Texas, near the Irdian country, we found 60
| ahead place called Dallas, that has sprung uI,
almost in night 1t claims a population OF
5000; taxable property exceeding $1,000, 900,
| seven churches, two newspapers, a public IL
| braTy, and street railroad paying dividend
/ or twenty-five per cent. According to the
spokesman for Dallas, who welcomed our pal ty.
| they have three crops year in Dallas county,
cattle, grain and emgrants;' and referring t.
| Tue active character OF the population, he sail
| that there was not a State in the Union un
| represented in their community. The same
| speaker referred in warm terms to the aid
| Tom Scott and John W. FOrney-tne latter
| through his publications on the lands and re =
| sources OF Texas. Dallas is the point of inter
| section OF the road from the gull to the lakes,
| and Tom ScOtts Texas and Pacific" road am
| long lines OF new freight cars for the L. &
| road, and immense stacks OF rail and other ma
| terlal gave token that the most benifcent o.
railroad kings is pressing his colossal opera
| tons with the same force and thoroughnes>
| away down here on the borders of civilization
in the southwest. that he is all along the line o.
| the Atlantic coast, and back to the Lakes
There is good deal Of
A SPECULATIVE RUSH
| to the towns in northern Texas on the rail
| roads; and at Dallas, Sherman, Denison, ami
other points, the present buildings are 80 made
quate to cover the newly arrived settlers, tina;
there are whole colonies Of families living in
tents and temporary sbanties. Denison and
Il N hav fhA
canvass cities that followed the progress of til
mon Pacific road, but Dallas has a more H.
stantial look, with many well built houses. Sit
uated in rich country, it is probable that thes
Iexas "cites" will have a longer life than tn
mushroom affairs on the Union Pacific rad
that died out 50 speedily.
| CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TEXAS.
But despite the flow Of emigration to Texas
from all quarters, the number of settlers
scarcely makes an impression as vet on the
vast prairies OF the state. Not only through
northern Texas, but through the longer-settled
regions Of central and southern Texas, we
whiried all day long by rail through rich plains,
scarcely dotted by habitations, and occupied for
the most part as feeding ground by immense
herds Of Texas cattle. The principal business
OF the engine whistle was to warn cattle, and
not men, to clear the track for the locomotive.
Inc increased luxurlance aud beauty of the
prairie flowers, and the bales Of cotton piled on
the station platforms, told that we were travel
ing rapidly aouth; and near Houston the fra
grant magnolia, with its contrast of white and
green, took the shape Of great forest trees
Harris county, in which Houston Ia situated. is
perhaps the most thickly settled of any portion
Of the state, and yet there are Thousands
OF acres In this district unoccupied and for sale
in the immediate vicinity Of the i've railroads
interesting at Houston, from e5 to 10 Der
acre: Somewhat further away from the rail-
roads, or from the principal cities, there Is anv
quantity to be got at from fifty cents Through
state scrip per acre to $50. Houston on TIE
Bayou Buffalo emptying into Galveston bav.
claim: to be at the head OF navigation, and
expects to be something Of Q place hcreafter.
There were more alligators than steamboats in
f fne bayou however, Is We passed, and the
rather rat from her railroad facilities than from
her navigable waters. Houston has rather An
attractive appearance however, empowered In
oieanders and tmagnolias, and wsthal Q look
OF business progress. From Houston to Gaives-
ton the country has much the same unocoupicd
look seen above, through this may be accounted
the coast ~ess
1t was rather tedious process tn reach
Galveston with our heavy train Of Puilmsn
sieepers over the two miles Of trestle vorE 10
the island, but all Galveston WIS ont to VEL