The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-07
TEXAS AND PACIFIo RAILROAD.

TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILROAD.
a dispatch in the STATESMAN Of August 1
gave the cheering intelligence that
the Texas Pacific Railroad was completed
from Marshall to Dallas, a distance Of 100
miles. Through trains viii soon be run
ming from Shreveport to Dallas, and, as
soon as the gap between Monroe and shreve-
port is filed up, the Communication Of
Texas with yicksburg and thence with all
the Southern States, east of us, viii be
easy and rapid, just what has been so long
desired This railroad connection of itself,
extending only to Dallas, will be of incal-
culable advantage to Texas. Heretofore
immigration has been retarded on account
of the difficulty of getting here.
The rich and abundant cheap soil
and the healthy and delightful climate
of Texas were generally known and appre-
ciated by the people of the Southern States,
on the other side of the Mississippi, but the
great expense and trouble of reaching the
= 4'happy land" deferred the most of the poorer
classes, most anxious to emigrate, from un-
dertaking the long journey. A man with .
large family of lusty boys and girls, the
very sort we want, hesitated to leave his
old homestead, however dilapidated and
unpromising, and attempt to reach Texas
by the way of New Orleans and the stormy
Gulf, or else by the slow process of OK and
mule teams through the wide and break
down swamps of the Mississippi and Red
River. Still many of them came and were
welcomed. Now, with the completion of
the Louisiana gap, which will soon be, the
emigrants from all the older Southern States
will have easy and cheap entrance, by
means of the Texas and Pacific, the Inter
national, Great Northern and Central Rail-
roads. into the very heart of Texas, and
can thence branch off and penetrate into
every portion of its vast domain, without
much further trouble, and as their fancy
and interest may dictate. Great as has been
the immigration to Texas during the last
two years. it will be more than doubled the
coming year. Railroads have filled up the
great northwest with an industrious, thriv-
ing people from Europe and the Middle and
Southern States, and railroads will fill up
Texas, with the same or even a better class
of people, until she becomes the most popu-
lous, wealthy and powerful State of the
Union.
The Texas and Pacific road, which heads
this article, has ever been favorite with us,
as well as with the best and greatest men,
who have ever made Texas the home OF
their choice and idol of their hearts. Under
another name, Houston, Rusk, Lamar,
Pillsberry and others, all favored the great
southern route to the Pacific, through
Texas, as one of overwhelming interest and
value to its people. The eagle eye of JEFF
ferson Davis, when Senator in Congress
and Secretary of War, saw clearly the ma
tional Importance of this great work, and
he, too, did everything in his power to pro-
mote it. Now, through the energy and
labors of President Tom Scott, Governor
Throckmorton, and other gentlemen con
nected with the enterprise, and the wise
liberality of the National Congress and the
State of Texas, we have before US the joyful
prospect of an early completion of this noble
undertaking, and the establishment of q
Southern Uuion of the Pacific, the Atlantic
and the Gulf, stronger and more enduring
than the compacts or oaths of men.
The benefits resulting to Texas from this
connection with New Mexico, Arizona,
California and the Pacific cannot be overes.
timated. The realization will exceed the
widest dream of fancy. immigration viii
pour in from every section and from all
countries. All the vacant lands will be
cultivated or used for countless focks and
herds. Cities, towns and villages will
spring up all along the line of the road. And
within convenient distance Mines will be
opened and worked. Factories of all sorts
will be built and flourish. The rich com
merce of Japan, China, India and the Isles
of the Pacific, will pass through our limits
to the Atlantic or the Gulf, and the whole
State will feel the influence of this com.
bined prosperity, and bloom like "the rosC
of Sharon and the lily of the valley"