The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-08-29
EAST FORK BRIDGE.

We have several times already en-
deavored to impress upon the business
men of Dallas, the Importance of con-
structing bridge across the East fork
so as to enable'the people of Hunt and
adjoining counties to reach this place
with their produce. The very great
Importance of securing the erection of
this bridge at an early day is our apol-
ogy for again bringing it to the atten-
ton of our readers.
We take this proposition to be self
evident, that in consequence of the
shortness of the crops, in the region on
which Dallas depends for its trade, the
amount of business done here last
season can not be done this season un-
less extraordinary exertions are made
to secure trade from other quarters.
What the effect of Il decrease in the bu-
siness of the city the approaching
season, as compared with the last sea-
sons business would be, it is not worth
while for us to attempt to show. The
cry would at once be raised, Dallas is
going down; it would be taken up by
her many rivals in northern Texas,
and would be repeated with so much
persistency that it would be bound to
have q certain effect. Dallas is now
moving steadily forward on sure and
safe basis, and it behooves all who are
interested in her welfare to see to it
that nothing may occur to retard this
onward movement.
In order, as we said before, that there
may not be u falling off in the busi-
ness of the season on which we are
just entering, it is necessary that we
should be reaching out in every direc.
ton for trade. And it is in this
point of view that the construc-
ton of the bridge over East fork be-
comes q matter of so vital inn
portance to the prosperity of our city.
As'it is now the distance to be travel
ed between Dallas and Rockwall is
about twenty-slx miles, and portion
of this is through the bottoms of East
fork, which in the winter are almost
entirely impossible. If the bridge is
put up at the point designated, the dis
tance to he Travelled will be reduced to
twenty miles, and the worst part Of the
road will be avoided altogether. We
published a few days ago an article
from the Rockwall Banner, stating
that if there was n bridge over East
fork the trade and travel from that
point to Dallas UOutd be doubted. Col
Onel Martin, of this city, who returned
Thursday last from business trip
through Hunt, Rockwall and other
counties, assures us that the compile
tion of this bridge in time for the win
ter trade would bring to this market
ut least t,oo thousand bates Of cotton
that otherwise will seek some other
market. He further states that the
people on the other side of the East
fork would prefer coming to Dallas to
going to any other market, provided
there was way for them to get across
that stream.
IL is not proposed, as we understand
it, to attempt the construction Of n
costly iron bridge. All that is propos-
.,I l.. I'm builb n substantial wooden
bridge aud to make road to and from
it on both sides of the stream. All
this it is estimated can be done for three
thousand dollars.
Surely Dallas can afford to throw
that much of her bread upon the wa
ters when it is so apparent that it will
be returned to her tenfold within II
few months.