The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-05-30

Before proceeding to speak OF the
princely edifice which now adorns our
city as a court house, let us look back Il
little and note the mile posts in the
growth of this now populous and flour
ishng city and county.
The first rude settlement within the
territory of the county was begun by
John Neely Bryan, at the close OF the
year 1S4l. The nearest navigaole
points were Jefferson, one hundred
and seventy miles east, and Houston,
two hundred and sixty-five miles south,
both then infant places. The county
was created and organized in 1916, with
mere handful of settlers, Tut steadily
increased in population, of superior
class, until the war began in 1861.
During its four years continuance,
industry was paralyzed and many OF
its best citizens went to soldiers graves
After the war, owing to the outrageous
rule placed over the people, little pro-
gress was made and men were content
to live as best they could. No very
material improvement took place, nor
considerable increase in population,
till about 1870 and 1871, when more
hope of the future gradually worked
change. The first and grand impulse,
however, may be dated from the day,
in 1871, when it became certain that
the Houston and Texas Central rail-
way would pass centrally through the
county, from south to north, and make
q depot at Dallas and several other
points. Itwas completed to Dallas in
July, 1872, and a year later was follow
ed by the connection of Dallas with
Shreveport and Jefferson, through the
Texas and Pacific railroad, securing
also, through the Great Northern, an
other and rival connection with Hous-
ton and Galveston. Each route opened
to us The great lumber forests of east
Texas. The heunparalelled growth of Dali
las, beginning in the winter of 1912,
has been stimulated and yet maintains
its supremacy as the result OF these
combined causes. The great iron
bridge was the first material achieve
|.ment. A great influx of commercial
men and capital kept company, and
began those grand and noble business
houses which now win the admiration
hof all strangers; and here we are to-day
with busy and solid population OF
from ten to twelve thousand, with an
uninterrupted growth, promising a
grand and glorious future.
But to go back to the earlier times.
THE FIRST COURT HOUSE ERECTED
on the square was rough structure oI
cedar logs, with q "stick and dirt
chimney and puncheon floor, will
split logs for seats. In it, for severa
wears, Justice was administered by al
Ochiltree, Martin, Reagan, an'
others with as much ability, justice
dignity and decorum as will probabl,
ever grace the splendid structure o
which we now so justly feel proud
But even then the young bloods wer
proud, and after time, on Christina
day, 1853, with sacrilegious hands, frs
dismantled and finally burned tha
primitive temple.
In 1855, a respectable two-stor
brick building was erected on the sam
= ground, and long subserYed tho ppl
) poses of q court house, being embc
: somed in the beautiful grove of Chin
7 and locust trees which still stand t
keep watch over the stately edifice G
f to-day. Some four years ago this brio
l house was removed to make way for
| larger building, and this brings u
: down to the origin, progress and con
/ plelion of our present noble edilice.
HISTORY OF THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
The plan was adopted by the count
t court at its May term, 1871. On I'll
q 5th of August, 1871, a contract for i
r erection was entered into with jaime
Donnegan. Work was immediatel
/ commenced and prosecutedtill Decen
Der of the same year, when Donnega
4 abandoned the contract, and the coul
! ty court carried Oh the work till Marcl
!. 1872, when it entirely ceased and WI
not renewed till August, 1873.
: The legislature Of of 1873 authorize
e the county to issue bonds to carry o.
g the enterprise, but the attorney gene
e al declared the act demonstrations
d and no bonds were issued. So it stoC
till 1873, when, on the petition of ov,
!, a thousand tax payers Of the count
d our then representative, John Hem
It Brown, got an act passed which m
s. the emergency, after its approval by q
d overwhelming majority Of the peop
OF an election specially held, Ther