The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-09-30
THE wEnB PROPOSITION.
Wagon and Carriage Wanufac-
Tory, Employing One Hun
dred Hands, within the
Reach OF Dallas.

Is one Of the most important that has
claimed the attention of the present
city government since its induction
into Office.
Messrs. Webb 4 Go. are among the
largest wagon and carriage manufac-
turers in the Northwest. Their exten-
sive establishment at Beardstown, Hi
nois, ranks among the first of estab-
lishments of that kind in the country,
as well as in the number Of hands
employed and the amount of manu-
featured work turned out, and the quail
ity and excellence of the work. The
firm look largely to the Southwest as
market for the sale of their manutac-
tured stock. With more foresight and
intelligence than most of North
ern or Eastern manufacturers are pos
sessed of they grasped the idea of es'
tabllshing branch of their factory in
the Southwest, where their customers
live, and where they could get ut low
rates all the raw material needed in
their business. With this view they
had representative Of their firm to
Visit various sections of this and other
States west Of the Mississippi, with
a view to making selection of loca-
ton for their new enterprise, and the
result of the investigation by the said
representative is the proposition laid
before the City Council on Tuesday
evening last.
In other words, Messrs. Webb IL Co.
have decided that Dallas presents more
points of advantage than any other
place to which their attention was dir
ected, and have determined to locate
their factory here, provided such in
ducements are held out as they think
the enterprise warrants, and such rs
are offered by other cities that are COM
peting with Dallas for commercial
greatness. Their proposition, as we
understand it, is simply this, they pro-
pose to break ground at once for the
construction of factory that will give
to one hundred men at
the start, promcted that the city Council
lOW agree to exempt from iteration, for
q period Of tenyears, tie capitol Invested
IN buildings and machinery. This is
all they ask from the city-only this,
and nothing more. They do not want
any special taxes laid to build houses
for them, nor do they want any streets
devoted to their exclusive use. They
ask no subsidy. All they ask is to be
excused from the payment of taxes on
The capital they may embark here in n
enterprise, but one which, if
will rebound u thousand
times more to the prosperity of the city
Of Dallas than to the profit of the pro-
iectors.
We must he permitted also to ex-
press our very high appreciation of the
wisdom manifested by the City Coun-
sill in meeting this proposition. AS
our readees are well aware the usual
course taken with all new business
that comes before the Council, rs il
also the cutom in all legislative bodies,
Is to refer the same to some appropri-
Ate committee, to report thereon ut
meeting. On the presenta-
ton of the proposition of Messrs.
Webb Il Co. the Council, realizing the
great Importance of the same, referred
Il to special committee of its own
Body, and at the same time named
nine of the leading capitalists and bus
ness men of the city, whom it re-
Iuested to act with the special COM
mittee in considering the matter and
u report thereon.
Knowing the intelligence and BUSH
ness foresight of the gentlemen COM
posing the committee, rs well rs of
those citizens who are requested to
act conformity with them, THE HERALD
entertains no doubt what the recon-
of the committee will be.
In fact the instances, both in the
North and in the Northwest,
Of villages and towns that have
grown rapidly into cities by extending
just this kind Of encouragement to
enterprises in their in
fancy, are so numerous that 1t would
seem impossible that any man of or
binary intelligence who desired the
Of our city, could oppose the
scheme.
The day for cities to grow great on
trade alone in the United States has
passed. Railroads are penetrating
INTO every section of the county, and
the trade Is too much scattered there
by for any one locality to concentrate
enough of it to build large city on.
Manufactures are now the stepping
stones to population and wealth. A
city that expects not to be distanced in
the race by her rivals, must encourage
and build up manufactures, otherwise
and decline will be her in
evitable fate.
The proposition Of Messrs. Webb Il
20. gives Dallas an opportunity to
show her policy In this matter; and
THE HERALD does not doubt that the
Council will not only accede to the
.erms suggested, but will hold itself
,eady to do anything else that may be