The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-03
DALLAS, TEXAS.
WEDNESDAY MORNING :;:: NOV. 3
BRIEE. COMMENTS ON "TEXAs
- Nhn rr NOTES. N

ton shipments up 10 octoper %oth, "eie
1,l28."
The traveller on the Texas and
Pacific railroad coming west, after
passing Gladewater, u station near
he Sabine river II few miles west
of Longview, enters extensive pine
forests growing upon sandy lands APP
parently barren. IL 1t happens
that he comes from productive
and thrifty farming section, he viii
see in the section which he 10 now
passing through, but little to interest
him. The only signs Of industry that
meet his eye, are the numerous saw
mills along the line Of the road with
their noise and busy hum, and his
first inquiry is where in the world
Is all this lumber going to?
The answer Of the polite brakeman
TO whom the question is addressed Is
always, "Why to the prairies, of
course.n The traveller unused to such
things muses. over these wonders, and
becomes more and more impatient to
see these prairies. The cars speed on
ward through the pine trees, the sand
and the dust, and after passing "Grand
Saline" and through II stunted growth
of trees, suddenly emerge from the
shadowy thickets and bring the de-
lighted passenger into n new and open
world. The boundless eXpanse of
prairie lies before him, and to the right
and to the left, encircling him, the
lines OF low timber stretch out In crcs-
cent form, skirting the grass and
forming a. peninsula of green.
On the outer line of this peninsula,
and on tile confines OF the grand prai-
RE leading to Terrell and Dallas, lies
the pretty village of Wills Point,
with its white cottages, its long row of
village stores, and its picturesque sur
roundlngs. The eye of the traveller
never having rested upon a prairie be-
fore, weary of the woods through
whose solitude the train has brought
him for so many hours Is now
charmed, and new and unaccustomed
delights are spread before his vision.
To the right, to the left, and onward
in front, are cultivated fields, with here
and there farm-houses, clumps of trees,
and cattle browsing. AT the stopping
of the train, crowds about the depot,
who seem to be all alive, wagons rat
thing over the hard prairie earth, and
restless trains hauling cotton and wheat
give evidence that the cars are rapidly
approaching n new and busy land.
The passengers, all dull and stupid be-
fore from their long ride through the
flying dust, are awakened to entirely
new scenes and new surroundings;
their tagging spirits are aroused, con-
versation is resumed, nervousness and
Impotence dispelled, and an air of
cheerfulness restored. This gay entry
upon the wide, rolling prairies from
the woods, never loses its zest, even
with the Oldest travellers, and the con-
ductors, brakemen and train hands
themselves, all seem TO enjoy it, al
though with them it is a daily habit.
No wonder that the great tide of emf
grafton flows on in its ceaseless course
towards these boundless prairies.
Wills Point is % small, prettily
built railroad station, in the
midst of the prairie, with tim
Der at convenient distances. The
surrounding country is beautiful open
plain of productive lands, and is des-
tined soon, with its many advantages,
to becomes thickly settled community
Of thrifty farmers 1t is the chief ship
ping po'nt for Van Zandt county,
wh'lsta portion OF Kaufman, Wood and
Hunt make ittheir trading place. Van
zandt county is only small portion
prairie, along its western slope the
main body of the county, lying to the
Southeast of Wills' Point, being COW
cred with timber. 1t is we'll watered
with abundant springs aud streams,
abounds in fruit, and is productive in
corn, cotton, wheat and other small
grain.
The receipt ut Wills Point of over
thousand bales Of cotton to date is evil
dence OF the prosperity of the sur
rounding country, and that the village
itself is destined always to be thriv-
ing point.
"Thes scholastic population of Texas
Is about 1896, 000.n KrRgHgff
We 20 not remember where we got
this item, but we think the estimate
must be too low. The true number
cannot be less than 100000. For this
scholastic population, it Is the duty of
the government to provide an educa-
tion--at least such rudiments as are
taught In common schools. The Con-
vention, we are sure will insert claim
In the Constitution, looking to the ed
ucatlon Of these children. Provision
should be made by the Legislature for
ut least four months tuition In every
year. This, at one dollar and half a
month for each child, will swell the
annual tuition expenses to more than
TWO millions Of dollars. But It is
hardly probable that all the children
81 the State will avail themselves of
the public funds. II but half are TO be
provided for. tho axnanso. a,orv Nos,