Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-31
NorRs or rExAs rRAvEL-NO. /.

NAIAa ~ 49,
supremacy of North Texas. This
it holds SO far, but not without
energetic and rising rivals. 1t was
formerly the terminus of the Texas
and Pacific railroad, and had the
benefit of all the immense wagon
trade from the counties west down
to the Rio Grande, and even from
Mexico. The extension OF the
road by Ex-Governor Brown last
summer to Fort Worth carried
away much of this trade, and the
people then discovered that ousi-
ness had been rather oyerdone. A
slight reaction took place, but not
serious enough to discourage prop
erty owners. The country all
around is nearly as rich as
the Mississippi river bottoms,
and much of it in a high state Of
cultivation. Wheat has been com
ing into the market two weeks, and
the yield is very fine. The high
price caused by the European war
greatly encourages the farmers, and
there will be quite a revival Of bus
mess this fall. Dallas people claim
a population of 10000. This is
doubtless an oyer-estimate, but the
place has good hotels, churches,
schools, street car lines, gas, good
society and all the features of a
live and growing young city to be
found elsewhere. 1t has three daily
newspapers, one Of them run by a
young man named Harris, a
printer formerly Of Memphis. An
other, the Commercial, is edited
by MI. Hall, a young East Ten
nesseean, who lately married Judge
Freeman's daughter at Trenton.
Colonel Borteau, an old and we'll
known Texas editor, is at the head
of the Herald.
Fort Worth, the "Queen Of the
Prairies," is a marvellous little
place, a frontier village, with city
airs, 535 miles west Of Memphis,
and 80 miles west of Dallas. 1t is
built in the midst of a vast rolling
prairie, on an eminence or bluff
overlooking the Brazos river, and
affcrding a magnificent view as far
as the eye can reach. The taxable
property in1S76 was 5000, 900; this
year $3.50, 900. Asplendid court
house is in course Of erection. The
jail was built before; it resembles
the Memphis Jail so nearly
that one of the excursionists re-
marked, Sentimentally, that he felt
almost home again. Every house
is full Of business; i'll is activity
and hustle in the streets and every.
body in a hurry, like a section Of
Broadway at shutdown. They seem
bent on making a fortune in a few
weeks. Trade comes here by wagon
a great distance. The trade IN buff
falo and other hides is immense.
We saw enough at two points to fill
the Memphis Exposition building.
The place contains two large -four
ing mills, one griSt and one plan.
ing mill, and another going up:
four good hotels, and more
needed; a street railroad line, water
works in contemplation, two daily
newspapers, five churches, two o.
three theaters, one of which run.
after a fashion in daytime a
at night. The lumber trade i
very large here since the exten
sion of the railroad to this place
but all kinds of business is flourish
ing. How much genuine and last
ing prosperity there is underneath
all this excitement and artifoia
stimulus will best appear when tn.
road goes west and leaves the tow
to take care Of itself. 1t is a rat
Ting place now all kinds Of bust
ness and the professions full t
overlooking. Some will make bi
money, and make it quick /; the ms
iority will probably get left. TIL
leading house that we visited in th
hide line is that of Gurley & CO
This is a branch Of the st. Lou
hide house, and has unlimite
capital. The house had just II
ceiyed a heavy stock OF hides, fur
peltyies and wool from Mexic,