The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-01
DOWN N TEXAS.
Two Years Ago-Fort Worth Cap
tain Daggett's Ride Progress in
Northern Texas-Want of Trans
pcrtation-Tnternational conven-
ton.
Correspondents of the citizen.I
Fort WoRrH- Lnlv 90 rs

Correspondence of the cItizen.J
Fort WORTH, July 90 rs.
Two years in the life of a coun-
try-about equal to as many hours
in that of a man-are not likely to
exhibit great changes in progress
or decay. But our country is ex-
ceptional in this respect, and Texas
remarkably so. In a hundred years
of governmental existence, the
Worlds Republic has more than
doubled its territory, multiplied its
population fifteen fold, its aggre-
gate wealth more than a hundred
fold, and in all the elements of
moral and political power, as well
as of social refinement and intellect
ual force, stands on level with the
proudest kingdoms or empires OF
Europe. Texas, the empire State
of the great Southwest, has far out
stripped this rate of progress, and
in the space of few years has be
come a great power in the land.
TWO YEARS AGO.
A little less than two years ago 1
journeyed through the northern por-
tion of this strange, yet beautiful
country. Coming down through
Arkansas by the ST. Louis and Iron
Mountain road, found Texarkana
in the northeast corner of the State,
a queer mixture of bricks, clap
boards and shingles, thrown to-
gether in haste, and without much
regard to order, and with one or
two double barreled saloons rum
ming into two States, much to the
JOY of transient residents and the
confusion of tipstaffs. During the
two years that have elapsed this
town, with its triple name, has
made marked progress. 1t has lost
that fresh odor Of paint and pine
shingles which is the characteristic
of very new towns, and is beginning
to put on the outward forms and
business habits of a young but
! thriving business city.
Down seventy-fve miles by the
Texas Pacific, through a country
with much good soil and rich in
valuable timber, we come to the
noted and really beautiful town of
Marshall, where we strike the true
line of this railway, stretching west
from Shreveport about 210 miles to
Fort Worth. Marshall contains the
general offices of the Texas Pacific,
as well as the machine shops, and
then circumstances have contrib
uted to the steady growth and i'm
provement of the town.
Steaming out westward we pass
through one of the finest timber dis
tricts in the Southwest, where the
circular saws are slaughtering the
pine trees in fearful manner, and
after run of fifty or sixty miles we
strike prairie country rich and
beautiful almost beyond compari-
son. A little further on we come
to Dallas, the fairest city in north
ern Texas, which has grown apace
since my last visit, in spite of the
hard times. Crossing the Trinity
river and rolling on westward
through the cross timber and inter
walls of prairie, an hours run brings
US to the new but live city of
FORT WORTH.
1t is situated on the high bluff of
the upper Trinity in commanding
position, and on the approach from
the east, looks as if it might have |
been dropped down from the skies
like st. Peters visional sheet with |
its menagerIe of clean and unolean |
beasts. No wonder Captain Dag |
gett, the father of the town, danced |
hornpipe at his first view of this |
charming site. When l first saw it
in the autumn Of '76 it was just com
ing out of swaddling clothes, and |
donning the garments of Young
America. 1t was full of business
and very full of mud. The rich
outlying country was sending in
hundreds of wagon loads of cotton,
wheat and other products, and mer
chants were receiving whole train
loads of groceries and staple goods
to supply the demands of the ever
increasing rural population. Dallas
newspapers made game of it as the |
"panther town." but in two years
it has outgrown all the old features
of wildness, and assumed the char
acter of a first-class and fast grow
ing city, whose business extends
out hundreds of miles towards sun
down, and far to the north and
south. 1t preserves all the charac-
teristics and concomItants of a most
thriving and enterprising city
paved streets and sidewalks, sub
stantial blocks of brick stores and
warehouses, neat residences, hotels,
churches, schools, &c. The delicate
sensibilities of Col. Forney would
no longer be shocked by being sent
''out on the range" to find the only
commode belonging to the hotel,
and Capt. Daggett would be able to
take Col. Scott on a longer ride TO
inspect the glories of the young
town.
CAPTAIN DAGGETT's RIDE.
The picture of that ride is worth
preserving. Fancy the Colonel, who
is a man of fair inches as well as q
good head, seated in a rickety car
ryall, surmounted by a huge som
brero, and the seven-foot Captain
towering above him as he holds the
reins of rawboned Rosenante, ,driv-
ing thro' street after street, frequent
ly repeating the ride through the
best portion of the town, but with
new names for the streets on each
succeeding trip. The diversion, in
spite of the hot sun, was as pleas
ant to the railroad magnate as to
the enthusiastic Captain, and doubt
less left the impression of immense
future possibilities for the young
metropolis.
PROGRESS IN NORTHERN TEXAS.
The marks OF progress through
out Northern Texas are everywhere
distinct and prominent, and the