The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-01-19
DALLAS AND the raonr,rs.

DALLAS AND TINE fhDAfiER.
Fer quite thirty years, or ever since
the first settlement was made at .sfhe
Three Forks" as the village was then
called. Dallas has maintained close
social and business connection with |
over one-half oI the entire frontier OF
Texas. For many years the stock, |
game and peltry products Of the vast |
region west of US were brought here for |
a market aud we're exchanged for such
supplies ss the early frsn,iersmen need
ed or was compelled to purchase. 1t
would be curious study to note the
gradual change in the nature of both
the sales and purchases for the years
since. Bear meat for pork. and pels
tries for clothes, are no longer barter
ed for powder and lead. The pack
horse has laid down his burden forever.
and long trains of cars transport sup
plies to our hardy borderers. The Mex
lean spur. the lariat and the broad
brimmed sombrero have vanished, and
the western settler and his accoutre>
ments differ in no sense from the eiti-
zen of the older and richer portions of
the state.
Where hundreds in those early days
sought a market here, thousands are
new taking their places. The rude OBJ
jec.s of traffic have been abandoned,
and instead OF bear meat, droves of the
finest hogs are kSought a distance OF
nearly two hundred 'ailes, or from Cole
man county, TO Dallas. not only to sup.
ply local demands, but for shipment to
distant markets, such a. St. Louis, Chr
cago and New Orleans. Oar frontier
people are entering thus into sharp
competition with the people of Mis-
souri,, Illinois and Indiana. and in pro-
duetions which those states havepreud'
ly boasted belonged exclusively Il
them We daily see merchants, trader
and farmers selling and buying in oui
marke t., not the rude articles OF thu
past, but such things as are demanded
by even the ultra refinement of th'
older states in their palmiest days
Books, pictures and musical instru
ments are purchased and carried to ou
western homes. unerringly denotinl
the progress of culture and refnemen
among the people.
A new empire has grown up TO tn
west Of os, where formerly all was vii
derness as still and silent as the Liam,
Estacado is now. II has developed nev
tastes. new necessities, and requires ne'
/ and better facilities for their supply
As the people of the frontier in thos
, early days looked to Dallas for a marke
to sell the results of the hurt, so d
/ they now for the sale of their stocl
; cotton, grain and fruit; as they the
/ purchased the rude woolsey-liusey ar,
: jeans for clothing here, so do they no.
seek their silks and broadcloths T.
day. Instead of meeting their bus
ness advances coldly. or in backwar
or sel6eh way, the new Dallas meI
: chants, remembering the close bonds q
the old days. should WELDON
them by providing the surest, bes
aud most reliable means of trans
within the reach of the west. In thi
connection, every means of transit, rail
: roads. plapk-roads, NacAdamised road
E and free bridges should be provided 70
the accommodation of our customer,
5 Dallas needs this trade, and must d
something TO retain it. IL is all wei
. enough to build whole blocks of pail
tial stores, and fill them to over aowin
with the rich fabrics from both foreig
and domestic looms, but it would b
both improbable and foolish TO sufie
. them to rot. rather than invite the trad
of the west, or make SON sacrifice eve
to attract it. Dallas has already don
much, but she must do much NOR.
before she realizes the full advantage q
her peerless situation. We mus. no
only build railroads, but we must i'm
prove, construct and repair the WACO
roads, as we'll. A great city like tn:
cannot be permitted to go to the wal
, simply because a little effort and none
is requisite to enable her to grasp til
advantages within her reach.
1