New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-20
TEXAS AS 1T is.
TIE NORTHERN COUNTIES.

y.
TIE NORTHERN COUNTIES.
TIE RIVAL TOWNS OF SHERMAN AND DENrsoN-A
FINE COUNTRY FOR GENERAL FARMING-sTocK
RAIsING-NO FAVOR SHOWN TO PROJECTS FOR
DIVIDING TEXAS.
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBCNE.l
SHERMAN, Tex.-There is not much to be said about
these Northern Texas landscapes. One description
Of Winter scenery viewed from the car windows
fits the whole country from the centre of the State
up to the Red River. Black fields covered with the
tall brown stalks Of the cotton plants hecked with
bits of white lint. wide stretches of pasture land
covered with dry. heritage, corn-telds where
the dead stalks are left standing. streaks
and patches of oak woodland. great unfenced
praires, smart Ettle towns at long inter
walls and between them a few stations that
have tried to be towns and failed, and, dotted
far apart over the fields, bare little farm-hOuses
without the orchards shade-trees and gardens that
make farmers homes in the North attractive.
tourist IN search OF the picturesque would find tins
region monotonous and wearisome. but farmer
with experience in new countries and an eve for
good land would be delighted with it, because of
the evident richness of the soil. and the admirable
" lay of the land for easy cultivation and drain
age. The gentle slopes and broad undulating
plains lying open 10 the warm sunlight, invite
the pillow, and the herds of cattle feed
ing the dried grass show that the
farmers lie, freed from the labor of
providing winter fodder for stock and
feeding them five months Of the year,
must be a comparatively easy one. Cattle,
horses and sheep are expected to get their
living in the fields the year round in all
parts Of Texas. They get thin and scraggy before
the new grass comes but most of them pun through.
A FLOURISHING rOwN.
Sherman has probably a population of about
5000 and Of course claims twelve or fifteen thous-
and 1t the best built cleanest and most attractive
place have seen in Northern Texas the streets and
walks being in good condition, the business blocks
substantially built and the dwellings, for the most
part. of far SIZE neatly painted and surrounded
with fenced yards. There Is big courthouse Of
imposing appearance-so big that the county has
no use for all the room in 1t and lets offices to law
ers and land agents-and surrounding IL is big
market space, which is filed every weekday
with teams that have brought bales of cotton or
loads OF corn in the hrsk from the surrounding
country. The town has no manufactures, and seems
to live entirely the trade OF the rich region about
1t and OF a wide extent OF sparsey-settled frontier
10 the westward. II is the terminus of the Northern
Div son OF the Texas Pacific Railroad. and its fu
ture growth seems 70 depend on the extension OF
this line westward 10 connect with the main stem
az or beyond Fort Worth. just now II seems to be
a finished town; but that Is the way all the towns
/ have seen in Texas look. They have evidently
gone ahead of the capacity of the country to sup
port them and cannot be expected to improve
much until there is denser population around
them. As the settlements are pushed west
ward new towns viii spring mp, but
the old ones left III the rear of the
advancing tide cannot expect TO profit much
Cd. T,-I, . I.o.
tion Of san Antonio and Dallas know of no large
towns that can offer as an iuducemeut for new
corners to invest in property embark in business
a reasonable prospect Of important growth during
the next ten years. san Antonio is the metropolis
of an immense region, and VIII never have a rival
Dallas must BE- its location and railway facilities be
the chief dstrDu point for goods, and the chief
purchasing point for cotton and grain IN Northern
Texas all the other towns must content them
selves with local trade unless they can establish
manufactures, and they show no disposition to
move in that direction.
As a starting point for exploring the best part of
Northern Texas with view to settlement Sher-
man can he specially commended. There is a good
frst-cass hotel here and several far ones of lower
Grade; the people are friendly strangers, and the
land agents will readily aid in fitting out expedi-
tons for prospecting in the new country to the
this county and IN fact u tine two northern tiers Of
counties west Of the purely woods belt; not strong
enough 10 make them Republicans bur sufficiently
20 10 make Rouublcau politics respectable. \ set
tier would have no di.iic;llty in getting among Re-
publican mel gubOr,. ana though ne would probably
lind himself Outyotei two TO one, he would
uo5 fr, his politics 10 be a drawback 10
his success, IN his new homo or a hiudrancc
IN Obtaining pleasant social relations. With
he execution Of these few northern conn
ties | DO not think this could be said Of any
portion of Texa-. save the vicinity of san Antonio
where the heavy German population has liberalized
politics.
TIE YOUNG CRY or DENIsON.
Sherman-aamed. by the way. not from the great
General. but from little General who figured IN
the Mexican War-has rival only ten miles dis
taut in the newer town OF Denison, the creation of
the railroads aud of Northern enterprise. The
Missouri. Kansas and Texas Railroad made ITS
south IN terminus three miles south of tie Red
River and named the place in honor Of the W ar
Governor Of Ohio. 1t refused to make satisfactory
ARRANGEMENTS Tor a junction with the icxas Central
Railroad. 30 the latter buiit ou 10 the river and
started town called Red River City. After awhile
, compromise was made by the warning companies,
Drni-on was agreed upon the point OF
junction and the mushroom town on the river
built in a dag, the inhabitants removing TO their
successful competitor and bringing their houses
with them. number of enterprising Northern
people have rented in Denson and by their en-
ergv have succeeded, ia spite of the proximity OF
sherman. in buildng mp thriving place OF live
thousand inhabitants. TINS town has two praise
worthy features wholly unique in Iexas-a pubic
park and a free pablo school-house. The park.
some ten acres of woodland fenced and improved,
was the Ait OF the railway magnate who projected
rhc town; the school-h0use, fine brick structure
three stories high, is the outgrowth of Northern
ideas and enterprise. 1t is the only public school
building noticeable as such, that | have observed
IN my travels through the State. Sherman wants to