The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-06
WEATMERFORD'S JOY.
The Big Celebration and barbecue in
Honor of the Completion or the
Texas 4 Pacific Railway
10 that Point.


WEATHERFORD, June H. 1880.
To-day, celebrated in honor of the com
pletion of the Texas & Pacific railroad tc
this point, dswned beautifully and pleasantly
and later old Sol shone out resplendent, and
by noon the city had been filed up with hu.
man beings, wagons, carts, and every con.
ceivable sort anL variety of vehicle. 1t il
estimated that there were at that hour five
thousand people on the barbecue grounds
Many public buildings were gaily decorated
with flags.
1t was doubtless the intention of tho Com
mittee of Arrangements to have grand pro
cession through the principal thoroaghfares
OF the town, but it was soon found to be i'm
practicable because of the extraordinary
eagerness of our country cousins to see the
railroad and the locomotives, the great civil
izers OF the age. The fact is, as wagon after
wagon, bearing human freight and hor.emen
and fairy equestriennes arrived in the pre-
cincts of the public square, no halt was
made, but each, on curiosity bent, drove or
rode speedily to the depot grounds. The
railroad track and numerous switches were
lined for distance of one mile with men,
women and children from tn rural districts,
The barbecue grounds are beautifully sit
uated north of the city, and in full view of
the railroad depot. Occupying as they do
the south exposure of an elevated range of
hills, the heat Of the day was rendered bear
able by the balmy south wind, and the to-
Biography of the situation of Weatherford
is such as to give birds eye view of the
passing scenes from several different points.
Tnl a., 1 ~
Bands and booths abounded, where refresh
ments OF all sorts were servel with the cir
Gus lemonade vendors voice shrieking high
on the air at painful intervals. Amid these
presenting II SORT Of central figure
the DALLAS HERALD had its head
quarters in u large and commodious
wall tent which was kindly furnished the
local correspondent by Mr.. j. w. Hale,
OF the firm of Ellis ~ Huffman.
THE EXCURSION TRAIN
from the east arrived at 1890 p. H., bringing
in eight crowded coaches from Dallas and
Fort Worth. On the train there were Law.
rence's Commercial College band, of Dallas
the Fort Worth band and large delegation
of iiremen from the Fort Worth department
The train left Dallas about 7:30 n. M, stop.
ping Mt the Fort fully half an hour, thus
making the actual running time for tn sixty
five miles about four hours and half The
train was run by Conductor G. w. Miller of
Dallas. The visitors were met at the depot
by large number of citizens, dele
cations from the Knights of
Pythias and the ire depsrt.
ment, all headed by the Weatherford band,
and under the command of various marshsls
Of 4 n Il no &
for the barbecue grounds, where the visiting
thousands bad assembled to listen to the adj,
dresses of the occasion. MajorJ. II. Milliken
introduced Judge Richards, who delivered an
eloquent address of welcome to the visitors
on behalf of the people of the city of
Weatherford.
Judge Richards was followed by ex-Gov-
ernor Throckmorton, who made the PRINCIPAL
speech of the day, on the past, present and
future of Weatherford. He paid a glowing
tribute to tue pioneers of that section Of
Texas, naming many of them, expressing
regret that but a few Of them had been spared
to participate ia the joyous occasion Of the
completion Of the Texas Pacific railroad TO
Weatherford. He reviewed the progress Of
the road, and pictured the grandest CONNER.
cial results to foil W the States future deyel.
opment. The Govern If was frequently ap.
plauded during his remarks.
Then came the barbecue dinner, and Il ia
all that 1t Is necessary to " that it was "A
grand success. Fully 5000 were fed at the
tables, and there was an abundance for as
many more. After dinner speeches were
made by George Mellersh, of Dallas B. B.
Paddock of Fort Worth Mr.. Turner. a
merchant OF Fort WORTH Albert Stephen
son and II. S. Moran, of the Westherford
bar. All were appropriately fitting and
well received. AT night the exercises of the
day were closed by a grand celebration ball
at the courthouse. Much of the credit for
the success of the celebration is due to Phil
=. Msl.oy and DR.. G. p LeGrand, of
Weathertord. Many fine brick and stone
business houses are being erected. The
Texas and Pacific are putting up large pas.
senger and freight depot buildings. George
Bauer, formerly of Dallas, at his sNip an,
Tack" WAS greeted during the day by a host
Of old friends from among the visitors. He
says he Is prosperous and happy.
The capszng of the locomo-
tive from the turntable delayed the return of
the excursion train several hours. 1t arrived
at Dallas at $50 a. IN.
Crops, particularly corn, are looking mag
nificent between Dallas and Weatherford.
Weatherford Is beautiful, picturesque
and healthy place and susceptible of much
au provement at a small cost and it would be
= great pity If those who control her destiny
sao 10 tai to see their opportunities and TO
make the best use of them.