The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-06-08
ALONG rnEr. q p. EXTENSION

Or THE LINE, June 6, 1881.
Correspondence of the Herald.
The T. s. p. road is now completed to
point ten miles west of Big Springs, and the
track laying is being pushed vigorously at
the rate of about one mile and three quarters
per day. Thirty-one miles were laid in the
month of May, and not less than forty miles
more will be ready for business by the latter
pa-t of June. 1t is confidently asserted the
road will DO completed through to FL Paso
By the first of May, 1882.
= Big Springs. the last town located on the
line OF the road, is situated 10 Sulphur Basin,
valley lying between Mountain Springs,
and which has no outlet for tue rain fails.
There are neither springs nor streams In this
Basin, but several salt lakes, one of them two
miles 10 length, reach along its extent. The
Big Spring, from which tue town derives its
name, pours forth it's volumes beyond spur
OF the mountain two mile distant from the
town, and the water is hauled in wagons and
sold at twenty-five cents barrel The
railroad company is erecting an engine to
raise tue water to the top of the spur and
will conduct it through pipes 10 their tanks
on tho road. They are laying two inch
pipes which it is thought will conduct all the
water the spring furnishes. The residents If
the town will soon be compelle TO use rain
water or haul their supplies some distance by
rail. Wells are impracticabe on account ot
tho salt and alkali with which the ground
il impregnated. The population Of the
town at present is composed largely
Of fast men snd women, who live in tents
and seemingly take life easy. 1t is almost
exclusively of that class who fit along the
road as il is completed and many are already
leaving and making preparations to move
to the Pee % river. There is nothing there
now to supply even moderate size town, as
there are but few cattle men in the near
vicinity, and in the county of Hopkins there
has never yet been introduced pillow or hoe
for the purpose of tilling the soil. Colorado
City presents little more thrift, but tits also
surrounded by vast unsettled prairie lands,
which, however, are very rich and produce
tive and will no doubt soon bs occupied by
thrifty farmers. 1t is destined some day to
be good point on the road.
Saeetwater is improving slowly, and some
very good business houses are in course Of
constructions; it is as) surrouneed by good
country that is we'll watered.
Abilene is a wonder ia its growth AMI im>
provsments. 1t already has about twelve
hundred population, with very good bnild-
ings, and there are now two stone business
houses under construction, and all things ill.,
dicate permanent and healthful appear
Ance.
Baird City having been made the end of
division of tho road assures 1t q parmane n
cy an gives it N i'm )rtsnco not possessed
by other towns. The railroad company
has erected round house aud it Is said
will put up repair.shops and make some
other improvements. The town has an adj
vantage over other points along the in an
abundance OF good, permanent streams Of
water.
Cisco the present terminus Of tho Central
road, is just now improving more rapidly
than any town west Of Wealheriord. 1t has
up to this time laoored under many disai
vantages as regards depot, postotfice, etc, but
union depot has bsen contracted for, 'front.'
ing one hundred and fifty feet on each of the
roads, the postoflice will DO removed there
from Rad Gap, the 7. & P. have appointed
Mr.. Long agent, who will also act as agent
for thu Pac tic express company, and the
denzens of Cisco seem happy in the pros
poets OF future greatness, provided the coun'
try around will settle up more rapidly than
is at all probable.
Eastland Is good town and the county
seat of the county which bears its name
The country around is rapidly filing up
with good, industrious people, and in the
face Of many predictions it will advance
steadily but surely.
Ranger AMI Strawn are both go)d points
for towns, and being surrounded by as rich,
arabic lands as the world affords, will always
do good, wholesome trade.
The success of Gordon as business pint
is assured. Tho rich coal fields surrounding
1t will always contribute to Its welfare, and
while 1t may never become large town, it
will always be- prosperous one. Messrs.
Knowlton. Cowan g. Co., are rapidly deve-
Looping their mines, and by the time cold
weather begins, they expect to supply Dallas
with at least n portion Of its fuel. They are
now mining about 40 tons daily, and will be
prepared to shin ut least one hundred tons
by the tir-t of October or November. AT
present the railroad consumes al or more
than they can supply.
Westherford is undsuntCd in tho injury
she has sustained by the rempval of the
rOundhouss and workshops. With such a
population rs Weatherford p assesses, there is
10 such word as fail. Tn y ara already pro-
jeet,ng other railroads from their town, and
when II IS remembered they graded the
whole line Of the rexas Il Pacific road from
Fort Worth to their town without outside
assistance, no one doubts that they will carry
through what they project. Westherford
always must and will be an important town
In north Texas.