The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-02
TEXAS 4 ST. LOUIS NARROW GAUGE.


the Texas & st. Louis narrow gauge rail-
road company to build branch of the road
from d ingerfeld to this place ia still open.
We say fortunately" so, because We earnest
" believe that there is no enterprise that has
been broached or contemplated within the
history of this city, the completion of which
could rebound more 10 its terest. than this
narrow gauge railroad. The reasons of ito
importance to Dallas must be obvious to
every man who will consider of the question
a moment We zee narrow gauge railroad
built from TeKarksuA to Waco, or virtu, lily
to Waco, with strong force of men at work
at both ends of 1t, extending 1t
eastward TO ST. Louis, which point it will
reach, assurances are given, in twelve
months time, as it only has to be constructed
to Caro-, Illinois, to make tho limo complete,
connecting there with narrow gauge already
in operation to st. Louie. To the westward
the line is heading for the Rio Grande river
to connect with the Mexican system of mar
row gauge roads now 10 be constructed.
This branch then will give US a Through line
20 st. Louis, n competing line With the
standard gauge roads we already have, AID
is composition the life Of trader In time,
and not distant day, either, this branch will
be extended westward from Dallas, travereing
magnificent section of the state, rich in all
the natural and cultivated pro-
ductons, to the Mexican border.
l! hardly seems necessary for us to 20 into
an elaborate exposition of the advantages
to accrue to Dallas from this road. They
must be patent to every clt'zbn of this city,
and We will assume that they are. This be-
ing granted then, that by securing this road
the trade aud our prosperity will be meny
fold enhanced, tho question comes, what is
necessary to DO done to secure ii? The
company has given lie ultimatum, the right
of way from tina eastern cOunty line to Dll-
las, depot groundsin tho city limits and .
bonus of 500, 600, a total in money lot US
say $40 600. Weput it at $40 600 ss tho
outside figures for the right Of way aud depot
srouads can be purchased for $2O,SOO. This
sum OF money will have TO be raised by
voluntary subscription and by whom
Most assuredly tho business men and pro =
erty owners Of the city, l; is PLATA, busi-
ness proposition, simply question of dollars
and cents, an investment on which returns
ARC to be had, and speedily. What, thsn,
ought, tho business man and property
owner TO doY Simply to cit down ia his
counting room, or at hi, de,k and with
pencil and paper calculate how much he
thinks this road will be worth TO us in a given
length Of time, and how much ha can sflord
of his capital to secure tina! proli for the
city, and having liked his figures, then &c 70
the committee taking subscriptions and give
his quota In this connection there is an
other feature of the case to be considered.
II the road comes hero workshops, round
houses, ETC., are to be here, and this
will bring to our city some three
hundred or more employees of
the road to live, great many of whom will
have families, so We may count on five
hundred persons who will have grocery,
butcher, baker and other necessary bills to
pay, which will run up to an immense sum
in the aggregate per annum, and therefore
retail dealers can afford to give more for
this road than for any other. 30, the road
will come here any way" say certain people,
and some Of them no doubt believe it viii
because they reason that it ought to. But
why should III Piano and For Worth are
both in the field offering the road induce-
ments not to come here Fort Worth Offering
it exactly what it asks of Dallas, aud Piano
adding handsome sun to that amount for
it TO pass through that place TO Fort
Worth. Rlil'cad companies don't build
rgads for Amusement or glory, and
il this road can make bonus, in
fact two bonuses, to 60 to Fort
Worth but can get nothing to come here, it
will 20 there Furthermore if this narrow
gauge comes here, Mr. Jay Gould will per-
force bring the East Line, which he has
purchased, and will change to standard
gauge TO Dallas. Hs will have to do this 10
self defence, aud il this narrow gauge goes to
Fort Worth, he WILL have to taxa the East
Line there, and the contribution Of this $40
900 will in reality secure the roads. The
time has come when Dallas must do some,
thing to help herself. We know she has
been liberal in the past with railroads, but
then they have her at a disadvantage, and
they have her at greater disadvantage now.
She must give more, or she must suffer for
her want of liberslity. With this donation
Of $i0,0 900 and these two roads secured, she
will never have to give again, out on the
contrary, will be 80 situated that
shh can dictate terms TO the railroads
in the future. THIS is simply Ques-
ton Of profit and loss, an investment for
the SAGE OF dividends. Assuming that the
a'sessable property value here is "a, 900 900
and.this is low estimate, the $40 900 required
will be but one per cent thereon for one
year to secure this desideratum. The re-
turns will be immediate in increased valua-
lions and benefits of various kinds. Lose