The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-17
THE REINFORCEMENT,

the re-spportionment Of tho state into stns-
torial and representative districts. While
we are anxious to do all in our power to FUR
Their the interests OF north Texas, in every
respect, We do not desire 10 do so at The
expense of any other section Of the state
We simply contend for what we believe ia
strict justice TO our section, AT the same time
considering tho welfare of the whole OF
Texas. In yesterdays article wo considered
the senatorial districts, and We think We
showed, from the official figures, leaving In
the main, the figures TO speak for themselves
that north Texas was entitled to a greater
senatorial representation than 1t now has
Lot us briefly analy ze the representative as
tricts on the same plau we pursued yes
terdsy. There IRE now ninety
three representatives IN tne
legislature. Divide 100000, tho population
of the state In round numbers, by ninety
three and VIC have the population 10
representatives II, 20l aud small traction.
Buttho numbsr proposed in the presen'
legislature, II any new superintendent b'
made, ia one hundred representatives, which
will make the basis Of representation, IN
round numbers, 10000. The constitution
SAYS that the number or representatives
should never exceed ono hundred and llty.
Why delay making the number ono hundred
and fifty? Why not fix the number at tho
maximum, and stop legislation on this par
ticular point right now? AT one hundred
and Atty, tho basis would be 1866. Taking
the census reports for the north Texas coun-
ties, and we find an aggregate of 4l3,ooo
votes, with only twenty-one representatives
On the basis of one hundred and fifty repre-
sentatives, north Texas would have
thirty Eight representatives and fraction
OF over 5000 voter, which would entitle 1t to
another representative, making thirty-nine.
This would leave ono hundred and eleven
ropresen tstiyes to be divided between the
other counties in the state, OF which middle
Toxas would got u considerable increase aud
south aud west Texas each SLIGHT increate.
ThD is only right and proper, because III
those sections tho population is TO DO iouhu
for their increased representation. Now win
a epreentation of one hundred and iity III
the lower house, II will be, impossible 10
make up every district with the
exact population, 30 that some OF TINS nm
bar must be tho representatives OK ir,ctiouS
that Is to say foster representative. The
question arises, whore oush' 'nese tiers TO
DO plscodi We say, from no':h Fe, las, and
we will give our reasons ior saying .. Along
the line of tho Texas 81 Pacific railrond
west of Parker county, or say Fast and coun.
~, tho road penetrates u region yf tho state
with scarcely my population at all. This
road is being built right alNig at the rate of
nearly mile u day. l9the trail of its NOV.
ing traiOs comes allS ,Shg string of immigrants,
somo from othsss states and some from vsri-
Gus pHre'' of this state. They are
hll,n,a up tho railroad towns beng
"Yayd eff and constructed, Gordon,
Esstand, Baird, Abilene, Colorado,
City and others, and settling up tho co untry
adjacent. This railroad is peopling this sec
ton and while these counties are not now
sufficiently populated to ensille them to rep
reseptstion at this time, they will DO in two
years, when tho legislature meets. In chat
time tho Texas u Pacific railroad will DO
completed to I'll Paso, where, forming n
junction with tho Southern Pacific, ii will
give tho country great highway from New
Orleans TO tho Pacific ocean. All along lis
limo will DO llourishing towns with
soft oments about them, and coua-
ties that have never knewn
q plow-sharo will be yielding up
their agricultural riches. These counties
have for years been tho frontier of Texas.
They have all the time, even before their
lines were defined, had n few Inhabitants,
brave pioneers, who have not only b,'Ilcd
with tho forests and tho prairies, but with
the savages and wild boasts that rcamcd
them. These hardy sons of the state have
never had direct representation In The
legislature Of tho state and 1t is due to them
aud duo to the increased population thai
two years will give TO these counties, that
tho benefit Of the fractions should So it
making up the appor,ionment 1t may
In ,uet trulv suil that tlt