The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-16
THE CHICAGO, TEXAS & MEXICAN CENTRAL
RAILROAD.

The final and successful Inauguration OF
this grand enterprise will send thrill OF
Joy through every heart on its proposed line
from Lamar county, on Red river, b miles
southwesterly to the region of Eagl Pass,
on the Rio Grande, where 1t will connect
with the Mexican system of roads; while
on Red river its connections will form q
continuous through line to Chicago, the
great city Of the lakes 1t requires no proph'
cts ken to foresee its predestined continuation
across the rich vallies and table lands OF
Mexico to Topo Vampo, centrally situated
on the Pacific, with an unsurpassed harbor,
backed by one of the richest and mos'
healthy tropical countries in the world-with
untold mineral wealth lying dormant from
the great river to the ocean, only awaiting
the snort Of the iron horse and the con-
sequent introduction Of capital and
industry to honey those grand old hills
and mountains and bring it forth, to the
enrichment of all concerned, tho enlargement
of the worlds supply of coin and the crea-
ton Of a ns-continental commerce from
east to west and from north TO south, the
vastness of which must be left to the imag-
nation of those who have seen that remark
able country. Coming thus from such port
on the Pacific to the Rio Grande, the gulf
ports of Texas will be reached by various
then existing roads, forming the shortest
land carriage from ocean TO ocean. possible
in tho United States, even in combination
with Mexico. A glance at the map of the
world will establish its immense advantages
for the transhipment of heavy freights be-
tween all Atlantic and European ports on
tho ono hand, and the west coast of South
America, Australia and New Zealand on the
other.
These are the grand ultimate conceptions
of men of brains, experience and
means, eminently practical, patient
and enterprising. But just now
our mission is to speak of the enterprise in
its visible, domestic sense, touching at once
r.interest and pride as n people. Fortu-
nately for us, and of course to our gratifca-
ton, Dallas. though but an important point
on the great line, from economic considera
tons, is made the initial point for tho COM
menccment of the work. The first section
of twenty seven miles from Dallas, south
" est, is all under contract.for speedy COM
pletion, TO DO followed-indeed to be accom-.
panied-by the next section of twenty six
miles, to or near Cleburne, in johnson
county. Starting from. the initial point of
the Trunk. road in the eastern suburbs tf
Dallas, whereby connection is also formed
with tho Il. II F., and the ii. e. 7. O., and
the d. & w., this new road is TO cross tho
Trinity some two miles below the city.
thence pass up the south side of Cedar
creek to its source, ..apd along the north side
Of Five Mile creek and across the same, to
Cedar Hill, eighteen and half miles, and
along the table land of Cedar mountain
south to and through loves gap, opening
into the wide and beautiful valley of Noun.
tain creek. Here at this gap, or Lebanon
springs, is located the fourth depot, Mid
Lothian, twenty,six miles from Dallas, SO
christened from the striking resemblance
Of its landscape beauties to tho charming
scenery of Mid Lothian and other localities
in Scotland. At seven miles from Dallas is
tho first and pretty station, "Hsle,' at
thirteen miles another equally handsome
site bearing the name of duncan" In honor
of j. Duncan Smith, managing director. of
the Scottish American Mortgage company,
and one Of the projectors and ncorporators
of this road. AT eighteen and one.halt
miles Cedar Hill is reached, which. ike
Springfield, Missouri, the highest point on
the Ozark mountains, i, approached 50
gradually, (except from the west, where the
ascent is abrupt as to sstonish the visitor
when informed that it is the highest point in
all tho surrounding country. Yet such is
the fact. The public square of Dallas is 492
foe. above the soa level, the Union depot in
Dallas is $50 feet, Fort Worth is $40 foet
and Cedar Hills 900 foot-in other words
Cedar Hill is 27l feet higher than Fort
Worth, 36l feet higher than the Union depo.
and l07 feet higher than our public square,
an elevation fully $40 feet higher than yellow
fever has ever beon epidemic in the territory
Of the United States.
Tho first eighty miles of the route on this
line to the Brazos river, is country OF
generous soil and unsurpassed fertility, sf.
fording landscapes of rarest beauty, abound
ing in hill, dale AMI valley, with many gush-
ing springs and abundant creeks and
rivule,s for drainage and water sup.
ply. 1t is already dotted with
productive farms, while lowing herds,
neghing steeds and hundreds of hocks are
seon in every direction living in istness upon
the.rich Indigenous grasses Of the country.
Transplan,ed from his mother land, whether
Highlander or Lowlsnder, tho Caledonian
will DO almost persuaded that he yet stands
upon his native heath with, perhaps, the
Highlands wanting as background. But
looking TO tho east from the cross-timbers or
the valley of Mountain creek, tho illusion
will DO complete. as he beholds the rugged
sides and bold crest of Cedar mountain,