The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-05-26
PFouTs. ELLIOTT a. HALL.
THE SPIRIT OF PROGRESS.


THE SPIRIT OF PROGRESS
II is a real pleasure to every citizen o.
Tex Is to know that the spirit Of progress is
abroad in our land. We soc tho effects OF
its influence in every portion of the state, in
the railroad building that is going ahead so
vigorously. l! is true that these roads in the
main, are being built by capitalists from
abroad who are Investing their money in our,
midst in this sort of enterprise, but they havl
infused some of their vim, some OF the
progressive ideas into the minds and boso9
of our people, and they too have quick
ing of the blood and have awakened to
the Importance of those natural resources
with which Texas IL endowed. In some
localities the spirit has taken frmer and n
liyelier hold than in others, and the result, as
we can see, if we but LOOK
is that they are going ahead
faster and are reaping richer rewards
than the slower and sleeper communities.
tits pertinent question to ask, does the
city of Dallas keep pace with tao times!
Does she keep.step to the music of advance
ment and development that is now sounding
its grandest diapason throughout the limits
of our state? Is it true or not that lethargy
is upon her? Does languor psralyze her
limbs and the inertia of a direful somnolence
enchsin her? Around and about Dallas are
other young cities striving for the CONNER
cial supremacy of north Texas. Fort Worth
and Sherman and C0rsicana have entered the
lists with her, and with armor on and visors
drawn, they have poised lance each, in the
tourney, remembering that the battle is not
always to the strong, nor the race to the
swift IF eternal vigilance is the price OF
liberty, eternal activity, untiring energy and
liberal enterprise all combined are the price
of commercial success, of business pros
peri.y and of metropolitan great
ness and power. From Fort
Worth exchange we clip the following:
aNeither Austin nor Galveston are making
satisfactory progress in raising tina money
demanded for the construction Of narrow
gauge railroads to those cities. Aastin has
seventeen of the fifty thousand required,
while in Galveston only twenty>four of the
one hundred and fifty thousand has been
secured These cities, and others we know
of, are not as prompt in their responses TO
the demands made upon them as is our own
brave little city. What would they think If
they were called upon to 60 through the mill
which Fort Worth has for the last six
Notwithstanding which time it has raised
nearly two hundred thousand dollars for
works of internal improvement. First, $40,-
900 for the compress; then $4,000 for the
Gulf Color ado 81 Santa Fe, beside q snug
Following this came the M!ss1 sri Pacific
for a small amount, and quick upon its seels
came the Fort Worth and Denver-all OF
which has been subscribed and is being paid.
Dallas struggled along for months to raise
$4,000 for its mustang road. Waco pinched
and fused over $50 900 subsidy for the
Narrow Gauge, and during the same time
Fort Worth raised twice as much as both
cities combined, with but little trouble"
This showing speaks we'll for the liberality
and the business acumen of the business men
of Fort Worth, and the example they have
sat is worthy of the highest commentator.
.'Natural advantages" have wrought more
ruin than ever did pestilence or famine; they
have wrecked more hopes, destroyed more
prospects than ever did panics CT
revolutions. Is It fact that 'natural
advantages" seem to be epidemic in Dallas
at this time? 1t is true that our city is righ'
in the immediate midst of populous and
most fertile region, and there is vast section
of country adjacent and contiguous, the
trade of which, there being nothing TO divert
1t, naturally comes here. These are among
the advantages the city can claim. 1t Is the
Intersection of tho great railroads. trsveraing
tho state from east 10 west and from north
to:souih. This lie snotber.one of Its advan-
isget. For number ofyears il stood withou.
rival in all Northern Texas, and as
consequence il grew TO its present dimensions
and Importance without an effort, just as the
rank vegetation of slluvisl soil grows from
the very fatness Of its source of sustensnce.
But change has taken place. New railroad
enterprises have sprung into existence
within the last year that are Civ ing
10 other points some OF the same
railroad facilities that Dallas
possesses, ths, are giving 10 rival points some
Of the same advantages that Dallas has
boosted, that are ensbliDg 10 some extent
these rival points TO penetrate its heretofore
exclusive aslds of trade. To hold its own
then. and 70 continue TO grow and advance
upwards and onwArds, what must be done
VIII inactivity and simply wstching and
waiting accomplish these endzi These ere
QUESTIONS that must address themselves d.
rsctly 70 the sound judgments and esrnes
consideration Of our business ssd monsyed
men-fhe citizens Of Dsllss who hsve means
and who own property. The outlook for