The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-01

Ing Elsewhere this morning we publish
M editorial from The st Louis Republican,
undcr The heading Of 'Iload. Making" and
We desire 10 bcspcnk Tor II On attentive
perusal. Suggestions In The article npplica.
bic 10 tho State OF MissourLare equally mp
plicable TO Texas, and the people OF both
commonwoalths are standing In their own
light by failing to look after matters imme-
diately Of such widespread interest and
so intimately affecting the various
branches OF industry and trade.
The position taken by this paper
In the matter Of city improvement, Is Us
proper and necessary when extended to the
remodeling and repair of county roads. In
both cases something must be done. We
cannot longer afford TO battle with the
mud and inconveniences of county travel,
for our business has assumed too large pro-
portions and population and travel have
grown too great to be jeopardized for want
of proper easy and safe transportation ia
cilities. We are urging this subject upon
the attention of the people of Dallas county
and city particularly, because 1t is most di-
rectly related to the fullness or empti-
ness of their'pocket-books of perhaps any
question that could arise relative to the
| material development Of the county or
city. But it holds good all over North
Texas, where, from the peculiar formation
of the soil, we are ordinarily greater suf-
ferers from bad and almost impossible
roads in the winter than will be found else
where. Now it seems to be cry in the
West for railroads, and every town and
county has not only signifed its willing
ness to be taxed heavily to obtain the favor
and possession of one of these iron arteries
of trade, but in fact seeks after them, and
piles bonus upon tax to accomplish their
purpose. All this is well and wise,
but the benefits that ensue from such
course do not begin to reach
out into as many departments
of county or city trade or conduce to the
convenience or profit of the farmer and
small dealer by one-halt as would well
devised system of rock and gravel and
graded roads extending to all the different
sections of the country. Railroads are
made for long hauls and principally benefit
fact must remain patent to every man OF
sense that the wagon and the pack-mule
must always be depended..upon for the plan
ter's transportation of his products to mar
ket The additional weight that might be
carried, the time saved in reaching the
centres of business, the protection to stock
and the prevention of the wear and tear Of
both animal and vehicle, in one season
would far more than compensate the bene-
ficiary of such system for the paltry tax
that might be imposed upon him to perfect
the same. In the name of common-sense
and commandments why cannot those
who have been compelled to contribute so
literally to the great railway corporations
in the interest as we have seen more di
rectly of the large dealer, now that they
are belted to the outside world, begin to
inaugurate some movement calculated to
enrich themselves to add some additional
comforts to their own lives and homes, as
sist in increasing the attractiveness of the
country, and so draw new settlers and cap
| ital to the State? We cannot hope to
have men from the East and North
used to their magnificent roads and the
thrift and economy and the cleanliness of
| the farming class of that section come
among us and locate SO long as we are prac-
tically mud-bound for a great period of the
year, so long as half the profits of crop
are eaten up by the constant wear and tear
of such miserable transportation as they
would inevitably have to depend upon. 1t
| is not necessary to go into figures. A mat
ter of $500, 600 or $500, 600 in bonds that will
run for forty years and be easily liquidated
by rich and populous community who
will be reaping the full fruits of the
system, matter of this character
is, we say, of most trifing sig
nificance, and we do hope that
our people will wake up to this truth once
for all, that the internal improvement of a
country is worth far more than boarded
means or unused credit, and is the surest
and first passport to anything like general
wealth and prosperity in the community.
1t is gratifying, as we have said, TO see that
other journals and sections are agitating
this matter continuously and mean to do
what experience and good business policy
indicate should be done, even if we of this
particular locality are tardy and remiss in
the premises. Give US, at whatever cost,
good county roads, give us improved
streets, make this county and city attract
i've and inviting TO the stranger and profta-
BILE thereby in increased ratio to the resi-
dent, and five years will show such
changed condition of things that the pres
ent inhabitant would hardly recognize it.