The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-01

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acres ofthe amount applied f,.,, receive Inc
first payment, and take his note for the bal,
ance; ana, as soon as all the payments and
interest have been duly paid, a p.teat will
be issued by the state.
"Homesteads may be acquired in any
portion of the state, where vacant lands en-
be found Each head Off family is entitled
10 100 acres, and each single person
eighteen years of age, to eighty acres. by
settling upon, occupying and improving the
same Tor three consecutive years. The an.
plicant must, within thirty DAYS after set.
Ting upon the land, file with the county
surveyor written designation of the land
he desires to secure, and must have it sur
Veyed within twelve months from date OF
such application, and the field notes and ap-
pllcatiOn forwarded to the general land Of
nee. When the three years have expired,
from date of original settlement, prooftha
the applicant, and his assignee, if he has
solu, nave lived upon and improved the
same, as required by law, must be filed in
the general land Office This must be sworn
to by the settler and two iisinterested wit
nesses, before some officer authorized to adj
minister oaths. Patent will then issue to the
original settler, or his assignee, if proper
transfers are filed"
The laws of the state are similar to those
oil the most advanced states ofthe Union.
They give ample and full protection to life
and property, and are rgidIy enforced. The
largest liberty of speech and freedom of
thought is encouraged and guaranteed: no
prescriptions in religion or politics are toll
Grated. Every right and privilege is closely
guarded in the laws. All forms ofreligious
worship are practced, and every shade of
! poltlCs is entertained among the
/ people. The democratic party is
the dominant political sentiment of
the state, The next largest political
DIVISION is the republican party. In many
localities of the state it is in the majority
and the offices are filled by republicans.
The legislature is composed of democrats
republicans, greenbaCkers or nationals, and
independents, The privilege of the ballot
is as free to the one as to the other citizen,
and all are protected by law in its free and
untrammeled exercise.
J The taxable values of the state are S3lS.-
N0,73G, against which there is levied an an
nual assessment of fifty cents on TIE hun
dred dollars for state, and twenty five cents
for county revenue. The bonded debt
OF the state is $5,025,990, about 3d.
100000 of which is held by. the
state for account of special funds.
There is also surplus balance in the treas
dition of the state and counties Is upon
good basis, and taxation is comparatively
light. Not more than one-fourth Of the
general revenue is set apart by the constitu-
ton Tor the purpose of sustaining system
of public education. But few of the coun-
ties Qavc bonded debt, and but few have
subsidized railroads. Most of the counties
are free of debt, and reducing the burden of
taxation from year TO year, as the taxable
values increase. The people are industrious
and progressive. Every industrious, pru-
nd firm. Ftl m hna I'D until in
the state, and who has followed closely his
occupation, and RETAINED from speculation,
has improved his condition, and thousands
have grown rich or have become independ-
ent livers. So abundant are the elements
Of wealth that oil prudent amt industrious
people succeed.
The year 1865 found Texas railroads in
most deplorable condition. There were six
OF them, aggregating $50 miles. But there
was not mile which could be operated with
safety. The rails We're worn out, the road
bed out of repair, and the rolling stock
in the worst possible condition. So
that practically we may date the beginning
Of railroads in Texas from that year. We
have now twenty-siX different lines, with
total mileage on operation OF $500 miles
No other portion of the world witnesses
such pronounced activity in the constrac-
ton OF railroads as Texas. 30 rapid is the
projection of new lines and the extention of
old ones that it is difficult to keep pace
with them.
THE TRADE AND TRAFFIC.
Intimately connected with her railway
system is the grand commercial future
which only awaits the development of her
natural resources and the perfection of her
commercial avenues. The vast extent of
territory tributary to her ports and her ex-
act position in the pathway of the immense
trade that will, In the course of time, be
carried on between the United States and
the republic of Mexico, the states of South
America, the West India Islands and Asia
by means of her railway to the Pacific and
extending down through the Isthmus to
South America, and by ocean steamers to
the West India Islands, China and Japan
give her commercial future magnitude
that the mind can scarcely grasp. English
agriculture is now alarmed at the COMPETE
ton brought about with the western states
of America by means of cheap transporta-
ton placing American breadstuffs in Eng
lish markets at less price than English
farmers can raise them, so by the same in
strumentalities will that competition ex-
tend to China and other countries of Asia.
This is no visionary view. The system of
railways projected through Mexico directs
the mind with unerring certainty TO its in
evitable accomplishment This line of trade
must pass through Texas ports or across
her face. A glance at the map will show
that Omaha is near the centre Of the grain
growing region of the United States. The
shortest line from this point to tide water is
at Galveston This line will cross no noun
tains, but passes through country down
gentle inclined plane which teens with nat
ural wealth. On the same latitude, east
from Omaha, the distance from Omaha TO
Galveston would reach point in eastern
Ohio, and west would only extend 70 Salt
Lake City. The law of trade, which will al
ways assert its correctness will direct the
commerce Of the west, through The port of
Galveston. 1t will be observed also that the
distance from Omaha to Guysma,, Mexico,
is about equal to the distance from Omaha
to New York, and IL will be further seen
that the distance from Omaha to Guyamas
is much less than from Omaha TO San Fran
cisco. Now, II cheap freights from Omaha
to New York by rail thence by ocean 10 Liver
pool can bring the western farmers in COM
petition with the English wheat growers, by
the same means the western farmer may be
made TO compete with the cheap labor of
south America and China In the production
of tho breadstufB of life, and that IL through
these means our expectations have been
augmented new fields and other promises
lie before us.
The shortest and best routes Of trade be-
tween the United States and this vast terri.
tory, embracing 9,t05,70S square miles,
with present population Of asl, So, 0l5, and
engaged in u foreign commerce valued AT
$S)7, 333, 730, are through Texas ports and
over railways which traverse her territory.
With improved means of intercourse and