New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-15
GROWTH OF THE LONE STAR STATE
REVIEW OF THE PAST DECADE IN TEXAS.

REVIEW OF THE PAST DECADE IN TEXAS
THE COUNTRY OPENED UP BY RAILRoADs-RE-
MARKABLE INCREASE OF POPULATION AND
wEALrH-GENERAL PROSPERITY IN VARIOUS
INDUSTRIES.
To ne EdttOr OF The TrtoWne.
SIR: In 1872 the Houston and Texas Cen
ra Railway slowly extending from Houston north
to Dallas and the borders OF the Indian Territory then
10 Join and form connection with the Missouri Kansas
aud Texas Railway. The then Houston and Great
Northern Railway had completed 1--we miles of ine
the Texas and Pacific had sixty-tUur miles OF line
reaching from shreveport La. to Longyiew Texas aud
the international Railway had little than CON-
menced construction from NOore's Landing Red
the north to Jefferson and Marshall in the south,
anu from Marshall 10 Crocketts Bldfs the Saoine
River the country almost unOrOken pine forest
From Crocketfs Bluffs westward to the Rio Grande
an grazing ground. anbroken in monotouy
here and where enerprsng planter had butts
homo ana opened up some land The entire population
OF Central and Western Texas would not have exceeded
$4,000 souls and the assessed value OF the property
was about. S12.000.000. The counties border
ing on Rcd River little more
populous the rich cotton lands had been occupied be-
fore the war. and they regarded comparatively
old and settled communities In tho immense pine re-.
glOn mentioned, there eight small saw
mills that did custom work when 1t TO be had Cot
ideally the only produot OF country and
this carried in wagons from four hundred to five
hundred miles Jefferson and Shreveport these towns
beng at the head OF navigation Red River. art OF
the immense cattle product driven into Kansas
some few Shreveport and thence to New-Oreans
by boat but by Tar tho greatest proportion
remained on the plains, multiplying and adding
wealth their possessors Tue population
State about 900 persons; the cotton product
900 bales and the entire growth Of cereals did
not exceed 81 100000 bushels.
To-day going the ground. vivid contrast is
presented railroad traverses the country the busy
hum OF machinery Is heard in tho pine woods. and
gmpses OF neat dwellings and growing crops suggest
thriving plantations. From Moore's Landing (tnen
called Texarkana) to Crocketts Bluffs now Minneolaj
there about forty 1--we saw-ms and several planning
mills sLngie and Hath machines and other wood working
machinery, that turn out an annual average Of
80 900 900 feet OF worked lumber nearly s Of which
marketed the western praries OF the State The
ton growth in this section ia about 1872 900 bales
At OF from eight to ten miles the railway trains
stop busy thriving towns. whose station platforms
crowded with cotton aud merchandise and tho aide
tracks many carloads OF lumber await transportation
Many plantations have been opened In these "piney
woods" tho settlers being principally from
Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi From Minneola
wes the train eInerges from tue timber the Improve
ment e once becomes more marked. As far be
seen the vast prairie substantial farm houses grow
ing crops and yonng orchards meet the eye. This
country Is what Is known tho central. eastern
northern and northwestern portion OF the great agr
cultural region OF Texas. and which ten years ago was
almost uninhabited. Now II presents almost UNI
broken succession OF fences and farhousss The towns
arc rich, thriving and populous. and among them
may DO named Dallas. Sherman, Fort Worth,
Purs, Bonham and Terrei anording fair samples OF
tho great advance OF tho country. Several OF these
towns noted Tor their handsome and costiy court
houses Toe counties tributary 10 the railway In this
al ~
tent. containing population OF 100000 persons and
having taxable vs.ue OF $3.50 100000.
From Fort Worth west 30 the Rio 0rande the railway
runs through q country which 10 thus described