Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-02

THE BEAUTY AND LITTLE GIANT
OF THE PRAIRIES.
Nv" frosperousC Centres OF Trade Progress
ana prospects Of ~ year-Oid Town
and Its Older sister.

t'''t Travelling correspondent.
bowie, september 1.-The hum Of
progress ID making meloGious music at
RowiE,
The Little Giant If the Northwe II
AS favorite protere Of the Fort
Worth u Denver It has flourishcd aad
grown with a vigor rarely equalled
even IN the history of Texan enter,
prise. The 18th Of this present month
WAS celebFatod as It's natal day, and a
snort while p-evioCs a ccnsus was taken
showingaii advancement from moth
ing absolutely nethiugto poptila-
Ton OF !, 100. Evidently the people
should be satisfied with thtir first
Years work. An jncreage OF / 100 Ter
cent. ~ one wear Is enough to cause
Fort Worth TO hail down her colors.
Where the town nov stands last grew
I; crop ~ corn. ijut rapid rs has been
the growth, il does not yet meet the
demands OF her legitimate tr de. This
embraces vast territory, extending
from the rich valleys Of Red River 10
Jack and Archer counties, fifty and
Seventy-live miles west. Located
Itself Ia Montague, one Of the finest
agricultural, counties in the upper cross
tiniberS, II is on the border which
dlviecs the agricultural and the stock
interests. Its natural advantages thus
give it the high eininence among
western cities, an appreciation of
which Is being evidenced by business
men. They are ilocking in very fast,
new and substantial buildings are
going up and the lively appearance
created betokcns the confidence Of
the people in its future. That their
faith is not misplaced receives convinc-
Ing Illustrations in the volume of bust
ness now heing transacted. The mer-
chants are all prosperous and the
drunifners just dote on Bowie,
significant. Whenever the
drummer fails to discover a good thing
IL will be time for the balance Of man
kind TO retire from the search. Last
year near 1000 bales of cotton were
broughtin Bowie without single pro-
fessional buyer in the town, and il
was late in the season before there
was any market whatever for the sta
pie. 1t is anticipated, and reasonably
too, that the receipts this year will
reach 1DG0 or 5000 bales. Good buyers
have located here and the establish
ment ola bank Is an agitated question
likely to resuItsuccessfully
Unlike many new towns in the west
Bowie il backed by magnificent agri-
cultural section; 1t has solid foun la
ton; the possibilities are immense
and only require capital and enter
prise to develop. 1t is the only rail
road town in Montague county, and is
listed as an active, formidable rival of
Gainesville, fifty-four miles east.
Just now an unexpected phase of its
development is the discovery of coal
-. ~, IL,
ty promises rich results. Two veins
were prolific in black diamonds and
the opinion of old miners
is that there is something approx
imatinga bonanza in them. Being re-
inforced by this new industry, the
commercial advantages Of Bowie are
invincible. Her growth is not mere
empty bubble to burst at the first UNI
favorable breeze but sOlidified by the
wealth of her surrounding country and
the energy and enterprise of her citi-
zens. True her houses are built upon
the sand, but never to be washed away
by the reverses of an ebbing tide; tbs
that which produces the immense har-
vests of corn and cotton for which
North west Texas Is so justly famous.
Mr.. o. =. McLain, a bohemian who
=. welt dsssIIssof tue ute, nanlpulateS
the journalistic pencil with vim and
intelligent consonant with the town
and produces an excellent weekly in
the Cross 7inbcrs. A good newspaper
is powerful lever in TIE develop
ment of any town, and It's about due
the Cross Ifmbers to say that to it and
its able editor Bowie Is deeply in
debted. Mr., McLain, to his Journals
tic merits, adds an aiiability and grace
OF character which will adorn mem
Der of that invincible and progressive
body-the press.
Who expects in Bowie the fare and
accommodation Incidental TO major
nunlber of the infant cities will
be most astoundingly and agreeably
disappointed. The traveller finds a
square meal awaiting him at the
Mainor House. not to be excelled by
any hotel in Northwest Texas, ard
there Is no occasion for exceptions.
HENRIETTA,
The capital of Clay county, couldn't
help being a fascinating town because
of its name. Even in other matters it
is decidedly femlninish. Very prop
criy 1t might be termed the beauty of
the prairies--the belle of the North
west. 1t is located III 4 vast. and roll
ing prairie, which probably
terminates up in the Pan
handle, or stretches beyond into
the Nation. Near the town runs the
Little Wichita. a very distant relative
Of Big Wichita, which skirmishe s
around Wichita Falls. a prettier
sight for town was never chosen
hardly ever.
Henrietta long maintained its POI
sition as the principal city northwest
OF Fort Worth, not even enjoying the
sensation of rivalry until the puff and
blow of the locomotive began TO infuse
new energy into the country. IL was
founded about ten or twelve years ago,
and since its birth has been the prin
cipal source of supply for tue great
stock interests Tor a radius OF hun
dreds Of miles, and also the various
forts located within convenient reach
Even now Fort Sill, In the Indian
Territory, receises nearly all It's sup
plies through this place. 1t yet com
mands valuable trade and IL "a con-
yenient point of no inconsiderabie
importance, Her merchants are main
Is wealthy, carry heavey stocks OF
goods aud seem 10 be prosperous.
If wealth may be taken rs an index
to the Importance Of a town Henrietta
assumes the lead granting proportions
at the cities OF the state.
With population of 1900 or 1000
she has "a representative wealth
In cattlernen alone OF over Sl0,O0D,uOO.