Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-16
WICHITA FALLS.

srecIal Cormspondeacc of Tho tarriin.

special CorfrrpundeNuc of tho Gazette,
Wichita Falls, November l4.-~It wa.
not To be expected that ono's arrival In
a frontier railroad town would at once
prccipitate him into a circle OF cner.
getic religious displitants, hut such
was The case at the hotel office. The
eight ornine gentlemen sitting around
the stove, representatives of Kentucky,
Ohio, Illinois aud "to the mano,
born, put forth the respective merits
OF univetsaiism and orthodoxy, with
all the intermediate AIDES, until II
non conlhatant could have becom,
thoroughly confused. To prove point
n billie was chilled for when ID was "a
serted that Wichita Falls contained no
hihlc, but Of course Tint was ns mucl,
OF u joke ~ II was "A libel, II il a no.
tic"able fact in travelling through the
many new towns OF this superb state,
that the comparatively small number
of protested Christian people always
exert themselves To the extent of 80.
curing the early erection of comfort
able aud often tiue church buildings
That this IL no detriment to u commu-
nifty Is readily guiuted by all, aud as.
pecially hy those whose highest inter
est in the matter Is from pecuninry
standpoint. and not n few will declare
such things u positive benefit to amy
community But IL was not Intended
that the reader should hc now Inflicted
with moral essay.
torn YEARS AGO
Wichita Falls had name, the burden
being then supported 10y half dozen
cabins of the pioucers; but the advent
of the fogt Worth 4 Denver railroad
over a year ago brought with 1T the
usual boom attendant upon the iron
horse.
Vast were the plans of those who
purpoScd making the town prominent;
vast, if Judged by the large territory
laid out into lots The sale of town
lots occurred In September, lSs1, when
some twenty thousand dollars worth
were sold The history of Wichita
Falls is that of many another new
town in the state. Rapid settling up,
opening of store after store, thcpppoar-
ance of professional mon aud ali that
goes 10 make life snio and comfortable.
That the projectors or original settlers
Of the town could have found II pref
tier spot upon which to locate may be-
doubted. Running between bluffs
wide apart the Wichita river dlvidos
the present town from u large portion
where anxious lot owuois ON hat side
fondly hope the town may ultilnntel
be-; the entire town, however is all
now ON one side of the river.
IAnuCuANrs
would want to know what to expect
here. No prctentious buildings be-
You'd the hpndsomc Presbyterian
church aud the excellent public school
house; but mnny snug cottages dotted
n.out show comfort, and the fair hand
of woman manilcsts her presence by
the interior decorations. Statistics
are tiresOme; 80 hero are only few.
seven general stores; nine gro
celies; two hardware stores: Two
dgug stores five saln0ns;
somewhat out of proportion to tie
rest;i one bank; one mill and gin; two
lumber yards; two blacksmith shops;
three carpenter shops; one gun shop,
one wepkly paper, the Wichita Her
aid, and numerous minor shops. ll0-
tells and restaurants Just about accom-
mDdatc the wayiariIg man. The all.
sence Ofn furniture store ~ Noted, al
though furniture is carried In ANAL
way by some. Houses arc not to he
had, unless built 10y the intended or.
cupanti mud
MECHANICAL LhnoRERS
ARE decidedly in demand here MS IN all
these new towns. |, IL. u matter of re-
grct that so many mechanics, crowded
together in the large business ccutcrs,
could not be induced 10 push out L.
the front in Texas, and receive ample
pay for all the work they viii do.
uc mostly in demand as
frame building are being mainly
erected,
HEALTH.
There can bu no denial Tint there |
has been considerable sickness
here, but inquiry very clearly shows
II not To be from natural callses. Seat
tered about ARE many living H. tents,
and for the most part these jewellers
are said 10 disregard tho cOmmonpst |
laws of health; men, women and
buddled together with little |
care for accommodating filth, with un-
due exposure aud The absence of prop |
nr food thereby occasion nearly All the |
sickness which the town ~ large be-
comes blamablc for abroad.
THE CATTLE INTERESTS
in the surrounding |
country; and the bulk OF the business
tone here ~ among tile cattlemen for
many miles about. Shipments of cnt-
lie from here are very large, and com |
pens are hard by. While |
his viii long continue the prominent |
eaturc of of the country about, yet II |
= expected that
FARMisg
Sill increase steadily. The lands
ne excellent, and the small
mount of agriculture now EXISTING
Wilderness the possibilities of the soil
from three 90 five dollars per acre
would be charged for lind. aud wheat.
orn, oats and cotton could be raised
inoly, as alao MI kinds Of vegetables.
WATER
: readily obtained al twenty five feet
,elow the surface Of the ground. The
liver il brackish. but good for stock.
What the possibilities are IN the way
II utilizing the water power cannot he
The control Of the falls
ests with parties IN Columbus, Ohio,
inlveNon and here. There seems 10
c but one fear entertained pertaining
o the future OF the town; many seem
D think the extension OF the railroad
d. ~. H.