Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-19
nEGAzETTE: FORT WORTH TExAs MoNpAY. NoyEMRER 10
DECATUR.
A Prosperous Town Nestled among the
Fertile Farms Of North Texas.
The Civil Rights Decision Simply n
Broad Republican Doctrine.
Special Correspondence OF Tho Gazette.

Decatur, November l7.-For "beau-
ty of situation few towns can boast
any advantage over this. Few towns
present AT first sight so favorable n
view TO the stranger as he alights from
the car. Amid the closely huilt
houses, rising above all is the court.
house. To one side of the town fhe
large two-story stone public school.
and about the greater part of tho
square fine stores, also of stone. and
very neat and substantial.
AS far back as 1859 there was n
town here, but Indian raids and other
causes occasioned desertion of the
town and county; but after a few
years settlers again located here, and
about four years ago the "boom'' be-
gan. The coming OF the railroads ac-
celebrated business, and steady growth
and improvement have continued.
Some gentlemen were discussing the
question whether u town is more de.
pendent upon railroad than upon u
good agricultural country about, when
one suggested that with many towns n
railroad might be likened to "A father.
bringing into existence, while good
farming community nurtured and sus-
tanned like mother. The illustration
Is not far out. Decatur is surrounded
by an excellent farming people, and
Wise county is rapidly filling up with
that desirable class. The court house
~ exceeded in beauty by few In the
state; il was erected mt cost of over
$1,000 but unfortunately some OF the
stone used was untitled for the pur-
pose, and seems giving away; this needs
early attention. The public school
building nearing completion will cost
some Sl2, 800, with furniture, and is to
accommodate GOO pupils. Mrs. Warren,
than whom there is said TO be no
better teacher in the state, has charge
of the public school now; one hundred
and three scholars are said to be now
enrolled.
j. j. Kane, the Fort Worth archi-
tect, furnished the plan of this school
building, and he describes it rs the
Norman castellated style, iifty-four by
seventy-siX feet; of rough stone with
metal and dressed stone trimmings.
This building would of itself be an
inducement TO the stranger to locate
in Decatur, furnishing as II does an in-
| dex to the enterprise and thrift of the
town.
This week the county commission
| ers awarded the contract for new Jail,
! the bids ranging as high rs $50, 800 10
! So, 900. The award was made 10 j.
| q. Holsel, n wealthy cattleman of this
county. As is usual dissatisfaction eX-
| listed among the unsuccessful bidders
| who deem the bid made by Mr.. Holsel
as too low 10 enable good work 10 be
| done, but this remains to be seen. lhe
commissioners adopted for the iron
work of the new jail the specifications
furnished by Jas. j. Lyon, represent
ing y. J. Pauley 81 Bro, OF st. Louis.
The county is erecting five iron
bridges in the neighborhood of Deca-
tur, and a spirit OF public improve
ment is prevailing generally.
Two live weekly papers, the Tribune
and Post, cater To the reading require
ments of the town, and the merchants
seem TO well sustain them by adver-
Using.
AS so often noted from other parts of
the state, jaundice has held sway here
this fall, but with no fatal effect.
The water found in ordinary wells is
not the best, but at considerable
depth good water can be had.
Mr.. Ullman, a large grocery dealer
here, stated that over five thousand
bales of cotton had thus far been re-
ceived by this town. and that much
remained TO be gathered; that bust
ness was in every way good, aHd this
was Concuried i'll by many other mer-
chants talked to. That Decatur will
continue in steady prosperity none Of
her citizens seem to doubt, end with
the efficient town government now
in charge of public affairs, Decaturites
feel justified in Boosting OF their prom
ising little city.
| met Judge f. Il. Piner, a staunch
Democrat of Denton, he being In at
tendance on the district court. In
| conversation he threw new light
upon the civil rights decision, in the
| definition which he gives ii: II have
not seen in print" said the judge,
"anv mention of this view of the mat
| ter; the decision simply niiirms pure
Republican doctrine, which contem-
plates the negro MS n black white man,
| equal in every way TO the white or any
| other color. To make any law pro-
| tecting one color above another, is to
| legislate in favor of one as against the
! other. Hence all previous decisions,
| 10 the end of lettering the status of the
negro, Were consistent with the pro-
posed doctrines OF Republicanism. To
1 my mind 1t would seem that this re-
cent decision would more firmly weld
together the Republican party and
help to harmoni2e them; but 1t will be
difficult to make the ignorant negro
comprehend this, feeling, as they seem,
that they have been deprived OF some
thing which in fact they never pos
sessed. This decision simply sweeps
away distinctions between classes
| which the amendment attempted, but
which do not accord with the spirit of
Republican doctrines. IL would be a
mistake 10 suppose that Justice Brad
lev and his associate justices in any
d .gree have shown themselves more
lenient in their opinions than ofyorre,
or less strong Republicans by this de-
cision; rather they seek, and Legally