The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-07
"rNO CITIES 4"


Elsewhere in this issue we give room to
communication of Rambler" and cap
toned with the title that heads this article.
Our correspondent seems to be teariully ex-
ercised concerning the future OF Dallas, as
he draws comparisons between it and Fort
Worth, our near neighbor on the west. lie
is particularly critical, if not capiious, III
his comments on the lack of public spirit
of Dallas business men. He feels quite sure
that with the prospects of the Fort, the
push and pluck and enterprise of her peo-
pie, the liberal extension OF railroad
bonuses. the unanimity of sentiment and
action of her citizens, are working factors
that are at this moment conspiring to make
our thriving rival the great centre OF rail
way network and depot OF general business
for all northern Texas. He is likewise es-
pecially impressed with the vast amount o.
building that his eyes beheldin "the young
giant of the west.n He is disposed to be
censorous on the course Of the HERALD in
continually quilting Dallas" and intimates
that overdrawn pictures are not near so ad-
vantageous to our real interests as state
ments of facts whatever these may be.
Whilst we are willing to concede fullest
sincerity to our correspondents views, as
also a due amount of patriotism, We are
nevertheless constrained to believe that
he has become unnecessarily alarmed and
blue in respect to Dallas. The HERALD has
ever and always been on the qui vive about
all matters appertaining to the growth and
welfare and good name Of this city. 1t has
urged and pleaded and pushed for every
enterprise That we felt was practical and
whose establishment would build up the
place to fame and fortune. And we have
been delighted with what has been already
accomplished by our citizens. 1t is true
that we were disappointed at the Hardness,
and in many instances the indifference,
manifested toward securing the Texas a
st. Louis Narrow Gauge railroad.
We appreciated the supreme I'M
portance of its speedy construction
here and its terminus, as well.
And we haye been surprised that treaties
etc. with the Gulf, Colorado 4 Santa Fe
railroad company were not pressed to in
duce them to extend from Dallas to north
eastery direction, if only for some % or 30
miles, as we knew our neighbor would
joyfuly furnish them any reasonable sum Of
money --and franchises to give this city
the go.bye, and run via. Mckinney in that
direction. So too of the Narrow Gauge
which will head from the Fort to Mexico
with which country so much business will
be done when the reciprocity treaty shall
80 into operation next winter. But it is
not true that the Fort has yet def.
nitely secured these things,
and for aught Rambler" may know, the
problems he thinks We are sleeping on, are
being to-day discussed. Dallas cannot
afford to allow any point in all this section
to surpass and outstrip her. She compre.
hends that it would be crying shame aud
self-imposed disgrace to so far flag behind
with all her existing advantages and prori.
ties, to wake up some morning and find
that some other point on the map was to be
henceforth designated and so proclaimed to
the world, as the railroad centre Of Texas.
Her merchants and citizens generally must
surely understand that if she once com.
mences slipping back, down will tumble
values in stocks here, real estate,
| stores, dwellings and all manner of things
that have held their own because of the
firm conviction heretofore entertained that
the position of their city was assured, and
that consequent increasing population
and business would pour in upon us. If
perchance there be any of our people who
donot comprehend and appreciate these
facts, the sooner their minds be diverted
into the right channels the better. And
the sooner all hands pull together the
wiser. The lesson of the old man and the
disagreeing sons, rs shown with the bundle
of sticks, is fable as valuable to cities as
well rs to families. Gravitation tends to-
ward bulk, but the loadstone influence
oyercomes that power. We must believe
that our merchants are awake
to what is going on about them, and the
consequences thereof direct and remote and
collateral. We are aware what great strides
the Fort has made and is making daily and
we congratulate her on the results of her
efforts. If Dallas with the start and pres
tige she has cannot keep abreast and even
ahead OF all rivalry, then we should 60
down, that is all. But we fancy it will be a
long time before Rambler" will see that
fine large day" that sees us out-stripped
in the race. However, our people can read
the correspondence for themselves and
assess its value and its representations