Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-13
COMMERCIAL.

GAZETTE OFFICE, January II, 'S3.
The GAZETTE IL occasionally re-
quested by business men whose inter-
ests are largely bound up in Fort
Worth's prosperity, to direct attention
and urge the necessity of action look
ing 20 the Improvement of all the
county roads leading to and from this
city. The GAZETTE has been PERFORM
ing this duty at irregular intervals for
some time. In fact, if persistency by
the GAZETTE in calling attention to
the requirement had been of any prac-
teal service, every road in Tarrant
county, from its utmost boundary to
the public square, would admit of easy
travel to every description of vehicle.
in season and out of season. 1t would
be superfiuous longer TO attempt TO
present an argumaBt in favor Of good
public highways. The necessity for
these arteries of trade has been too
often painfully apparent to the retail
merchant with sluggish trade when
sea of mud lay between his we'll
stocked houseand his country custom
er. and no prospect of n resumption of
business until the rainfall ceased and
the sun eXhaled the superintendent
..moisture.n Fort Worth had, or did
have board of trade-an organized
body composed of her merchant
magnates and capital Colossuses, who
are the power that must effect the inn
provement that Is SO imperatively de-
manded. This assembly several
months ago had % meeting, and re-
solved itself into committee of the
whole for consideration of the inn
provement business, and after some
informal parleying and discussion that
have not been productive of tangible,
visible or prospective results, gently
Notwithstanding the road question
TO the possibilities of the future. If
the GAZETTE could infuse into the
board OF trade sense of the iIu-
portance of decisive action its
offices would be cheerfully
respectfully submit that it is folly to
entertain any plan of securing inn
provement of the roads, i'm which the
board Of trade may take q part, un-
less it is proposed to expend money
! for such Improvement. Merchants
would be the beneficiaries of the pro-
ject if executed in n greater degree
than any other class, and they should
be willing to defray the expense. 1t
is more than probable that the
legislature will will afford measurable
relief by enacting such a law
as will enlarge the powers of
the commissioners court in
the several counties in the state in re-
lation to internal improvements. A
bill with this puryiew is now before
the house, and the popular sentiment
of the state will force its consideration
before adjournment. The GAZETTE is
not conversant with its provisions, but
opinions concur in the conclusion That
I the best plan that could be devised is
to grant in general terms, local OPP
/ tom TO the counties, submitting to
| thepeople thereof the question whether
or not they should tax themselves to
maintain public thoroughfares. With
| such law in opera
! ton. there is no doubt that the senti-
ment of the majority of the people
/ would be in favor of the proposed tax,
4 provided there is a disposition TO sup
I plement it by the merchants Of Fort
/ Worth. The GAZETTE will endeayor
To perform its duty in seconding the
efforts of the promoters of road inn
provement, believing that such inn
4 provement will lend stability and per-
! manence 10 the retail business Of the
city.