Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-03-14
From Fort Worth to Mexico.

| The last spike in the ROAD from III
laso to the city of Mexico was driven
last Saturday. This gave an unbroken
railway connection from Fort Worth
to the capital of the Mexican republic.
| With their customary enterprise, Fort
| Worth business man had representa-
tives in the field TO get their share of
the trade of the country newly laid
under tribute. The ubiquitous
drummer is now talking business,
perhaps through an Interpreter, in the
Mexican towns, and telling Of the adj
vantages of Fort Worth ms IA supply
depot for the country tributary TO the
new road. Fort Worth wholesale
houses have received large share Of
the trade of Chihuahua, along the line
of the Mexican Central, and rs the
southern extension of that road pene-
trated the interior of Mexico our trade
has increased with steady pace. Now
that the connection has been made
and n line given to the heart Of Mex
leo, our business men ARE preparing for
fresh fields of trade 10 conquer.
But there are disadvantage to he
contended with. and obstacles to he
surmounted. Examine the map. To
get from Fort Worth to the City Of
Mexico requires the circuilous journey
10 III paso, due west, then from III
Pas0 back again In the direction of
Fort Worth, The distance to he
travcrsed is, from Fort Worth 20 El
Paso, 6lG miles; from III paso to the
City of Mexico, 1915 miles; total, 1871
miles. Every mile Of this long haul
adds TO the cost of goods. Every mile
that it can be shortened reduces the
cost, and gives our business men still
further control of the trade of that
country. Wemust build direct line
south from Fort Worth to avoid the
distance from I'll Paso aud back
again. We cannot pay transportation
augle, when we can cut through and
gain our objective point az saving of
oue-half The relief to be gained is in
the building Of the BIownwood road,
and its extension thence to Eagle Pass,
ON The Rio Gmnde. At Eagle Pass
connection is made with the Hunting.
ton road, now running to Munclova,
Mex, and an almost air line Is given
from Fort Worth to the City of MeXi-
co, The saving by such route oven
the present route by III Paso
Is fully 500 miles, Every mile of these
500 is an argument In favor
of making Fort Worth the great
supply depot Tor the Mexican trade.
II will destroy competition, for no
other wholesallng point in Texas will
have so direct line, and no other
point can send goods there so cheaply.
The senate mt Wash ington has Just
ratified the reciprocity treaty with
| Mexico, In its commercial effects, this
treaty will practically make of Mexico
and the United States one country,
with an uninterrupted trade. The
| abrogation of customs duties Oh the
| chief articles OF commerce will give lis
u trade with Mexico almost us unre-
stricted as Row exists between the
states Of the American Union. The
volume of that trade will he immense.
Ii must all pass through Texas, aud If
Texas will bid Tor 1t, grasp for 1t, IL Is
hers, The railroads from Texas into
Mexico mus: do the carrying of the
trade, aud the shortest line from pro-
Queer 10 market, being the cheapest,
will command the trade. If no other
motive existed, this alone should be
sufficient to move the capitalists and
business men of Fort Worth TO build
a road from here to Eagle Pass. AS
stated, 1t Is the shortest, therefore the
cheapest. Fort Worth Wholesale
houses can send their goods over that
road at saving of 500 miles of trans
portaticn, as compared with the route
from this point by way Of El
Paso to the interior of Moxi,
co. The cost of hauling goods over
this 500 miles is too import.
ant factor in the contest for CONNER.
cial supremacy to be ignored, and IL Is
a factor which can be eliminated by
tho building OF a road to Eagle Pass.
with this road Folt Worth could defy
competition, and her merchants would
hold the key to the storehouse Of trade
with Mexico.
Another result OF such road would
be To bring the through trade of the
southern Pacific 10 the North and
East through Fort Worth. From
Brackettvlllc, where the pr opposed line
crosses the Southern Pacific, 10 Fort
Worth, TO 81. Louis aud Chicago.
Isl large saving over the route from
Brsckettville to San Antonio, thence
north. The new route will cut on 100