Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-27

fact necessitates two school buildings,
one on the north side and one
on the south side. These two
buildings are about completed,
and together have full
seating capacity of 500 They are not
expensive buildings nor have they
much architectural beauty, but they
are thoroughly well adapted TO the use
for which they are intended. They
are well ventilated, commodious and
neatly furnished. The schools the
next year will be under the control of
Superintendent w. w. James, late of
Dallas, Tex, u gentleman every way
qualified for the place, who will he as
sisted by full corps of competent
teachers. AS the pay as-you-go" pol
lev will be the rule in the manage
mont of the schools, and there is leash
in sight, sufficient, it Is certain that
nine months free tuition will be abso-
lutely secured for all children in the
town, within the scholastic age, from
and after September 10 next.
The following Is correct
statement as to the general values in
1854, viz:
Resident roll '.'.''.''~' sI.s,sS s'ScV' q,
4 NOu-rehlutDI IDil his'o, sv,'.ssss
! Unrendered roll. .,,,......", 8S3i3 U'Si'
ssls,ms sl,asS1I
In this o6lluectioil attention is called
to the significant fact that In March
1881, scarcely three and one
half years ago, the land Oh
which Is the town of Abilene was ae
tually purchased at $3.50. To-day this
same land, with the Improvements
thereon, all put there in less than foul
years, is valued for taxation purposes
at the enormous sum Of 81 ,335,37l In
fact though, this value is not correct
since it is well known that property
Is valued In Texas for taxation pur
poses, as rule, ut not exceeding 6Gi
per cent. on its real value. 1t is safe
value Of Abilene property in
1884 is not Jess than $4,000
What town, outside of Texas, can
show such record? Indeed;
l even In Texas, where values develop
more rapidly than in any other state,
| it is doubtful II there Is more than one
or two other towns that can make such
q showing.
The religious advantages secured Ia
| the people of Abilene are excellent.
The Baptists have large, well-con-
structed frame church building, and
so have each OF the two wings Of the
Methodists, viz: the Methodist Eplsco-
pal church, South, and the Methodist
| Episcopal church, North. The Episco-
palians have recently constructed a
handsome stone chapel. The Old
School Presbyterians, the Christians
and the Roman Catholics have each
church organizations. but as yet no
church buildings, though they will all
build within year.
There are several charitable
societies with organizations In
the town, among them the
! Masonr. Odd Fellows, Knights OF
Honor, Knights and Ladies OF HONOR.
knights OF Pythiss, etc. Business OF
every character 10 fulIy represented.
There are two banks. several large
whoIesaIe houses, the usual number OF
retail establ ishments. u large Touring
mill aud numerous small manufacture
ing establishment ..
II will be impossible for me In this
report TO give all the business men OF
the town. have prepared, however.
and herewith hand you q few notes OF
some OF the leading business men, per-
sonslly well known 10 me, viz:
BERRY, BowyEK a HOUSTON, LAND
AGENTS,
com posed of j. Il. Berry, John Bowyer
Ard n. b. Houston. Mr. Berry was
reared 10 Kentucky aud lived twenty
| i've wears Ia Louisville, where he WAS
\ wholesale merchant. He came 10
Texas in 1878, settled first Ia Belle
PIsin, Callahan county, ~ . mer
chant, and In 1881 moved to Abilene.
Mr.. Bowyer was reared in Rovkbridg.
County, Virginia; educated a
| Washington-Lee university, Lex