Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-20
JOHNSON COUNTY.
Her Rapid Growth and Enormous In
crease in Taxable Valuations.
Three Railroads Built Through the County
in One Year.
A Merited Compliment to a Deserving
RailrOad-The City Of Cleburne.


CLEBURNE. June lT.-iour corre-
spondent arrived in this growing little
city few weeks since, and after an
absence of nearly twelve months was
much impressed with its growth and
Improvement in that length of time.
The courthouse, built and furnished
at cost of something over $4,000, Is
one of the finest and most imposing In
the state. When citizen of this place
was in Chicago recently some one
there, learning that he was from Gle
burne, said: "Oh, yes, you are from the
town that has that fine courthouse"
The Jail, finished at a cost Of $26, 900,
Is very substantial structure indeed.
The public school building is an ele-
CANT structure, and cost about $50, 600.
These public buildings add much to
the appearance ofthe place and speak
well for the enterprise and public
spirit IF the county and city authori-
ties. The water-works. finished for
about $5l 600, add wonderfully to the
conveniences of the town, and any
mention of the place without them
would be incomplete.
Cleburne is almost surrounded by
two creeks, East and West Buffalo.
From this and other circumstances it
much resembles the town Of Franklin,
Tenn. Cleuurne was named for the
| brave and popular general of that
name, who rode to death and undying
fame in the suburbs of Franklin.
But | started to write you of Johnson
county in general and of her progress
during the last few years, rather thar
of any particular place:
January /, 1851, found johnson
county without a mile of railroad
| There had been much talk during the
few years previous to this of q railroad
connection with Dallas, but after al
nothing ever resulted from the enter
prise as first attempted. Soon after
the above named date the Missouri
Pacific entered the county from tn,
north and built their line through tn
county by the towns of Alvarado ant
Grandview. During the same yea
the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fee entered
the county from the south and bull
their line through the entire length G
the county by Cleburne and Cadd
Peak.
, While these roads were in process G
construction the Chicago, Texas 1
, Mexican Central was building from
Dallas to Cleburne, crossing the frs
named road at Alvarado, and int,
secting the latter road at the count
seat. Thus you will see that Johnso
county had three railroads built an
, equipped, carrying freight and passer
gers through her territory in twely
months from the time the first rail W,
laid within her limits.
q The amount of railroad track with
the county is about seventy mile
which alone, at valuation of 81 On
Vt per mile, adds almost a half milliC
n dollars to her taxable values.
r. The taxable property of JohnsC
county in 1880 was about three al
y one-eighth millions of dollars, while
le is estimated that it will foot up s
&; millions this year. This is certainly
ct remarkable increase, especially yh,
c. we take REORGANIZATION the/ ia
err that Johnson was admitted to be
lie populous, prosperous and well-settl,
1t county in 1880. The building of the
as railroads did more than ,
IS. other agencies to bring abe
ce this extraordinary change in the val
e. of property in the county, since In q
ce dition to the actual value of the RI
IT. road property In the county, mon
ar was induced to come here that won
he never have come without the roa
or and the property already here was
ey creased greatly in value in consequel
nd Ofthese things.
So much as we sometimes hear n
to roads abused land some of them son
no times deserve sbuse) justice must co
his pei us to admit that they help to
ort fray our expenses when the tax gath
led er comes, and he comes as surely o
regularly as the seasons.
Tor The Gulf, Colorado d. Santa Fe r
rye road bought The line from Cleburne
for Dallas, aud now has two northern
he mini in the growing cities of i
ion Worth and Dallas. This line
the been styled the peoples Favorii
and this has come now to mean mu
cry since almost all the railroad propt
sets of Texas has passed under the con
vho OF one combination, and from first
garding 1t with indifference
me chance with prejudice, the people,
led are familiar with the history Of
'isk lie, look on it with pride and cal
cad TOUR road" although they may
Ing own dollar of stock In 1t, and
lish cerely trust that 1t may never
under the dominion of the syndi
that seems to have swallowed 80 m
others. 1t is q peculiar fact that
though built by Galveston men
name of their citv does not annea