The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-10-05
TEXAS AND Her pRooRrss.

space, the startling growth within the
past 10 years, of this State, materially |
and indnstriaily--a growth that our
own people Go not but in a general |
sort OF way, appreciate.
How many Texans, even among tho
most intelligent, can ststs facts and
figures OF thst wonderful dave lopment
which Is at once our pTiao and
strength-snd orr earnest wish of what
we may anticipate from the future?
How many can tell the stranger how
fat the aggregate wealth has increRsoa
since 1870, how many miles of railway
have been built, how many farms
opened, how many factories have
been built?
There isn't one In hundred who
can use figures in telling this story OF
liyhtning-liko progress, and briefly we
desire to group some numbers that are
az interesting as they are astonishing,
dealing now only with the material
physical growth OF Texas, so to speak.
Ths material development is compro
bonded under tho Increase in popua-
ton and values, the increase in farms,
THAR acreage aud values, the extension
OF railways and tho establishment OF
factories.
Thoro is no State In tho Union, I'M
less 1t bs Kansas, that has grown NO
rapidly In population since 1870, as
Texas. La the year named, our peu-
pie numbered SlS579 In 1850 these
fgures had multiplied until our popu.
lation was counted At sol ,740, or
nearly 100 per cent. increase. H.
II now, by tho best authorities aud
from calculation based on tho &C holsslic
census and tho last general election.
placed al about $3.50. 900, Or nearly \
% per cent. growth In tho five yea q
pas. IL will thus ba sson tina. In
IS years tho Stato's population has al
most treblsd. A most startling ,pid.
iiy oil Multiplication.
The opening up Of farms would nat.
urally bear some proportion to such a
growth in population, and accordingly
VIC fad that while the whole nun Der
In 1870 was 6l,l25, In 1850 there were
l74,lsi. While In thst period poDuln,
tios did not reach to 100 per cent. In.
crssSe, farms grew 10 numbsr almost
SCe per cent, indicating that the vast
bulk, over -thiriA, o oar Increased
population was Ii. tAo .sricultural
'classes. The total acreage In
$50 was l0,l67,4,O, and in 1880
3S,293,2l9, The total valuo Of farms In
1870 wa S60,l40,o50 end In 1880, $l7O,-
a6S,sSs. Now il Is computed that tn
total number OF farms will reach 225,-
GEO, with an acreage Of over $4,000. 900
and sf total vslus OF t25o,OOa, 0OO
Truly, the waste places have bsen no
deemed, ard the march Of agriculture
has conquered tho deserLs.
To handle the products q thes, re-
olsimsd acres, and afford business and
activity TO many hundreds of willing
hands, Is tho province OF the factory
aGd altho ugh wa have grown ia the
matter If manufacturing. ~ might
have besn expected, aud grown on
coaraaingly iaranew and agrlculturs ii
Hold, our progress in thla direction
has not bean M rapid az In
other Southern 6tates, or as will be
hofo IN the next decade. The whole
number of manufacturing establish
ments In Texas IN 1870 was 2,4OO, EN-.
poying some 10000 Aauds or more
aud representing 4 capital of So, 1884, ITO
By 1850 the number of establishments
had grown 10 3.000. aui the aggro
gate capital TO $685. 6l. In the
past five yeaTs 1t IL estimated that TIE
numbSr has increased to $500 and the
capital to sla. 100000. Tho good work
hes commenced, and q steady pro
gross may honceforth DO anticipated.
In the facilities for locomotion, foy
handling products, for reaching avon
the remo.ost sections, In a word, our
growth in railway building has bsen
phenonenal, and outs,rps that vii.
messed In any other State. In 1870
Texas had hut 25i miles Of railway. In
i've years tho mileage had grown to
1855 miles. In 1850 there woro 25oi
mites, and In 1885 there are 6,sO0 miles.
Although In tho past year of two there
has b9en somewhat OF q luli, tho very
general desiro in every town mud
county for railroad connections, on an
extensive scale, may be depended on to
produce splendid results In the near
future.
Summing up I'LL this physical or ma
terlal Improvement for 10 years, N dol
lara ana cents, consequent upon tue
growth OF towns, counties, farnis, rail.
ways, factories, etc., We find that the
aggregate wealth of tho State has
grown from some s2l0, 100000 III 1870 20
ssoS oOoooe, In round numbers, in 1856!
since 1880 wo have grown richer by
SGJ,VN,Wo, or moro than two.,hIrds of
the aggregate increase In values OF oil
The Southern States since 1874. This IL
an astounding development in vslues,
aud only permits Us to guess ut tho
wealth OF Texas in another 10 years.
To those who Imagine that Toxss Is
avid waste, n homo for tho fugitive
aud desperedo, devoid Of the appll-
aneos aud comforts and progression OF
civilized o mmuuities, a region for
cspa'l and skill aud energy TO avoid,
eocutdiug In vsst solItudes and ,iven
over 70 Tho cowboy, thoso figures, this