The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-20
ACIVIL ENGINEERS IDEAS
ON DALLAS RAILROAD MATTERS.
Splendid Geographical Location of the
Clty-Liberality of Citizens in the
Past - Views from Various
Points OF the Compass.

Railroad matters seem at last TO be in
teresting to the citizens of Dallas to the
extent that already within the last few
days new scheme has been inaugu-
rated-new life, as il were, enthused into
the minds of our citizens 10 that extent
that already a company is fully organ
lied and chartered to build railroad
l61 miles 10 the northwest, to Seymour,
in Baylor county.
1t is apparent, even TO the casual OBJ
server, that more railroad facilities are
necessary to ensure tor Dallas q claim
as a desirable location for manufac-
tories. Cheap transportation and quick
transit for ali commodities necessary
for manufactures aud for the shipment
of their productions to market are tho
main features that decide the location OF
such enterprises.
oo The location siS9 OF our city geOsraghi,
hamlet, materially secured the
Houston & Texas Central railroad run
ming directly north from Galveston on
the gulf, through the center OF the state,
forming a great through line in connec-
ton with the Missouri Pacific railroad,
linking the Gulf of Mexico with the
lakes on the north, and the same may
be said OF our city In securing the Texas
4 oNAiN AhllhOui1 bilO lllhbl llh6 Vi
which, passing from east to west,
through the northern center and the
most populous portion Of the state; and
in connection with the Southern Pacific
westwardly to the Pacific, and its
several connections eastwardly to the
Atlantic, linking ocean TO ocean.
And while we attri butte the location OF
these two great lines of railroad through
our CITY more from its geographical loca-
Ilnn than from tho donations ~
her citizens, we are at thei same time
Watering ourselves with the pros
pect OF more and more such enter
prises, forgetting the fact that the
opportunities of Dallas have
been lessened by the superhuman Of
forts OF her rivals, who by their energy
and enterprise brought themselves into
notice, while we have bean stumbering
In our drsams OF natural sdvantages,
forgetting the maxim "thst those wac
want elp must first help Themselves Z"
Next came the Dallas & Wichita, now
the Mi ssouri Pacific railroad and unfor-
tunately for Dallas, was managed in
such manner az seemed to cause
nIlstrust with our citizens " that OK
tent. thst other like enterprises were
looked upon with no small degree of
suspicion. Following the Dallas IL
Wichita came the Texas Trunk railway
company, and WITHOUT tho aid or a dol
lars contribution, located from Dallas to
Sabine Pass, a distance OF 300 miles, and
built and now have IN operation 81 miles
TO point tive miles southeast OF Kemp,
in the lower part of Kaufman county
and are now running regular trains to
Kemp distance of AZ miles Next
came the Chicago, Texas 4 Mexican
Central railroad (now the CUT, Col
orsdo q Santa Fe) and proposed a line
from Dallas as a central point toward
the southwest aud northeast, through
the counties Of Collin, RGckwall, Hunt,
Fannin and Lamar across Red River TO
connect with the st. Louis IL San fran
cisco railroad, ana in good faith did
construct 81 miles southwest TO Gle
burne, in Johnson county, now operated
by the Gull, Colorado Il Santa Fe as a
feeder TO their main line. During all
this lime our citizens have enjoyed the
Dement'S, aud to-day s1me OF the woalth-
lest men. of our city have acquired their
fortunes directly or indirectly through
railroads, aud railroad advantages TO
their particular calling, OF by the on
Aanced value OF real estate, and in
many instances arc the last TO contrib
ute dollar 70 such euJ6rpr ses, or To the
Introduction or assistance OF manulsct-
cries, on which depend the very reality
o. their wealth.
And while our wealthy citizens have
reaped rich harvest sown for them by
those who 30 iavishly spent their money
In public improvements, do they ever
reflect for moment that they are the
benehciAries Of the proceeds of capital
expended by confiding capitalists, who
for want of the proper encouragement
had TO abandon every railroad enter
terprise since the completion OF the
Texas & Pacific.
II our citizens had done their duty.
the Texas Trunk railrOaG would to-day
be running trains 10 Sabine Pass and
the bost humber the world affords
W u,l today no worth but SO Dor NJ
lald down In Dallas; the Uulf, Colorado
q Santa Fe would b. running to Paris,
and Dallas would have the benefit OF
competition IN coal from the Indian
Territory along the line OF the Frisco
road, that would favorably compare
with the best coal of Pennsylvania
the Northwestern would have already
been completed o the coal and copper
helds OF the northwest, and indt I
would Dallas u day he the metropolis
OF the southwest and those who would
have contributed 20 It's success would
have to-day Deen more wealthy than
ever.
In conclusion, while we are discus
sing the matter of building the North
western railroad, would IL not be well
10 Ouor some lnduCement To the Gulf,
Colorado q Santa Fe 70 build It's north
east extension 70 Paris; already they
have a line located to Farmersville, a
distance of 80 miles, with fair location
and right-of-way adjusted, and the
greater portion cleared of brush aud
timber, ready for grading. This short
line would pass Immediately through
the richest grain belt OF Texas, 10 being
know fact that Farmersville ships
more grain Of its own Immediate
production, than any other town in the
state. And, too, 1t seems TO the writer
that the prime factor in tha construc-
ton OF the Dallas Il Northwestern rail-
road would be the Texas Trunk rail
road, If 1t was but assisted TO reach tho
pineries of southeast Texas. Having a
knowledge Of such things, | believe a
saving in the construction OF the North
western would not fall short of 300 coo
In the matter of lumber and oross-ties
alone.
But now, while the people are willing
% that extent of coming forward with
their money for the construction OF the
Dallas II Northwestern railroad, even
though confronted 10 some extent with
disadvantages thai might be remedied,
u for one, say amen,
CIVIL ENGINEER.