Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-17
THE SANTA FE.
A Delegation Of Prominent Citizens of
the West at Galveston.
An Effort Being Made to Have the
Santa Fe Extended to Colorado.

Galveston News.
numbero OF prominent citizens from
Western Texas have been In the city
for the past day or two comforting with
the management Of the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fee Railway company with
view OF securing the extension OF
that line from itsy present terminus,
Lsmpasas, to Colorado City rather
than have 1t built 10 Brown
wood, rs has been deter
mined by the company. The delegation
represents Tom Green, Mitchell, Con-
cho, Mccullough and San Saba coun-
ties, and besides the natural advan-
tages that their section presents they
are offering liberal bonus to secure
the road through the above named
counties on to Colorado city. They
have already had several conferences
with the management of the road,
with very encouraging results. The
delegation consists of some of the
most prominent men OF that section
of the country-San Angelo, Tom
Green county Is represented by Messrs
Frank Lerch, VIM. f. Ellis and Louis
Schwartz; Mitchell county by A. j.
Peacock, w. f. Lewis and Judge
Smith. Mayor Martin of Colorado
City represents Concho county, and
Judge Guion, Mccullough county San
Saba Is represented by II. G. injury,
Wiley hurry, MIR. Ward, DIR. Fentis,
DIR. Gregg and Mr.. Burleson. The
delegationfrom Tom Green county has
been in the city several days, the
others of the delegation arriving on
Sunday. In conversation yesterday
with Mr.. Learch of San An
cello, and other gentlemen OF the
delegation the following facts were
gained as to the advantages offered by
the extension OF the road as they de-
sire. The road extended from Lam
pasas TO Colorado City would make
the line about equidistant from the
Texas q Pacific on the north and the
Southern Pacific on the south, about
l25 miles from each Of these through
lines. 1t would traverse one of the
finest wool.growipg and cattle sections
In the state, and capture all OF the
TO the Texas d Pacific. Tom
last year 100000 pounds of
wool and 5000 ar.loads of cattle, all of
which, by the extension of the Gulf,
Colorado q Santa Fee in that direction,
would have paid tribute to that road,
and hence to Galveston as its termi-
nal point. Tho quarantine, too, in
Kansas against Texas cattle Is another
reason why the stock-raisers of that
section desire to seek Southern out
let for their stock. The section repre-.
sented in san Saba, Mccullough, Con-
cho, Tom Green and Mitchell coun-
ties Is also one Of the finest farming
sections In Western Texas. Within
q radius OF twenty five miles
around San Angelo Is 2i0 600 acres
of tillable land well irrigated as with
in a similar radius of fifteen miles,
with San Angelo as a center; the road
would cross from twenty to twenty
five never-failing running streams.
This section has never had railroad
facilities, and San Angelo is the
largest town in Texas without rail-
road, and its increase has been remark.
able. Two years ago the population OF
that town was but 500 people, while
to-day its population is 5000, with three
banks with an aggregate capital
OF $250,000 and mercantile
business averaging last year
| 81, 1876, 900. 1t Is thriving It'll.
town with an ice factory of capacity
of two tons daily and water
works system embracing four and
one-half miles of mains. IL has in
vested in public buildings $l25, 900
and school-house is now In course o
erection there which will cost $40 600
In 1883, tho taxable values OF Ton
Green county was a little over 81, 600,
coo, and lat year the assessment rolls
footed up ST,79l 600, aud increase o
-, 81, 900. or nearly go per cent which
is larger ratio of increase thar
than Is shown in any other county II
the state, Tarrant county alone APP
preaching it. The population In til,
county has increased los per cent. il
two years, and this without railroad
facilities. San Saba, the poorest coun
ty through which IL is desired {,
secure the extension of the road, ha
ten acres of farming land where Brown
county has one. Extending the roaC
to Colorado City would secure to tn,
Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway
company the trade of Llano, Sal
Saba, Mason, Kimble, Menard
Crockett, Tom Green, Concho, Nc
Colloch, and the southern portions O.
Brown, Coleman and Runnels coun
ties. The advantage to Galveston
would also be very considerable, a
opening up new trade to this mar
ket. IL would make Galveston tn
leading wool market In the state, b,
securing TO II at least 5000, 900 pound
OF wool the first year that tn,
road would be opened, besides tn
natural Increase incident to in
creased railroad facilities. TIL
cotton warehouses here which
are idle during the dipping season
would afford ample facilities for hand
| ling this wool rs a chipping point L
the Northern markets. These ar
some of the natural advantages tina
the delegation are laying before tn
management of the railroad company
besides the bonus they are prepared Z
offer, The conference has not yet con
oluded, but 30 far the gentlemen from
/ 49, 49,. 4