Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-21

Inc people are hbfalRntfOTWnfog lnuuctIl-
Gus and hospitable, wlthal; and all who
are seeking new homes In the great
Southwest will be amply repaid by per-
sonal inspection Of the county. The coun-
ty has no debt, leyylng tax Of only 32
cents on the one hundred dollars. The
climate Is delightful, the mean tempera-
ture In summer being about So, and in
winter 45' Fair, the advantage OF its
natural drainage making one Of the health
lest localities to be found anywhere.
In summing up, the readers attention
Is called TO the fact again that this is no
fancy sketch gotten dp to deceive the un-
wary, but a simple statement Of facts, the
half OF which have not been told. The
wheels of progress Ia Van Zandt have
been cloggcd TO some extent by the In
nuendoes and slurs cast upon II by jeal-
Gus rivals on account OF little trouble
which took place between opposing fac
lions some years ago, and this uniortun-
ate affair has been harped upon by inter-
ested parties elsewhere, who had nothing
but mercenary motives to subserve and
hellish spleen 10 vent. But these troubles
have all passed away and are even for
gotten by some who were familiar with
them at the time.
| There IL not more quiet, law-abidng,
law-upholding, God fearing people within
the borders Of the state OF Texas than
are 10 be found right here in Van Zandt
county.
1 Take II all In all Van zandt is about the host
/ poor mans county In the state, peculiar COM
blnation OF clrcumsthnc' having always com
bined 10 keep the price Of goporr0n OF her
| productive lands down remarkably low-lfer
roll Star.
! Commenting on the above briefly, IT.
might be said that Cincinnati had a RIOT
few years ago that was not only a dis
grace to Ohio, but TO civilization. But
everything is quiet there now; property
is safe; society Is restored 20 It's former
equilibrium. Peace reigns, and all Is for
! gotten.
| Van Znndt county had no riot, nor any
thing approaching 10 IL, but simply mis-
understanding on question OF q local
nature which was sought 20 be settled
| by force Of arms, instead Of an appeal TO
the courts. But the hot blood cooled;
better counsel prevailed; the matter has
all been settled by the courts, and settled
forever. There Is no lawlessness here.
The past is forgotten Brothcrly love
relgns supreme.
Edgewood, and Grand Saline are two
small stations on the railroad, and Can
ton, thirteen miles southeast OF Wills
| Point, Is the county seat. IL IL town
OF about 400 inhabitants, has several
stores, two good hotels, and one news
paper, the Texan-Tclephone, edited and
published by Mr.. Ed. Foster. 1t is u
weekly, slx-column folio, and we are in
formed, has good circulation.
WILLS POINT,
the principal receiving and distributing
depot, the largest town in Van Zandt
county, Is the creation of the Texas &
| Pacific railroad. 1t IN located ON the d.
vide between the Sabine and Trinity and
is the highest point between Marshall
and Fort Worth, The town Is beautiful
| ly situated on the edge OF the prairie and
has Il population OF about 1900, estimated
on the ratio OF increase since the last
census.
The major part of the business Is trans
acted in good, substantial brick build
ings. 1t Is not Il town OF mushroom
growth, peculiar TO many railroad towns,
but since II was first laid out II has had
steady, healthy growth, and from the
natural advantages of its location will at
no distant day be the most important city
between Dallas and Shreveport. 1t IL not
only in the center OF one OF the finest agrl-
cultural districts to be found anywhere,
but the large amount of hard woods so
near 1t will evidently make 10 manufac-
turing town In the near future.
The residences are mostly neat cot
tages, with grounds tastefully laid out and
adorned with flowers and shrubbery. In
TACT, there are evidences OF taste, culture
and refinement TO be seen on every hand
The people are hospItable, cordial and
courteous, without ostentatlon or bigotry
without fear or contradiction II may be
said that wills Point Is one of the
healthest towns In the Southwest, there
being only seven deaths recorded In eigh-
teen months. II ls Incorporated and
kept in good sanitary condition, and quiet
and peaceable at all times, especially on
Sunday, when you can scarcely hear
plank walk or gump drop Copyright se-
cured) and all joking aside, is q very de-
slrable place TO live.
! Five religious bodies hold services reg
ularly, viz; Methodist, Baptist, Chris
tian, and Old School and Cumberland
Presbyterian. There are three Sunday
| schools, all well attended and In flour
lshlng condition. The Presbyterian and
Methodist congregation worship In their
own churches. The Christians have
bought lot, and have almost enough
money subscribed to erect building, and
rs the teaching Of this people is becom-
ing' known their membership IL rapidly
Increasing Much interest Is manifested
In religious matters here by all believers
IN Christianity, aud they work unani-
mously together without respect 10 doc
trlnes, creeds, schisms or dogmas.
The schools are OF the best to be found.
Froi, Cowlcs, principal OF the high
! school, Is an educator of the first rank.
Plain, practical, experienced, torcible,
yet gentle and klnd-hcaited, he COM
mauds the love and respect OF his pupils
| and the esteem OF the people.
wills Point has sixty-six business
houses, as follows; Dry-goods and gro
ceries 6, groceries 8, bakeries aud con
iectloneries 2, drug stores 8, saloons 4,
bankers 2, hotels B, lumber yards 3. liv-
cry stables 2, lawyers Q, lauudrles l. mill
liners |, restaurants 2, newspapers |
physicians 4, shoe shops |, undortakers /
wagon-makers and blacksmlths 8, hard
ware dealers |, tin shop /, cotton yards
2, painters 2, BARRIERS 2, cotton gins 2,
grlst mills ., express Offices 2, dentist |
jewelers. ?, contractors and builders 9,
There Is also nice, large
opoia-house, with good stage, scenery
and al the necessary belongings
It would be impossible in any reasona-
HE space 20 mention all the business
houses In detail, but only the more pub
lic'spiritcd and whom your correspondent
''mteryiewed,n without any offense, OF
course, to the others. We begin with
MEssRs NEARBY s McHesNRY,
lawyers and land agents, because they
are at the head OF our list. These gem