San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-03
NORTH TEXAS,
Abilene, Sweetwater and Colorado City
Booming in Great Shape.

Edit or san Antonio Light
COLORADO CITY, February 2j.-What a
vast change in tine past two years has
been made in the development of the
country westward from Fort Worth (the
coming commercial centre of North
Texas in its ownward march to the
position it is destined to occupy IN the
near future. The far-stretching prair-
les OF other days are here and there
having their vastness broken by fences
enclosing fields on which good crops
were raised last year, and many new
ones where the soil has been turned
over the first time, promising TO yield
an abundance Of all kinds OF grain, fruits
and vegetables, as the cultivation con-
tinues. The little towns are going for
ward. too, with the growth Of the COun-
try around, and it Is really surprising 10
see the great number of dwellings and
business houses erected the past six
months, scarcely town bur what has Il
new dress and white apron, while the
largest are really getting into the har-
ness OF modern cities. The last year
has wrought many changes In the ap-
pearance of that always bright town
Abilene. A good many brick stores
and pretty dwellings displace the
hastily built shanties of its
first days. The great improvement is
due largely to the fact that 1t is farm
ing country and many sturdy sons of
"Ihe hoe" do not care to look beyond
Abilene for richness OF soil and good
climate. Sweetwater, growing place
of 1900 people, received this year Its first
shipment OF farm utensils; the men also
came who know how TO use them and
who are determined to have their inilu-
ence known in the forward march to
making Nolan county prosperous one.
IWenty-nine miles westward and here Is
the gem of Western Texas, Colorado
City, that five years ago had nothing but
the blue and sunny skies above and the
spot on which one of the most enteTpris-
ing towns in Texas is built to day, the
homes OF 1000 people, proud to help
beauty and magic growth. The streets
are clean, wide and level, and on each
side in the business part of town are
built spacious brick buildings, mostly
two stories high, where are kept as large
and handsome stocks OF merchandise Ms
can be found in very pOpulous COun-
try. Foremost among them is the
mammoth store of the RiOrdan Walker
Dry Goods Company, managed by
Mr.. w. 5. Walker, a perfect merchant;
SO well anu laVOraDly known Dy every
body here that this store is called 1.-THE
Beehive" by his many warm friends.
The genial countenanCe of MIR. Sher-
win, the chief loOker-on, wears extra
smiles, which means that business is
good at 1.-THE Beehive"
Colorado City has recently put in
complete system OF water-wOrks, is
talking up the gas question, wants the
Santa Fe railroad and will most likely
get 1t. Her 100000 offer Ia magnificent,
and means she has the money to put up.
Four hotels give a hearty welcome TO
guests, and the churches are an orna-
ment and hope as useful to this pretty
town. A splendid $4,000 courthouse
graCes the public square. There are
many pretty dwellings tastefully and
comfortably built for our Southe I'm
CLINE.
AS yet there is bur little farming done
here, but the time is coming when
plowmen Will appear to stay. The trade
IS with the stOckmen who are numerous
hereabOuts. they are to have 4 grand
ball ut the close, of their convention,
March 4th. A prominent dry goods
clerk was heard to remark that 1.-THE
calls for 50 cents cream cOlOred satin
were very numerous in consequence"
and with a sigh added the corner saloon
would sell all The 81 champagne on hand.