Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-10-06


died fIom the poisonous shaft of the
Couanche while haroicslly battling for
lie 81d property. Oilers Ct those cour
ageous old pioneers were mere fortunate
aad still live in this country, End are to-
osJ in the full enjoyment CT the rich re.
ward Of their undsunted coursge. a true
and complies history OF the tsrdships and
heroism Of the early settlers OF the Abb
lene country ia more thsn could be given
N speech. Such 8 history would Ill
oook, the reading CT which by the youth
Of to-day would "ha-roH up their souls,
freeze their young blood, Cause
their eyes like stars to start
from their spheres, their knotted snd
combined locks TO part, aud esen psrtic-
uisr hair to stand or end ike pristles
upon the rezor-backed hog. This last
quotation may not be altogether correct,
cut Il Gil goes in the glorious climate of
the Abilene country.
With the advent OF the Texas and Pa
citc Riilrnsd through this country in
1880 and 1881 s crest change followed. A
neavy immigration followed, settling
mostly along the line OF The railroad, ana
| the br If, lo and the Indian fell back into
the mountains west Of the Rio PscOe.
Tne man with the hoe msde his sppear-
ence on the scene. Farms snd farm
houses began to appear slong the beau;i
ia valleys Of our water courses. Towns
and cities sprspg up along the line of
| railroad like msgic, and on every hand
VAS TO be seen evidence of thrift, enter
| prise snd high order of civilization.
Through the enterprising and untiriEg
energy Of the West Texas press, the msny
| natural snd acquired advantages that
| mis- country possessed were made known
the outer world, and that class seek
ing new fields for prof,sbla investment,
Or fields for the pursuit # business,
sleek raising, farming or professional
C3llirg, contiL ue to come Ia AID locate,
SID not desiring TO poaaes9 Gil the j1ye
and contentmeEt incident &c the Abilene
country, they would write back to their
folks, thei, wives people away back in
Arkansas and ether states, and their
graphic descriptions oi the country. its
rich valleys end prairiee, its sparkling
| @elers, guI Cling spsiug5 and delightful
climsts, suca IS is found only in she abb
lepe coultEy, served TO "fetch" them
until to-day thu country Cesi9nated IL
Vest Texas his.orvss the Abilene country
embracing about 5000 lqu.Ie miles mas .
population CT Tot less man 5000 iode
pendent and prosperous people, g people
Who in point Of intelligence Will compare
isvorsbly with the most enlightened por-
tioa Of our continent.
Assembled here today in this beauh-
| full city of Abilene, where ten years ego
the virgin soil had not been disturbed,
where the slightest marx Of civilization
| had not been made, We meet f;ce to
face with large c0rcourSe OF people,
| 10000 perhaps, sturdy farmers, STOCK
men, trsdesnen, il fsc: sll classes are
well represented and the spirit Of con-
tantment iliumina.es the happy faces Of
all. As true picture CT health and nap
piness who would go further to fad one
more striking or intense than in the as
sembly or ladies, gentlemen, children
snd babies gathered here to-day?
The stately blocks OF brick and stone
buildings, the handsome residences, COM
fcrtable school houses and substantial
church edifces, with their spires pointing
silently heavsnwsrd from every city and
town OF the Abilene country, al give ey.
depce OF the high order OF our moral aId
Christian civilization.
This district fair WAS inaug lrsted by
the farmers, scoCkmep, Merchants and all
classes Of our cit.zsns tna. they might
| get together, interchange friendly greet
! i1E, compare notes, get Better acquainted,
recount the incidents, and by compsri-
son CT the products of the farm snc
ranch from different sections, stir up &
spirit OF rivalry thsG would prove benef-
ci3l TO all. Another reason is thst the
visitors from abroad by an examination
Of the products OF the country exhibited
mere c-day might be able better to Judge
CT the strength and fertility Of cur soil,
its sdap.ability to the cultivation ct the
stsples, fruite, vegetables aid fl1wers
ss well as to the growing OF live stock.
We have many Distinguished visitors here
who have honOTed u with their presence,
| for which we thank them. We have 8
grand county. We know II, and Wsnt
the word TO know iG. To ghe home
seekers, il there Is such here to-day, who
are hunting homes ID county where
teGlth ID unsurpassed, lands cheap, easy
Of tillsge and intensely productive, wnere
church and school facilities are superior,
We invite them cordially TO come % the
Abilene countrT, Ctst tteir lot, ard help
Us to make OF this the garden Spot Of
Texas.
| Now, fellow cit,zsns, If yoa will pardon
me for he tax On your time and patience,
l will huno!y thank you, aud give wsy for
the slow-muie rsce.
The programme OF the day WIS inter-
spefsed with music by the Bufslo Gap
brsss b&nd. The JUICES did rot have
their swsrds resGy to-day. The district
fair has been grand thing for the Abb
lene country. [! has placed the country
before the world in its proper light, snd
It's results Will be grand beyond question.