Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-09
NO.32--S11.
DENISON.
The Kansas City of Texas and the Gate
way TO the Great Southwest.

Southwest that is just now attracting
the attention of the whole country, and
only few miles south of Oklahoma, is
the beautiful town of Denison, 'sthe
Yankee city of the Southwest" as it is
called in Texas, on account of its first
being settled by Northern men who were
quick to see that from its location it
must become in few years the great
distributing city for Texas and the South
west. A few facts in relation to it may
be of interest to our readers, the more so
perhaps, because so many Vermonters
have lateiy visited it and invested liber-
ally IN enterprises that cannot fail to
more rapidly increase its marvellous
growth. 1t is situated on an elevated
table land, some five miles wide by fif-
teen long. about 200 feet above the Red
River, at the point where this plateau
comes the nearest TO the river being dis-
tant only about four miles from the cen
ter of the city This table land is about
two-thirdS covered with fine growth of
oak, black walnut, etc. and the city is
largely built amid these beautiful groves.
This table land is not level but quite
rolling and broken, affording not only "A
natural drainage for the city but adding
greatly to the beauty Of its location. 1t
was first settled some seventeen years
ago by few far sighted Northern men
who saw that it was the strategic point
in Northern Texas for a great city that
should be the distributing center for the
great Southwest, with its millions and
millions of acres of the richest grazing,
agricultural, fruit and mineral lands in
the world. Much has been said of the
new territory Of Oklahoma, but North
ern Texas has climate more mild and
beautiful, richer lands, greater mineral
wealth and offers far better advantages
TO home and health seekers. 1t is the
only city of any considerable size on the
northern line of Texas. a line reaching
longitudinally distance equal TO that
between Boston and Indianapolis, and is
the natural point for entering Texas
from the North. Ii il reached from this
direction now by the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas railroad, and no less than
three other roads from the North are
building towards t; while from it, tow
ards the South radiate no less than four
great railroads connecting it with every
considerable city and town in Texas,
New Mexico and Mexico II already has
population of over 5000, and although
but little over eleven years old Is one
of the most enterprising cities in the
sLone Star State, and has from its close
proximity TO the Southern and richest
part of the Indian Territory, which is
settled by the civilized Indians. the larg-
est retail trade Of any city in Texas.
Denison is laid out with wide streets
and avenues and has the best water sys-
TEN of any city in the Southwest, where
good water means more even, thar II
does in Vermont. The water is pumped
into "Stand pipe from well sunk
eighty feet deep into the solid sand
stone, underlying the entire table land
upon which the city stands, with cham
oers running out from its bottom 5000
feet uuder Woodland Park. This gives
an abundance of perfectly clear, soft,
pure water.
The city has seven large brick school
houses with spacious grounds around
them. Churches of every denomination,
two daily aud two weekly newspapers.
gas works aud ice factory election lights.
cotton gins, large cotton compress, 80
miles of streets and avenues, five miles of
street railways, As miles of railroad
tracks and side tracks, more than that of
any other city in Texas. The shops and
engine houses of two railroads, month
" railroad pay roll of Sl50,0O0 and is
surrounded on all sides by some of the
finest fruit lands in America. A stay of
several days and rides and walks 10 every
direction around the city showed every
where that this was the home for peach
es, pears, plums apples, grapes, figs, APP
ricots. strawberries, raspberries, black
berries. melons and all kinds of garden
vegetables. a ready market is found for
all such products at Denver and Kansas
CITY. California being the only COM
petitOr and the distance so much greater
Denison has practically a monopoly of
these markets for early fruits and veg
etables. One of the largest nurserymen
and gardeners j. j. 2. Munson, who
keeps an accurate account of the profits
from each crop and he states under oath
that he has netted $500 per acre from as
paragus: $50 from melons: $500 from
sweet potatoes $3.50 from peaches; $500
TO $500 from grapes and $3.50 per acre
from blackberries.
The weather is not extremely hot as
the city is $50 feet above the sea and has
cool beeeze most of the time across
the plains Of Western Texas from the
Rocky Mountains. The thermometer
rarely rises TO 100 and never falls below
zero. and seldom goes below freezing
point.
III tllt HoAtc-A WcAtltl tNtu. tiit UlSuie
are cool and one can sleep with blank
ct over them. Any one coming here
to lind a wild western city
will bel sadly disappointed. The streets
are quiet, day or night and only
and one policeman are re-
quired to keep order in this city OF
Is. 900 inhabitants while dozen do not
make Burlington. VT. as quiet and order
". We saw no drunkenness, no fights,
no cowboys or any disturbance although
We expected to find all these and were so
that we took particular
.rouble TO discovers case of either. A
word as to the character Of its people.
We doubt il there Is city in the coun-
ry to-day whose citizens as a whole are
more hospitable. more refined or better
sducated. Mr.. Stone, the society and f.
lancial editor of the Boston Advertiser.
md a gentleman well qualified 70 speak
With authority saws: lone cannot leave
ia a