Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-15

friend in Chicago, who among other
things says: 1T is generally understood
and believed up this way that Jay Gould
has purchased the Arkansas Pass rail-
road, and if he has you can rest as
suTed he has not done SO
without securing control of
the telegraph lines on its
right of way. IL he has not purchased
the railroad in all probability he has been
negotiating for that telegraph system,
and l should not be surprised If he had in
some way secured control of it or tied
them up in such way that they are
unable TO do anything with it2
"As confirming what my friend saws IN
this letter, the sale of the Arkansas Pass
telegraph lines was officially an
nounced some days ago. Now the
question is, does this mean the
opening wedge to Mr.. Gould IS
purchase Of the Arkansas Pass railroad?
There are those who think it does. This
railroad reaches q number of the best
points in Texas. With headquarters at
San Antonio, it takes in Arkansas Pass I,
Corpus Christi, Rockport, Yoakum /,
Houston Galveston, Austin, Waco, Kerr
vile and many other good points. 1t is 4,
believe, the intention to ex-
tend it to the Llano iron mines
at an early day, as well as
to Fort Worth, Dallas and New Orleans
This road was the salvation of San An
tonic, and it happened in this way. Let
me tell you.
"Years ago, say in 1868 and 1865,
along up TO the time the railroads came
in, San Antonio was a great trading
and Indians m m q
great distances with their gold, silver
corn, etc., which they exchanged with
the San Antonio merchants for goods,
which were hauled from Corpus Christi
on the gulf coast to San Antonio in wag-
ous, when the South Pacific and
International railroads came along and
went through, all of sudden. san
Antonio IS trade was cut off, and FL Peso,
Laredo and the other score of towns
along those roads came in Tor their
share. Then it was that the wise onesSof
San Antonio, who wanting to live there,
determined to have a city there.
The San Antonio and Aranssf
Pass railroad was consequently buzz
and it has been a great success.
San Antonio at once became great sob
bling point and the history of the business
of the city really began. And Its growth
has been marvellous, Notwithstanding
many drawbacks on account of its peeu-
liar environment, owing principally to
the old regime, the city's business has
not only doubled and quadrupled but in
creased hundred fold within the past
ten or fifteen years. 1t is now a thriving
business point with 8 population think of
over 60 900 rather than under, and con-
tinually improving in every way. San
Antonio to me is the most charming
place to live ever saw. Its climate is
simply perfect. And the strangest part,
although it is already quite q city, you
never saw place with so much to do be-
fore It will become city-at least such q
city as We know to-day. So l figure It
out If has it so much already
and yet needs to do so
much, that Il will take at least double
the population TO secure metropolitan
ways for what there is already thereto
say nothing OF any new things coming in
which, however, is not saying that
other new things will not come IN, and
that they are not most welcome, for they
are coming every day, and San Antonio
is one OF the most Wholesome thriving
business points in the country. But /
was attempting to give you some idea OF
the city e peculiarity. Why. they told me
that up to two years ago there was NOT
foot OF paving or sewerage in the city i.