Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-29
WICHITA FALLSCOUNTRY
A Few Points About the Country Gained
from Personal Observation.
The Peoples 81 TEN of Cirrusing Informa.
ton Success-~Ome of the
Direct RESULTS.
WICHITA FALLS. Tex. March q. 1sg

WICHITA FALLS. TEX, March IS, 1890.
Editor Gazette:
1t is with much pleasure that I write
some impressions of this place and the
surrounding country, gained from prac-
teal observation
At this season the country Is alive with
men and teams putting in spring crops,
and everywhere there are evidences that
the country is being rapidly settled up.
The newly broken ground in every direc-
ton attest that sturdy population has
got hold OF thousands Of farms,
and that mixed industry is taking the
place of the range cattle business. As u
consequence roads and bridges, fences,
farms and comfortable homes give the
surrounding country an air Of stability
strikingly III contrast with many sections
of the Southwest.
Among the agencies which have aided
materially to this desirable result Is the
system successfully in operation adopted
by the people of the Wichita country.
At the head of this system Is Mr.. John
Howard, practical, earnest worker, as
full of ideas as an egg is full of meat.
His theories are reduced to practical
work and the exhibits of grains, grasses,
vegetables and fruit near the Fort Worth
railroad depot are daily visited by
travellers who have nearly half an
hour for examination. There is
first the exhibit, next courteous, we'll
informed people to give information,
then a variety of printed matter for dis
tribution. A striking instance am per-
sonally cognizant f: The Colorado and
Wyoming delegations, on their way TO
the Fort Worth convention, had a
little more time than usual, and
one and all embraced the opportunity of
investigating the resources of the coun-
try along the Panhandle route. On
their return, lists embracing several
hundred names were left with Mr.. How
ard for present and future information
to be sent to friends in every part OF
the country. l am Informed that this
system is kept up by business men and
property owners OF Wichita Falls by VOL
untary monthly contributions. 1t beue-
fits not only the city, but the whole
country tributary to this point.
To an unprecedented observer It would
seem that the counties interested should
defray the expenses of so valuable q
means of bringing capital and population
TO them, by donations from the public
fund.
Among the direct results of this ex-
hibit was this: Mr.. Henry Gebh ardt,
president Of the Denver packing com
panY, and one OF the largest hog buyers
of the city, was one of the Colorado
delegation. Immediately on looking
through the exhibit he said, az must stay
over and see the hogs they talk about. -
He did SO, and remarked to the writer
At Fort Worth, THAT stop over is worth
all the expenses. of the trip to me- He
also said the stock suited him ands he
should buy in this section. The prob
able results will be the purchase
of hogs here, the raising more hogs,
that will eat more gram, bring money at
all seasons of the year to producers, aud
give the railroads more carrying trade.
1t is suggested that all hog raisers
tributary to Wichita Falls prepare a
statement OF hogs ready for sale say
weekly, and send it through the Immi-
grafton association to buyers, and also
arrange for a market report from Den
yer.
I had heard quite little about this
place being the ''Center of the Wheat
Belt, - and / am now fully convinced
that it Is entitled TO that name.
Meeting Mr.. Mark Evans of Fort
Worth here, who is a practical miller,
he informed me that his company has
just arranged for and let the contract to
build q five hundred bushel capacity
roller mill and three hundred thou
sand bushel elevator, and this of itself
speaks columns for the present and flu
ture prospects of this town aud county.
WILLIAM HOLLY.