Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-15
An Interesting Narrative Full Of
Information.
Valuable to the Capitalist, Farmer, Cat
tleman, Mechanic and Invalid
Seeking a Change of Base.
Visit to This Growing Texas City Reveals a
Condition OF General Prosperity Pleas
ing in It's Efects-A Graphic
Description.

who have watched the course of events,
but few people comparatively can form a
proper idea as to the extent and magnifi-
cance of the development which has ac-
companied the "booming' towns in
the West and South. The magic touch
of enterprise has changed the primitive
condition of the broad prairies and the
uninhabited valleys of the mountain
districts in a way that is marvellous
indeed. Where, but few short years
ago, the "noble red man. chased
the four footed denizens of the
plains, and where the rock-ribbed
hills reverberated the startling
sounds that came from the throats of
the will beasts, the only occupants of
the valleys, may now be found an ad-
vanced state of civilization and wonder
full evidences of the progressive spirit of
the indomnitable "Yankee. - Within
the ten years which have just ended
numerous cities have been built in the
West and South, which in point of archi-
tectural beauty will compare favorably
with many of the older cities of the East
and North; indeed, in several instances,
the various features worthy of attraction
when judged by comparison.
During the period referred a it has
fallen to my lot to have visite6all the
places that have enjoyed the blessings of
a healthy "boom'' in the different local
tiles mentioned, by the growth of which
men have sprung from poverty to af1nE
ence in a very few years. Real estatS7
values have increased at an incredible
rate, and all who were fortunate in the
possession of that class of property real
lied enormous profits from day to day on
sales. What has been experienced in
the past will no doubt be repeated in thes
future, providing the proper places ase
selected for investments, and they sTa
judiciously made. To the man wh9T
extremely cautious, as well as toHsifn
who is known as ''plungeT, - th9p-
portunities to employ his idle szMtal
are now offered in the great stS9 of
Texas, section of our great ana Fos-
porous nation which is attractiu 9tNn-
drsds and thousands of emigrantsASery
month, not only on account of its sa-
luxurious climate, its vast deposits of
minerals and valuable quarries, but be-
cause of the wonderful fertility and
cheapness of it's soil, the diversity of
whose products is limited only to those
of the temperate and semi-tropical
regions.
A few weeks since took advantage of
an opportunity to visit the Southwest
ern portion of Texas, where 1 found a
condition of general prosperity which
proved source of much surprise. Ths
music of the hammer, the saw and the
trowel and the humming Of machinery in
the mills and other places of industry,
confirmed the conviction that the era of
development was at hand.
AT LAREDO
l found improvements In the way Of large
and substantial buildings in course of
erection and many evidences of a thrifty
growth, which satisfied me that it was a
place destined to become one of the most
important emporiums OF trade in the
whole Southwest. 1t is situated on q
natural esplanade overlooking the Rio
Grande river and affording a birds eye
view of the plains and mountains of Mex
leo most pleasing in its effect. This view
covers an area of several thousand square
miles, and one which will always be
source of attraction to the resident or
visitor. Owing TO the rarified condi-
ton of the atmosphere and the utter
absence of fogs, Laredo will doubtless
become, in the near future, one of the
most popular resorts for invalids in this
country, offering as it does remarkable
advantages to those who are afflicted
with pulmonary or bronchial diseases. 1t
will not only be an attractive location to
the invalid on account Of its superb cli-
matio conditions, but it will also become
desirable as place of residence to the
man of commercial, professional or man
ufacturing pursuits. Its situation, geo.
graphically, is such as to command
the attention of thousands of tourists
and students of the maps, many of whom
in time will show their appreciation OF
that important feature by becoming resi-
dents of the city. 1t is the gateway of
Mexico, being several hundred miles
nearer the gay capital city of our sister
republic from all Eastern points than
any other place on the Rio Grande river,
a fact that is conceded by one or two
pretentious rivals, whose only claims to
future greatness are based upon the
knowledge of their being border towns.
Within the last year Laredo has taken
great strides towards the coveted goal of j.
q metropolitan city. and the opinion
that she will increase in population at
the rate of q yearly average of SO per
cent. during the next five years is fully
justified by the knowledge of the multi
pllcity of her natural advantages. I'M
limited resources and contemplated en-
terprises of public and private charac-
ter. Already the terminus of four lines
tt railway and the site of the machine
shcps of one of tbs greatest railway sys-
TENS in the United States, it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that within eighteen
months there will be an addition of two,
II not three lines, of important railroads
constructed TITO Laredo, which will have
the effect to place the city in the fore
front as a railway center OF the state. As
the terminal point OF seven different lines
of railway, radiating in every direction,
and with all the advantages Of perfect
climate, abundance of minerals, unlim-
tied water supply and millions of acres of
fertile soil of every variety, the future of
Laredo as the metropolis OF Southwest
Texas is assured. With population at
present Of IL ,0Oo souls, it is reasonable
to believe, at a conservative estimate,
that within Eve years the city Of Laredo