Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-06
LAREDO LAUDED.
A Gazette Man Rounds Up a Traveller
and Interviews Him.
He tells Of Laredo's Greatness and Says the
Half Has Not Been Told-some of the
Wonders Enumerated.

turned from trip TO Laredo, and struck
him for an interview, knowing that he
was gentleman who travelled extern
sively in the state and knew every nook
and corner in Texas.
Mr.. Calhoun is a Fort Worth man, but
can recognize a good thing when he sees
it, even outside of Fort Worth, and the
following is the result of the interview:
s'There is a great deal said, both in
and out of the papers, in and out of
Texas, too, as far as that, about Laredo,
or the Two Laredos, as it is often
put Now you have been there, and as
YOU have kept well up with the rapid
progress of Texas, and Texas towns and
cities, as you have paid an occasional
visit to Laredo since the boom struck
her, we believe it will be of some interest
to the public to hear from you. Are the
reports from Laredo exaggerated?
mot in the least. AS far as l have
seen, nothing but substantial facts have
been published in regard to Laredo. 1
have just returned from Laredo, and
have been there frequently, and 1 have
found everything as represented even
better than represented. III tell you,
sir, man with any progressiveness in
his makeup cannot stand on either of
the magnificent steel bridges spanning
the Rio Grande connecting the Laredos
without feeling an inspiration that fore
tells the importance and future greatness
of these two cities, already with popu-
Iation of IS 900. Why, sir, imagine
that vast republic lying to the west and
southwest of Laredo, vast in dimensions
and bOundless in resources. -
% Ruf hold friend (iaJhnO0 6oaa not
the present relations existing between
the United States and Mexico render that
territory comparatively worthless to La
redo, or any other border city, as for
that?"
"Well, now, look here, you certainly
understand what the bulldog tenacity of
American enterprise means, and IN
have you to understand those Spanish
Mexicans are no fools. Things cannot
always exist on the border as they now
are. I do not pretend to say we are 60
ing to have free trade next week, nor
next fall as for that, but just put this
down in your little book, and 1 would
suggest as much TO capitalists hunting
safe investment, tO-wit: Laredo is the
most favorably located city on the Dor
der in many ways, in ways that cannot
be headed off. First, it is 800 miles
shorter route from New Orleans to the
City of Mexico via Laredo than any
other: 400 shorter from st. Louis to the
City of Mexico via Laredo than any 9TH
er. Laredo is already a railroadseenter,
too. Tite International ani' Great
NortherRTEpnning from .3s6Ttheast to
southwest clearly 500 mtlssg across the
richest portSop of the5.state, making
direct comedian for Stss41uis, Chicago
and New Yqgk; 80 Mexican Ma
tiOnal, gfsatrhnk line d.
Mexican Nationaf from Laredo to
Laredo and Sasa Thomas, connecting
Laredo with tfEascoaiAe only twenty
eight miles axseS com Sises the present |
Laredo raisSad systet8. Two other
trunk lines s9 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
to get into HSedo, the Southern Pacific |
and the Arfs3sas Pass. v
"Is LareSo experiencing 8auch of a |
building booR?'
"Nothing$ Xtravagant or reckless has |
the boom at Laredo. 1t is |
called boom just for want of better |
teFm to express the activity manifest on |
8ftry hand. Everybody has heard of |
the Laredo improvement company. II is |
simply composed of a company of live, |
men, who discovered in Laredo |
rich and golden opportunities that had |
been slumbering Rip Van Wrinkle sleep |
for $50 years. They set about to arouse
and develop them, and the results have
not only astonished the improvement !
company, but everybody who has seen or
heard of the results. The most striking
features about the improvements going
on there is the substantial manner in
which the city Is being re-
built-rebuilt, 1 say, for Laredo is
r Spanish built city of adobe
structure and very narrow streets. The
ow, dirt adobe is giving way for the
more stately structure OF brick and iron
and the streets wldened. In less than a
year the eastern portion of the city,
known as the heights, has been dotted
over with elegant and imposing resi-
lences. These heights are reached by
IN electric motor, the prettiest .
operating line ] ever rode on.
Hhe powerhouse of this company is
he Mississippi river. They have five
niles of their line in operation and are
till eXtending-it paid from the first.
An iron foundry on an extensive scale is
ust being put in operation. A WOODEN
|
IND shoe factory are all under way there.
Phe Mexican National machine shops
here are among the most extensive in
he Southwest, and the buildings, round
louse and all, are constituted of brick,
tone and iron. The roundhouse will ae-
forty engines. Laredo has
me of the finest hotel buildings, too, in
he state. As 1 have told you, shoddy
II temporary building has not been
rected' since the developments COM
nenced.'
"Then you think Laredo is a good place,
o invest capital?''
1t is; and it is a delightful place to
i've. The climate is not excelled.
laredo will in a few years become a
oted winter resort. Real estate Is
heaper there to-day than in any city in
he South, everything else being equal. :"
Is little as. you may think of it San An
ohio is realizing strong competitor in
.aredo. With deep water at Arkansas
ASS, which we will have shortly, and a
lodifed tariff, Laredo cannot be held
own. Her location is matohless, and
er territory boundless, and time only |
an tell her rank as a wholesale center
nd distributing point for the two re-
ublics. Yes, sir, 1 do honestly think