Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-17
VELASCO.
MAGIC GROWTH OF TIE YOUNG
DEEP WATER PORT.
Fifteen Hundred Inhabitants and Two
Hundred Houses-Contract Let FOR
Electric Street Railway.
Correspondence of Gazette.

Correspondence of Gazette.
VELAsCo, BRAzoRIA COUNTY, TEXAS, Nov.
12,-F'ifty-two days ago today, l left Velas-
co, after spending twenty-one days
aiding, in modest way, to dress
the babyseaport town in its
'swaddling'' clothes-a sort of town mid
wifery function. if you will allow the eX-
preston. Then there were probably four
hundred inhabitants, three or four shanties
and two moderately respectable houses,
the balance of the populace were in tents
and hammocks and cots, under the liveOak
trees. Such is fair description at that
time. Then I slept in hammock, cot, or
leaned against tree and TOUCHED it, out
the best | could. Tonight ] am quartered
in a magnificent hotel of one hundred rooms,
finely furnished throughout, lighted by
electricity, and heated by steam, and as l
take my meals in the spacious dining hall,
and look out either of the windows, at the
waving banana trees and blooming flowers
in the yard, l could hardly believe my
senses. Seventy-five days ago, where this
hosiery of comfort and luxury, flowers
and tropical plants now stand, was tangle'
of brush, veritable jungle. The trans
formation is equal to fairy tale, yet true,
and in all other branches the development
has been as great and rapid as in the hotel
facilities.
Now, if you will listen will tell you in a
EelSIdL WY NudG L We seen anu uedTU on
the streets of Velasco to-day, and later will
give you some figures and facts on health,
lay of the country, altitude, business, in
veStments. etc.
First, they are awfully busy in every
thing, day and night. It's near the wee
sma' hours now, the rattle of unloading lum-
Der and the peculiar song of the negroes
below the wharves indicates activity there,
while the yo-hee and rumble at the wharf
prove they are still unloading. and the
streets are almost as lively as Dallas or
Fort Worth on show day. There are a
great many people, too, Of all sorts, trades
and professions, constantly moving, coming
and leaving; and the man that drinks is
here too, and tie place to get the drink is
is here also, but he departs unannounced
as soon as he begins his little game. He is
not allowed on the ground.
The hustle and stir is infectious and Pc
culiarly interesting to Northwest Texan
at this date, especially when he learns that
it is cash deal, and they don't squabble
over the change. Why. the negroes shoot
craps down here for % cents a throw, and
seem to care as little fer losing q dollar or
two as real estate men do in some sections
of the state about paying their bills. Par
don me for leading you into crap game;
it's a natural weakness, and I've been see
ing the city to-day.
how the infant mas grown can be mag
ined by comparison. Velasco now numbers
one thousand two hundred Or one thousand
FIVE hundred Inhabitants, and has between
one hundred and seventy-five and two hun
dred houses, five double brick two-story
business houses under contract, another.
same dimensions, just finished and one
partly up, 600 feet of wharves just completed
ana more under contract. The Velasco and
Surf Side street railway company have Just
let their contract for an electric line, which
will be commenced at once, and will encir-
Gle the town and run TO Surf Side, making
line Of nine miles. The Velasco terminal
railroad grade will be completed to Che
mango. twenty-five and one-half miles, by
the 18th. Ties are on the ground, also the
construction engine and ten cars More
will arrive in day or two. The first YES
sci OF steel rails is past due. Delay is
caused by the vessel going Itocthe aid of