Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-14

an equally hopeful company. Port Ia.
vuca WAS then a lively SEAPORT tufnmis-
sion town Of about 5000 people. Morgnn
had not undertaken TO build ludianoln
and struggling Galveston was considered
The only Gulf coast rival worthy of seri-
Gus thought Vessels came In daily from
the biz seaports Of the Atlantic coagt
and Europe loaded with merchandise.
thore was no net work Of railroads in
the interior as now and the thorough
fares of the booming little emporium werc
daily blocknded with the Anticipated OK
teams from interior Texas points and
far away Mexico.
The gold, silver and lead ores from Chi.
huahua and COahuila furnished trade
equally with the cotton, corn. hides pnd
other farm products from the rich val.
leys aud prairie districts Of Texas
The musical lingo of the swarthy son
of the land of the Montezumas mingled
with the tersc English Of the American
aud Germans, Frenchmcn. Spaniarls.
Italians aud citizens Of other nations
who spoke foreign tongues were familnr
hgures ON the streets and IN the walks
or business, Each sun seemed 10 rise
upon better and more hopeful day for
the young giant Of commerce and her
citizens confidently looked forward 10
the time not far away when she would
stand the proud mistress 10 which tho
trade of all Texas would pay nprpctu,l
tribute, Il was under these conditions
Tint railroad talk began. The talk took
like wild fire and the people became
restless 10 see their city connected with
the broad interior hy bands of iron. A
company was hastily formed 10 build me
tne as before stated % be known az the
san Antonio and MrEican Gulf rnilrond
company. Work was begun nt Port In
Yncn and the boaetful claim was Tint
tho road would be COMPLETED aud I'm on
Grafton 10 Victoria early In the winter
Of 1896 aud 81, but it WIS found that
Che track would not be finished from
Tort Lavoca 60 the five-milc point out
ON the prairie in time 70 comply with tho
terms OF the charter.
1t was a cool chilly day IN March
lSDt when Mr.. Dan Harvey stll a rcsi
uent OF Fort Lavaca and who was oi
pointed by Superintendent VIM iSeen
TO oversee track laying, came into town
Nhu announced the trun situation To-
The citizens Tho charter was obobt
90 expire, labor was scarce aud could moi
hc employed nt any figure and Il became
eNuent That the citizens had 10 act on
the cherished popular enterprise ,,ould
he wrecked. The patriotic chord VIVA
touched aud the male residents turned
out en- mass and went 10 work ON mo
Track with the little gang Of day nboro,w
Inc merchant the lawyer, the doctnr
the clerk, the minister of the rosppl iii
turned ont and carried and laid rails and
cross Hes aud demanded not cent of
reward Several days of free labor was
EiVch To the company despite the most
nheral announcement IL had received
from the generous people aud stnto GOV.
ernment The five miles was completed
una the charter saved. but n wns two
years more before the track reached
Victoria, for numerous difficulties 6n1n.
clai and otherwise and not antlcipoted
NJ irNt arose and hampered the too mucb
cnthusod company.
lhesr occurrences are well known IN
many ciiiZcus Of the older class now liy.
nF IN victoria and Cucrn and othor
Layacl and constiuncs nm ,myyriltnn
part OF the railroad history of the cmpiro