The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-03
beaumont.
| The county seat of jefferson county.
in which are also situated the sea-
port towns of Sabine Pass and Port Ar

The county seat of Jefferson county
in which are also situated the sea
mort towns of Sabine Pass and Port Ar
thur
Beaumont Is situated on the Neches
river. a navigable stream for ocean steam
ers. which are at present prevented from
entering the river by the shallow waters
of Sabine lake, into which the Nechcs aud
Sabine rivers empty The opening OF
these rivers to navigation by dredging the
lake is a commercial necessity. At pres
emit the great tonnage Of freight, princi-
pally lumber. manufactured ut Beaumont
and other points, is being barged across
the lake for export or shipped BY rail- the
river giving us water rates.
Beaumont Is on the main lines of the
Southern Pacific, the Kansas City. Pitts
burg and Gulf, the Sabine and East Texas.
and is the terminus OF the Gulf. Beaumont
and Kansas City and the Gulf and Inter-
state railroads; has eight radiating lines.
and is the commercial and manufacturing
center OF Southeast Texas, with popula,
ton of fully 5000. She has three saw mills
of the first class, and is the headquarters
and supply point for numerous other large
mills and tram roads north, and Is doing
the principal export business of Sabine
Pass. Her shipments of lumber by rail
alone have amounted to over 1900 car
loads a year.
The freight on lumber alone as billed out
over the Southern Pacific railroad amounts
10 about $50. 900 per month, and the Kansas
City Pittsburg and Gulf railroad is now
hauling large quantities of lumber north
and the trade is in flourishing copd-
ton.
Rice farming Is the principal agricui-
tural industry and is being rapidly in
creased by the construction of several
large irrigation plants. Rice farming is
very profitable, and the county is espe-
Lev don taI 4 h,r .,ff a
flats and numerous gwater courses.
The above are the leading industries
which have caused a steady and substan-
tial growth In Beaumont. Her population
has doubled within the past four years. |
Many new business houses and residences
have been and ARE being constructed, and
yet there are and have been no vacant |
houses in Beaumont the past six years.
fire about year ago destroyed nearly |
a block OF wooden business houses, and |
the burned district has been entirely re-
built with two and three story bricks, ex-
cept one lot, which has been purchased
for $1,000 by Northern capitalists, who will |
construct building at once, and add a
second and much needed bank to Beau
mont.
$4,000 issue of bonds has recently
been provided for by our city council to
be used in improving streets and walks
and franchise granted for an electric
4
city taxes are or'Y 90 cents on the 500. in
Guiding spHcin sc'inol tax of % cents
The bonded Nleh' insss is $4,000 Tax
able values Increased from $1325, 40 In
1895 TO S1,6S7,77o in 1897, and will approxi-
mate SlI5O 600 for the current year on
two thirds valuation
me Increase of last year was partly due
10 the extension OF the city limits. Other
ton.
Beaumont has electric lights. local and
long distance telephones, water works. an
eHlclent fire department. sanitary sewers
IN ne principal business and residence
portion, good public schools. two white and
TWO colored school buildings, Catholic
ernooi building and hospital churches Of
all principal denominations, and an audi
$500 " f'Do'' !
beaumont has an active board Of trade {
% BUSINESS Mems club her citizens are
and progressive TO an unusual q
,uesree and work together in harmony for
ne public good. ]. II. Eastman, Mayor. i