Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-10-05
AGGRESSIVE DALLAS.
STORY OF HER GROWTH READS LIKE
A ROMANCE.
How the Commercial Club and the
Trade League Have Contributed TO
the Towns Prospcrity-Expcns OF
Visiting Merchants Paid.

the -
Visiting Merchants Paid.
When John Neclcy Bryan made his
camp nearly co years ago in the will
derness now known as the city OF Dal-
las, his dreams of future greatness and
prominence were probably limited to
the establishment of trading post for
Indians and the few white settlers then
in this part of Texas. Bryan's dreams
were realized. Other frOntiersmcn
Joined him in developing the embryo
city which was TO be the commercial
metropolis of the southwest The waS-
on train was the only means of trans
portation, and the telegraph and tclc-
phone were unknown. Dallas grew I'M
til today the story of her growth reads
like n romance.
In population Dallas county heads
the list in Texas, with more than So
OOO nearly 10000 of whom receive mail
at the Dallas postOtficc. This splendid
showing is due in the main to the well
directed efforts of the Dallas business
men and the Commercial club. They
have not been unmindful of the fact
that an inland city to succeed must
have a good rural backing. Agricul-
ture is the foundation of manufacture
as the products of nature are the ma
terials of art therefore the Dallas bust
ness men have been aggressive in
b, in, which thnir
interest is secondary only to their in
terest in the city.
The city Of Dallas, according to the
recent census reports, has nearly 300
manufacturing enterprises, which en-
brace nearly everything used in the
modern city or country home. The
saddlery, harness and leather manu-
featuring business of this city is the
largest in the south, including the
largest individual factory. The COM
bined floor space of these institutions
amounts to nearly half a million square
feet. These factories are equipped
with the best machinery and are
worked TO their full capacity the year
round.
III Ill uiJICllitItN l'dlI'io -
also pre-eminent. Every leading make
of reapers. mowers thrashers plows
Of all kinds, In fact every known farm
implement used from planting time to
harvest, is to be found In Dallas. The
various manufacturers of these imple-
ments have established southwestern
headquarters here, and many immense
hull In nP
these institutions, are the result. The
wholesale implement and machinery
trade is enormous and the territory
that is covered is greater than that of
any other distributing point in Amer
lea.
The cotton ginning machinery manu-
factories of Dallas are very large con-
Germs, and the many well known
makes of gins, presses and other ac-
cessories so familiar to cotton growers
in the south are made in the great fac
tories of this city.
The vehicle business while not the
largest in the west. is growing rapidly.
and at the present rate of increase will
soon take first place among the other
great enterprises.
Some of the largest wholesale drug
houses In the southwest are located in
Dallas and enjoys a large and profit
able trade not only with surrounding
towns. but. in addition, with other
states and territories and the republic
of Mexico.
Financially Dallas Is equal to any
commercial industry that may arise.
Her banking Institutions are sound as
the national currency itself and have
all the capital they can profitably han
die.
The importance of Dallas as a hog
market is well known. There are two
packing houses here, and the Dallas
Union stockyards are the most convcn-
lent south of Kansas City. The high
est prices are paid for hogs and cattle,
and the squeal of the porker the
lowing of the cattle and the bleat-
ing of the sheep may be heard at all
times.
Dallas owes her Importance as cot
ton market to the efforts of the Com
mercial club. In 1897 this body origi-
mated the plan of paying premiums to
farmers who marketed their cotton in
this city. The farmer may bring his
cotton here, store it and insure ii free
of cost and hold it until he is ready to
sell. The banks will advance money
equal to three-fourths OF its value. This
plan has proved a success from its in
ception.
The Dallas Trade league is an organ
iZation for the promotion and extern
sion of wholesale business. The motto
of the league is, Come to see us; we
want to know you" This organization
invites the country merchant to Dallas
10 do business with them, and he is a
guest while here. and his expenses are
betrayed by the league.
The business men of Dallas have a
faculty of making new customers as
well as holding the old ones, as was cv-
idenced by the recent trade excursion
through the Indian Territory and Ok
lahoma. On many occasions people re-
marked You people are different from
your northern competitors. They are
too formal and cold blooded. You treat
ms like brothers and make us feel that
we had known you always"
So much for the commercial suprem-
ncy of Dallas. She is peOpled by men
of liberalty and progress; also. by vir-
tue of her natural resources, is the
trade metropolis of the southwest, Her
growth is rapid and substantial, bust