Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-02-09
THE CITY OF DALLAS.
lsperIal correspopdencc.l

ffhHhN - Hhfft ~ p' Niif Bf1i WY
In the state, but this Is disputed by
partisans Of both Houston and San
Antonio. The real population is pos.
sibly G00O0. although 10000 is claim
cd Only short time win be spent
here owing the fact that Texas Is
big state to cover. Being at Fl
Worth II was decided 10 enjoy ride
over the electric line Just completed
between the two cities Dallas is 81
miles from n. Worth. and It takes
Just an hour and o half to make the
trip. cars leaving each city every
hour Round trip tickets are sold for
s. - and n is needless to state that
the road II well patronized. The
Texas Pacific railroad also runs trains
every two hours. thus affording quick
and easy transit Dallas Is not a rail-
road center like Fl Worth, and II
II had not the start Of It's growing RI
val Ia age and monied interests.
would soon be dlatsnced. As II Is
Dallas is growing rapidly and many
handsome structures arc In course OF
erection One noticeable thing iB the
narrow streets and still narrower
sidewalks The first are not over 80
feet ON an average between curb and
curb. while sidewalks in the main por
ton Of the city run from eight TO ten
foot Il is said that some of the larg
csi Wholesale houses In the west are
located here and the city claims to
be tho largest implement distribut-
lng l,oinl In the United States. There
are several firms handling farm i'm
piem.nts. having large buildings and
warehouses Failing In with one of
the public spirited citizens of the city.
we were shown many points Of inter
est. including n visit To the tower of
the county court house. rising nj
least 100 feet above the tallest build.
uEE and amording an excellent view
of the city and surroundings To the
north ~ us flowed the Trinity river.
and great was our astonlshment when
Informed that II was the stream for
which an appropriation Of 100000
had been secured from the govern
ment 10 straightcn and deepen the
channel 10 the gulf Tor nayIgablc pur-
poses Tho stream NJ Dallas 1is not
ovrr 2b feet across At tho widest point
aud locks Ike an eastern brook. And
this appearance II continued almost to
the gulf The money appropriated
was mostly used In clearing the sides
from Uycrhanging timber. and some
little dredging has been engaged in
near the mouth II is planned TO con
struct n syBtem of locks and gain for
Dallas the name Of seaport city.
and thus obtain water rates. an ad-
vantage that means much In many
ways. That the stream can be made
unylgablc for boats drawing over Ave
feet OF water IN out of the question.
except by tho expenditure OF fabulous
sums ~ money. However. we can
not help but admire the nerve OF n
people that would urge appropriations
and secure same for such an en-
terpriae.
There nro some very handsome and
substantial residences In the commo.
dious southern style. There Is said to
be considerable wealth here. and
while some are dubious as to FIT
Worth outsirippng the city from n
commercial Htnndpolnt, the average
Dnlinaito is welded to his city and
suyH it 10 going to continue the me.
tropols md commercial center.
The negro population Is largely In
evidence aud one encounters more
shnclls. apparently ready to tumble
over than in northern cities. These
sharl,s are built ON stlts. as It were.
like All southern cities There are no
collars on account OF dampnoss. and
from one To two feet OF space from
the ground Is given all buildings with
simple corner undorpinnings and oc'
casionnl side supports.
Tho surrounding farming sections
are IN hard straits. as drouth has pre-
vailed the past two years. last year
many a farmer not growing sufficient
tn feed his family. let alone having a
surplus for sale The territory cover
ed between Dallas and Fl Worth is
largely agricultural. but desolation
prevails owing TO the drouth and un.
less crops Brc raised this wear. occu'
pants OF lands win have to move out.
~ the present lime the outlook is ia.
yurablc, unless too much rain falls.
which has been the ease the past few
months, and farmers are patiently
waiting for The ground to become dry
enough to pillow THIS drouth condi-
tion has only prevailed In certain por.
tiuns Dallas and ~ Worth are over
ln0 miles from the gulf coast and
while the winter So tar has been very
mild. not requiring an overcoat at any
time. II may turn on cold at any time
passing the freezing point many
irgroos Now and then one observes
= troo In bud and some yards quite
verdani, but for most part there is no
vegetation. with average seasons
tine crops are raised, aud with the cat.
uc industry plenty prevails.
From this point our tickets read to
Galveston whore the storm OF two
wears ngu raised such havoc X
STATE LEGISLATURE NOTES.
\ railway commission bill has
A. ~ {,