Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-10
INDUSTRY OF DALLAS
Most Enterprising of All
Southern Cities.
DEM Al D FOR LABOR
MECHANICS AND ARTISANS OF
EVERY CRAFT WANTED.
Regular and Gradual Growth Due to
Big Crops and Good
Prices.
DEM AND FOR LABOR
BY WILLIAM r.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The and the Chicago
Record Herald.
DALLAS, Texas, July 1 1905
Dallas Is the Chicago Of the southwest
the most enterprising and extravagant of
all southern cities, the busiest and most
boastful 1t Is more like a northern city
than any place 1 have seen south Of the
Ohio river. There Is good reason for
this. for half the population are northern
people, who have set the gait. and most of
the capital has come from the north Farm
ers in the adjoining country have adopted
northern machinery. and methods Secre-
tary Wilson has done a great deal to en-
courage the development. Five years ago
nearly every farmer was raising cotton ex-
clusively. but since that time they have d.
versiffed their crops, and have found it
greatly to their profit
The great disadvantage is the lack of la
Dor. There is demand here for mechan-
les and artisans Of every craft, as well as
for common labor, and the wages are high.
III the workingmen who are crowded to-
gether In Chicago, Philadelphia, New York
and other cities of the north could realize
how much better off they would be down
here. and how much healthier and happier
their families would be, perhaps some of
them might come and enjoy the advantages
which are offered in this section. There is
room for everybody, work and wages for
everybody and wealth to those who know
an opportunity when they see one and have
the brains to utilize 1t. Never has there
been such an increase in population in
trade, in building. In values and In every re-
spect as has occurred in Dallas during the
last five years. and during the last two
years everything seems to have doubled.
Regular and Gradual Growth.
DIT
1t has been regular and gradual, and has
been due to big crops and good prices.
There has never been a failure Of crops In
this part of the country. This prosperity
has attracted millions of dollars Of northern
money for investment. and has brought
down a great many people from the north
and also from the southern states. The
federal census of 1900 gave Dallas AZ, 63S in
habtants. but since then two or three sub
urban towns have been absorbed, which
has added considerably to the population,
and the directory census of June, 1904.
showed 1876 inhabitants. 1t is believed
that not less than 10000 persons have come
in during the past year. which will bring
the total population up to about 5000 peo-
pie. The citizens have formed "One Hun
dred and Fifty Thousand Population Club"
which Is acting as an immigration agency,
and they intend to bring the population up
to that figure before the next federal CEN
sus is taken in 1910.
Rivalry With Fort Worth.
Like the rivalry between St Paul and
Minneapolis. SO Is the rivalry between Dallas
and Fort Worth. the two cities being only
thirty-fve miles a part and connected by
a trolley line. which carries one across In
an hour and half. The road Is owned by
Cleveland people. 1t is rather singular
that there should be two such populous and
enterprisng cities 80 near together. and I
mi do two hn
even II l knew Them because 1t is a very
delicate subject. When you are In Fort
Worth 1t Is necessary for your peace of
mind. as well as your popularity. to admit
that 1t Is the greatest town on earth. and
when you cross over to Dallas you must
instantly recognize the superiority of that
city
Fort Worth has always been the big cat
tie market Of Texas, San Antonio the
sheep town and wool market, while Gal
weston has been the great shipping port
and Houston and Dallas the commercial
centers.
Largest Commercial City.
Dallas Is now the largest commercial city
In the state, standing first In volume of
trade and second in population. and its
citizens claim 1t is the first in popu-
lation also. 1t is surrounded by an enor-
mously rich agricultural countryside most
populous and the most prosperous section
of Texas Sixty per cent of the population
of the state live within seventy-five miles
of Dallas and 70 per cent within 100 miles.
including thirteen or fourteen cities Thir-
ty-four counties, comprising the "black
waXy belt of Texas, famous for the fertU-
ity of It's SOIL contribute to the business of
this city. They produce more than half the
cotton of Texas, more than half the wheat
and oats. more than one-third Of the corn,
two-thirds Of the hay and half Of the Yege-
tables and fruit; and that Is the reason
Dallas has grown so rapidly and has been
so prosperous.
The agricultural implement business is
very large, second only to that of Kansas
City. All Of the large manufacturers of
agricultural implements and vehicles have
their agencies here and sell annually be-
tween seventeen and twenty million dol
lars worth of their wares. Groceries come
next In the volume of trade. and the fob
bling houses handle not less than eleven or
twelve millions annually. while ten million
dollars worth of dry goods, clothing and
other wearing apparel add to the volume
of trade.
1t is claimed .hat Dallas makes and sells
more harness and saddlery than any other
city In the world-more than New York
Chicago even London. One of the five
firms here is said to handle more goods an
nuaily than any other in the world Dallas
IS also the largest seed market In the south
The total OF its jobbng trade runs I'D to
nearly seventy millions. while its manufac-
tories. employing 5695 operatives turned
out $l4,3oOUoO worth of commodities last
SieHy Saouioi9' cottoh-S inning ma
chinery. cotton cloth. packing-house prod
ucts. stationery and various other goods
The retail business is also very large
Tine people have plenty of money and spend
it freely. The city has reputation of be-
ing the most extravangant In the south ana
you can form fair idea of the character
of the trade by looking in the shop win
dows. The citizens OF Dallas insist that
/ their retail stores are as good as any in
st. Louis, and they attract the trade from
all the country around.
Wealthiest in the tSate,
The tax lists show that Dallas is the
wealthlest city in the state; it has the Iarg