The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-03-19

to be found only In the great Pan
handle Of Texas, member Of The
Daily Panhandle staff enjoyed the
pleasure of a trip along the route OF
the new Rock Island railway extcn-
sion, nov In course OF construction
Straight almost, as the crow lilies,
this important extension OF great
railway system leaves Amarillo and
wends its way westward to Tucum-
carl, there to connect with the main
line OF the Rock Island from Chi
cago to California. This extension
completes a direct line from Mem
phis, Tenn, to Tucumcari and, with
It's eastern connections, forms the
most direct route from the Atlantic
10 the Pacific coast The line Is an
acquisition from the old Choctaw,
Oklahoma & Gulf company, dating
back some three years ago, Because
Of extensive building In southwestern
Texas the Rock Island company had
abandoned active constructive oper-
atoms OF this line until recently, but
is now pushing the work to rapid
completion, In compliance with the
Texas charter, tho line must be COM
'pleted and in operation AS far as
the New Mexican boundary by Janu-
airy /, 1909. The old grade Of the
Choctaw & Gulf company is being
used, this grade requiring but a
slight resurfacing In order to put II
in condition for the laying OF steel.
The grade is now ready for track
construction for twenty-five miles
west of Amarillo and a large force
OF workmen Is rapidly pushing the
work westward, Ties and track arc
already laid a distance of three miles
cut Of Amarillo and the work is
progressing at the rate Of mile a
day. 1t Is the expectation OF the
company to have the line in actual
operation from Amarillo to a point
we'll within the New Mexico border
before the first of the coming year.
For sixty miles the roadbed trav-
Crses the most fertile region OF the
great southwest with scarcely grade
and not foot Of trestle work All
along tho route the range land OF
yesterday l. being converted into
grain-producing farms; already
many fields OF growing wheat are
TO be seen. while the rich emerald
of growing alfalfa fields gives testi-
mony OF the bountiful harvest to
come.
The first station along the route
is. or rather, will be, Wildorado,
twenty miles west OF Amarillo, 4
townsite is laid out at this point, but
no buildings have yet been erected.
Twelve miles beyond Wildorado is
the old postotlice, Vega, This town
at one time gave promise OF rapid
srowth and a number Of residences
and store buildings and a school
house we're built or the original
town of Vega there remain but two
residences and the school house.
Two miles beyond Vega and thir-
ty-five miles west of Amarillo is
situated the new town OF Ontario.
This lusty little infant is typical Of
the progress and enterprise that has
made the hustling, growing cities
and towns Of the southwest what
they are.
The visitor to Ontario is impressed |
with the tone of substantially, the |
here to stay" air that dominates |
The minds and works OF the build
,rs Of this embryo city. There are |
now few buildings on the townslte, it |
Is true--a small hotel two stores and |
, few scattered dwellings; but along
The route were to be seen wagons
hauling lumber for building purposes
n the new town.
Nesting in the heart OF natures
garden land as 1t does, Ontario has
very natural advantage of soil with
which to induce settlement by agri-
,ulturlsts. Added to this natural adj
;antage is the fact that this land has
,een sold by the owners, in small
holdings. to actual settlers, who are
asst moving upon their farms. Upon
hese settlers ontario will depend for
Is growth-and u is growth based /
lpon the most substantial of founda-
ions agricultural development
Not from the uncertainties OF rail
owns that await the influx of popu-
ion incident to manufactures will
ontario receive its growth, but from
industrious and thrifty far
ners, their wives, sons and daugh-
ers
Unlike so many new and growing
owns that await the in 2s ux of popu-
alton before making prenaratlons