The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

The day dreams OF a barefoot boy have
been realized in the growth Of league
Tex. from an open cotton field 10 thriv-
Ing little city OF 5000 people in three
years time.
The boy was B. F. Yoakum, now head
Of the Rock Island Frisco Railroad sys-
tenn. and his boyhood dreams OF a city
10 be built here near his birth place he
has made 10 come true by establishing
al league. named in honor OF his mother
with her family name, the machine shops.
division terminals. and operating center
in Texas OF the Rock Island Frisco con-
nection called the Trinity and Brazos Val
ley Railroad, recently finished through TO
the Gulf Of Mexico extending from Dali
las and Fort Worth to league in sep
arate lines. thence extending south 10
Houston and Galveston with one trunk
line This connection was constructed 10
AFFORD a Southern outlet for Western
trafic and had in view as well the early
completion OF the Panama Canal.
Hill Buys Half Interest.
The Hill system Of railroads. linked to-
gether by that modern wizard of finance,
James ]. Hill. recognizing Texas great
ness and the Importance Of the Southern
trade currents TO the Cuff. recently pur-
chased A half interest with the Rock
Island Frisco system in the Southern
line Accordingly the south-bound
through traffic gathered up at hundreds
OF stations scattered over the $500 miles
Of the lines OF these two great systems
IN a score OF States are routed south over
che new joint trunk line, which will soon
require double-trackling, and thus flows
through the town OF league. which fur
nishes the engines and cars and various
equipment. the fuel and the repairs, the
brain and the Drawn employed in moving
this great current OF commerce.
Solid trainloads OF cotton. corn, pota-
toes. wheat. and other articles, each in
It's season. flow southwark for export
while the fruits the vegetables, the rice.
the oil. the lumber. and other products
flow 20 the North.
league Comes to the Front.
With this solid railroad backing. league
has forged rapidly 10 the front It's
growth. unequaled during recent years,
has made its name synonym throughout
the Southwest for energy and success.
Property values are rising, yet its history
and growth has Just commenced, for pro-
5ected enlargements OF the shops and rail-
road facilities. as well as proposed new
lfues OF the same system. centering at
this strategic railroad point OF Central
Texas, make continued rapid progress q
certainty.
About league Is a large area OF COM
paratively undeveloped country, where
lard can be purchased at from s. 10 S25
an acre. raising fine cotton and corn, but
fu11 for M rrrffG =
and vegetables for the Northern markets
Here are opportunities for the thrifty
Northern griculturist-cheap lands,
special SOIL a genial climate. and excep-
tional shipping facilities. The conserva-
tive fastener would marvel AT league.
Modern railroad shops and yards. with
buildings Of brick, cement, and steel.
with a complement of 500 men, and still
enlarging; sixty solid brick business
houses. banks, and hotels; brick churches
and schoolhouses; completed water
works, and a modern equipped fire de-
partment; a city park already partly i'm
proved within the city limits. covering
many acres: an up-to-date club; hun
dreds OF attractive homes-all these pre-
sent the record for three years growth.
league n Young Mans Town.
A noteworthy fact is that league is a
young mans town. The officials Of the
banks. the postmaster, the mayor and
council. the preachers and teachers. the
resident railroad officials. and IS per cent
OF the business men are in their twenties
and thirties.
league needs the following industries:
on mill. cotton compress, ice plant, plan
ing mill handle factory, brick plant, nur-
sery, dairy and creamery, elevator cotton
mill, canning factory, and wholesale
houses. She especially desires for her
surrounding country thrifty truck farm
srs and fruit raisers.
Texas Is a grand State Of manifold re
sources, and is developing with amazing
rapidity. Northern immigrants have been
and are yet pouring over her borders, and
few, II any, cannot but say their copdi-
ton has been materially bettered by their
coming to the land OF sunshine and story,
where King Cotton holds universal sway.