El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-24

and his force on the go all the time
The location could not be better for q
town. Gradually sloping upward from
the creek, where the old fort and the
original town were built, in the direc-
ton of the station, the land is as 1evel
as a floor and the view is beautiful
mountains extending off in all sdirec
lions in the distance and irrigated val
Ieys lying out in the immediate fore
ground, cottonwoods shading the creek
and the bitches and green fields OF
alfalfa, worth $50 a ton when cut
stretching away in many directions.
An Agricultural Center.
That the future of the place as an
agricultural region in addition to its
other features is assured is already
demonstrated. The farms already in
irrigation along the creek and the fact
that artesian water has been secured
at a depth of 800 feet in the valley five
miles northeast Of the place, makes
this certain
Tryon Lewis is the pioneer in the
artesian well line in this valley, but
many others are planning to sink sim
liar wells since he has demonstrated
the possibility of securing water. The
soil is rich and fertile and only the
water is necessary. All over the town,
the people have windmills and secure
good water at a comparatively shallow
depth, wells running in depth from 15T
to $40 feet, and all producing the same
class Of pure soft water as the springs.
Live Commercial Center.
That Stockton is alive and up to date
is demonstrated in the business section
Of the city. The Rooney Mercantile
company and the First State bank oc-
cupy two story stone buildings, fin
ished in white cement plastering, that
would be a credit to a town of $4,000
people, the fixtures and stocks being
as up to date as the buildings. The
Rooney company handles practically
every line of supplies from Partisan
hats to sulkey plows. and has a ware
house in connection with the store that
covers over half a block Of ground.
The Rooney drug store another two
story rock structure Of the same type
as the Rooney Mercantile company, is
now being erected, and the Rooney no
tel, a frame structure three stories
high, gives ample accommodations to
the many travellers who are now flock
ing into the town to make investments
ahead of the railroad.
The Rooney Family.
The Rooney family is strong in Fort
Stockton; they are pioneers in bust
ness and have built up a trade by their
fair and honest dealings with the peo-
pie. For many years the Rooney Mer-
camille company and First State bank
did business in a long adobe building
down on the creek near the old trans
continental ford, where the Rooney
drug store is still found, but the move
ment is gradually taking its way to
the hill and in the direction of the
railroad station. The drug store will
move into its new quarters in a few
days. The Rooney Mercantile company
has a record Of having done from s25,-
BOO to $4,000 worth of business each
month for many years past. James
is the man behind the machin-
cry in the Rooney Mercantile company
and is also the head of the First State
bank; his brother, Will Rooney, looks
after the active affairs of the bank;
another brother, John Rooney, oper-
ates the drug store, and still another
brother, Frank. is county clerk.
The Town Incorporates.
James Rooney is going to be the first
mayor of the town or all calculations
Are away off. The town has just been
and Mr. Rooney is being
boosted as the first man for the Job.
Besides Mr.. Rooney's bank, there is
he First National, another institution
hat has built up a good business and
has a reputation for fair and honest
dealings. At present it occupies a
frame building, but its officials are
contemplating the erection Of a new
home at no distant date.
The Rooney hotel is operated by
Ihas. Gramm, an active citizen of the
own and a candidate at present for the
position Of cattle inspector, made va
ant a few days ago by the death Of
Inspector J. W. Thornsberry, for whom
casket had to be brought go miles
" auto from Alpine. Fort Stockton is
10 healthy that an undertaken finds
10 business there as yet. Health seek
rs are beginning to come in, however,
md the old timers say the undertaken
will naturally follow if the health
seekers wait long enough before COM
ng. but if they come early in the
,ame the Stocktonites declare. there is
10 chance Of the undertaken ever do
ng business with them except when
I'D age overtakes them.
Growing Fast.
Stockton has several mercantile con-
erns Of various characters, also doc
ors, lawyers, real estate men, bakers
nd in fact about every line Of bust
less is represented here that a first
lass town would require, but the way
ne place is growing there is plenty =
f room for more, and everybody be- |
ieves that as soon as the railroad be- |
,ins footing its whistle in the suburbs |
{ viii not be year until the popula- |
ion will have doubled
Buildings already ordered OF under
way will almost double the mercantile |
trength of the city. and all these are
o be substantial That 1911 els to be |
record breaker in real development |
4 Fort Stockton is no longer in. doubt !
The foundation work on five two |
tory stone structures on Stockton and |
first streets has already been begun /
Y contractor L. B. Westermann. These |
are all to be two stories. of |
tone and reinforced concrete. with !
White concrete finish, like the Rooney |
There will be one store with |
so foot frontage on Stockton street |
nd four stores fronting on First street. |
nd when they are completed they will |
ontain 40 feet Of plate glass front
,ge- The second stories will be di- /
ided about equally between a large /
all and modern offices. The BUILDINGS
re also to be equipped with modern |
onveniences and lighted by electricity.
]. n. Morton & Co. have just formed
company of 10 to begin at once to
uild stone building 25x65 feet. on
tockton street on the middle lot in