The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-01-09
DALLAS LEADS
IN BUSINESS
Texas Metropolis Affords Race
Fair Chance.
LARGE PROPERTY HOLDINGS

LARGE PROPERTY HOLDINGS
Friendly Relations Between the White
and coIored People and the Latter's
Capacity to Organize For Material
Advancement Given az Chief Cause
For Their Remarkable Success.
By RALPH w. TYLER.
Dallas. Tex.-There are $4,000 colored
people in this city. forming one-fourth
Of the total population. One who
spends little time here among the
members of THE race soon discovers
that these $4,000 Of our people also
form one-fourth of the city's energy.
I found little or no whining among
them. Recognizing their present limita-
tons and the odds against them, the
race, under capable leadership, is
spending no time in deploring, but
rather striving to better conditions.
Dallas is beautiful city, the resi-
dences suggesting to the visitor that
he is in some northern city famed for
the architectural beauty of its homes.
The vast amount Of commerce, build
ing operations and industrial enter
prises here suggests to the visitor that
he Is in some busting mart of COM
merce east Of the Mississippi and north
Of the Ohio. Dallas boasts of one of
the strongest local Negro Business
leagues In Texas or any other state.
The cooperative spirit engendered by
business league, and the activity
resultant therefrom invariably make
for business progress. The races bust
ness men in this city have 100000
invested in business enterprises; $780,
600 Of the city's taxable property be-
longs in fee simple to the members of
the race. and $4,000 in Dallas banks
is deposited to their credit
Dallas has been enjoying an UMPIRE
cedented business boom, and the estab-
lishment by the federal government of
a regional bank served only to increase
business and draw attention to this,
Texas metropolis. as a wonderfully
progressive city. whose future has
practically no limitations. In all the
progress being made here the race is
largely contributing, and in all the
business success being achieved the
race is sharing. met Mr.. w. Sidney
Ptttman here, an architect than whom
there is none better, and he told me Of
his success. Coming from Washington.
where his architectural ability was
well known. but little employed by his
own people. the race here in Dallas
recognized and employed him. Here
the race places premium upon ability
and efficiency.
Mr.. Pittman is enjoying prosperity
here that is in contradistinction to
what he enjoyed in the north. and in
every movement for racial betterment
he is an active, helpful factor Largely
through his efforts the Local Business
league was given new life. w. e.
King, sole editor and proprietor of the
Dallas Express, one of the very best
race newspapers published in this
country. has done more perhaps than
any single man to advertise Dallas and
to accelerate race advancement.
The race in Dallas recognizes that
business. education and religion should
go hand in hand, and, while making
rapid and wonderful material progress,
the educational and religious advance
ment is not tagging. Twenty-fou
churches conserve the religious inter
ests Of the race, and six public schools.
with sixty-eight efficient teachers, con:
serve the educational interests Of the
race. l was much pleased with the
character Of the school buildings for
our race. They are substantial, mod
ernly equipped and sanitary. I was
advised that the whites are very con.
siderate Of the requests made by the
race for improved educational facili- |
ties.
The amicable relations existing be- |
tween the two races here is one Of the |
very encouraging signs which points
to that unrestricted freedom that is the |
hope Of us all. Texas, one observes, is |
trying its utmost to dispel the long
time held belief that the state stands
for race retardance. The appropria.
lions made down here for Negro
schools-greater than any southern
state-and the helpful assistance given
by white men to men of our race In
business indicates a condition Just the
opposite to that which many think.
There are sixty-eight Negro teachers,
sixteen I.lysicians, four dentists and
FIVE lawyers to make up the races pro-
fessional class in Dallas. There are six
business corporations. twenty-five ex.
cellent-grocery stores, two drug stores.
one moving picture theater. one hotel.
a number Of well conducted cafes. real
estate agencies. furniture store, three
undertakers. an automobile repair shop
and number Of enterprising contrac
tors to represent the races diversified
business activities.
In this city ] find that among the
men who have made possible the
that the race is now enjoying
and who are providing for a splendid
future are DIR. B, r. Bluitt. Rev. A g.
Jackson. J. G. Jordan. N. w. Harlee.
J. G. Block. d. Romen. r. p. Mayes.