History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 30
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 30

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Cleburne, the seat of government for John- son county, is located near the center of the county, on the edge of the Lower Cross Tim- bers, fifty-two miles from Dallas and twenty- eight from Fort Worth. It is on the main line of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Rail- road, and is the location of the shops of that road, and also has a railroad direct to Dallas and to Weatherford. It is situated in the midst of a fine agricultural and stock-raising district, as well as horticultural. It is the €

largest shipping point on its line between Galveston and Dallas or Fort Worth.

Assessed valnation of property in 1891, $1,509,750.

Besides an excellent system of public schools there is a seminary of high standing and several smaller private schools.

Cuero, the county seat of De Witt county, had in 1890 a population of 3,079, and is a growing town, doing considerable business.

Dallas is situated on the Trinity river near the center of the county. It is a city of great push and energy. It has grown from a village of 10,358 inhabitants in 1880 to a population of 38,140 in 1890. The assessed values show a similar ratio of increase, hav- ing increased from $3,420,045 in 1880 to $32,098,950 in 1890. The population given here includes Dallas with all its suburbs.

The period in the history of Dallas has . been reached when its future is no longer doubtful. Its natural advantages make it a rival of the most prosperous cities of the South in progressiveness and commercial im- portance. It is situated in the midst of the great grain belt of the State, and the many new enterprises inaugurated during the past few years are only keeping pace with the general expansion going on. In point of agricultural surroundings and manufacturing and commercial importance it is inferior to no city in the State. The past year has been a very prosperous one for Dallas. The nun- ber of public buildings and private residences constructed are said to be greater than that of any other city in the State.

Dallas has fine railroad facilities for mar- keting its maunfactured products. The fol- lowing railroads run into the city: The Texas & Pacific, the Dallas & Wichita, the Houston & Texas Central, the Missouri Pacific, the Texas Trunk, the Gulf, Colorado

214

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

& Santa Fe, the Dallas & Waco, and the Dallas, Southeastern & Pacifie, about com- pleted-thus making Dallas one of the great railroad centers of the State. It has sixteen miles of rapid-transit railroad, and about this mileage under construction; twenty-six miles of electric street railroad, and several miles being constructed. The business streets and many miles of residence streets are paved with bois d'arc.

A careful estimate of the volume of trade for 1890 gives the total of mercantile trans- actions $26,097,000. The city has seven large flouring mills, ten banks, etc. There was spent in 1888 $2,750,000 in building operations and public improvements.

The State Fair and Dallas Exposition, which is the ontgrowth of the consolidation of the Dallas State Fair and Exposition and the Texas State Fair is located at Dallas, with a capital of $250,000. It is situated about two miles from the courthouse and has a rapid-transit electric and railroad lines rnn- " ning to the grounds. The grounds cover an nrea of 120 acres, which, with all improve- ments, cost $177,000. It is one of Dallas' most successful enterprises, as exhibited by the receipts and expenses for 1888-receipts $110,000, expenses $80,000.

The Federal District und Circuit Court for the Northern District of Texas is also located here.

The receipts of the Dallas post-office for the years 1888 and 1889, for example, very largely increased, and give an idea of the variod growth of postal business. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, $63,805 .- 26; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $79,414.23.

Denison is a flourishing town of Grayson county, on the Houston & Texas Central `Railway and is the southern terminus of the

great Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. It is three miles south of Red river. The population now is 11,000, and the place is rapidly improving. It is one of the most important places in northern Texas.

Denton, the county seat of Denton county, is thirty-five miles northwest of the city of Dallas by the line of the Dallas & Wichita Railroad, which has its terminus at Denton. It is situated abont the center of the county, on the Transcontinental division of the Texas & Pacific Railroad.

It has a population of 3,129, with property assessed at abont $1,000,000. Has two national banks, with a paid np capital of $110,000; two flouring mills, representing an invested capital of $100,000; an ice factory, marble works, two brick factories, two pot- teries, and several other mannfacturing establishinents.

Estimated mercantile transactions in 1890, $810,000. There were expended in 1890 $25,000 in public improvements.

Fort Worth, the county scat of Tarrant county, is situated near the center of the county, on a high platean overlooking the Trinity river. It is vigorous and enterpris- ing, and is a success as a commercial and manufacturing point. Its growth has been steady and uniform. Fort Worth has long been the distributing point for the live-stock trade of the northwest; and to this is now added the enormous grain trade of the lately opened region of northwestern Texas known as the "Panhandle."

In 1876 it had a population of 1,123, and that year the Texas & Pacific Railroad was built to it. The increase in population and wealth was thenceforward very marked. The United States census for 1890 gave a popula- tion of 22,700; that of 1891, estimated at (city directory) 32,000.

215

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

The assessed valnes in 1880 were $1,992,- 891, and in 1890 $21,306,785.

Fort Worth is situated in the northern portion of the central artesian water belt of the State, and has within its limits about 300 artesian wells, which supply water to both publie and private enterprises. These wells vary in depth from 114 to 1,140 feet. The first well was dug in 1879 and there is no diminution from the water flow. The deep- est wells are the strong-flowing ones. The water from these wells in most instances is wholesome, and is used for drinking and domestic purposes.

Manufacturing establishments now in oper- ation are testimonies of Fort Worth's pros- perity. They indicate what is in store for a city with such enterprise and financial back- ing as is possessed by Fort Worth.

The city has 110 miles of graded and graveled streets, sixty miles of sewer, fifty- nine miles of electric street railway, is copiously lighted by electricity, and has seven. teen clinrelies, models of architecture. It has seven national banks, with a combined capi- tal of $5,000,000. Amonut expended in 1890 in building operations and public im- provements, 82,112,000.

Fort Worth is n great railroad center, the the following lines entering the place: Texas & Pacitie, St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, Fort Worth & Rio Grande, Fort Worth & Denver City, Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe, Missouri, Kansas & Texas and the Fort Worth & New Orleans. The shops of the Fort Worth & Denver City, the Texas & Pacific and Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railroad Companies are located here.

The mercantile transactions for 1890 were estimated at about $14,000,000

Galveston, the capital of Galveston county and chief seaport in the State, is situated on the extreme northeast end of Galveston island, at the mouth of the bay of the same name. It was laid out in 1838. The first sale of town lots took place April 20 of that year.

Galveston's peculiar advantages, by reason of its geographical position, have long at- tracted the attention of the commercial world. It is one of the largest cotton markets of America, which trade has contributed much toward its general prosperity.

Galveston suffered with other Southern cities in the general business depression incident to the war, and her trade, mann- factures and industries of every character were more or less prostrated. But this pros. tration was only temporary. New enterprises have sprang np, and the commercial, manu- facturing and maritime interests of the city took on new life, and at present a general feeling of confidence prevails, and the outlook for prosperity and stability is brighter than ever in the history of the city.

It has had a constant, steady increase in population, and for the past few years the ratio of increase has been great. The popu- lation (U. S. Census) in 1870, 15,290; in 1880, 24,121; in 1890, 29,118; estimated directory count, 1891, 56,000.

During 1889-'90-'91 the eity inangurat- ed a thorough system of water works, fed from the many artesian wells in the city limits. A marked difference in the tonnage of vessels engaged in the export and import trade is observed, and the dranghit of water over the bar has been very much improved. From August 1, 1888, to August 1, 1889, 75 steamers entered the harbor from foreign ports and 192 entered from coastwise ports, while 80 cleared for foreign ports and 174 for coastwise ports.

216

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Ocean-going vessels which have entered and cleared from this port for seven months, ending March 31, are as follows:

Entered from foreign ports. . . . 162 No.

Tons.

194,883

Entered from domestic ports. . 203

241,468

Cleared for foreign ports. 176

246,613

Cleared for domestic ports. 202

271,176

Total. 743 954,140

Ocean-going vessels have bronghit into and carried ont of this port in twelve months, ending Jne 30, 1891 (May and June esti- mated to equal previous year), merchandise and products amounting in valne to- Imports, foreign and domestie .. $87,000,000 Exports, foreign and domestic .. 84,000,000

Total valne .$171,000,000

Imports consisting of miscellaneous mer- chandise, coal, etc., mainly from New York and other Atlantic ports, foreign imports being less than one-third of the total. Ex. ports, mainly cotton, amounting to about $50,000,000, the other $34,000,000 being made up of wool, grain, flour, other agri- cultural products, and the product of our factories, of which the United States Govern- ment reports by the late census we have over 300 in operation. The near-by coastwise traffic carried on in sinall steamers and sloops amounts annually to many millions of dollars, and it is safe to say the port of Galveston does an annual business exceeding in valne $200,000,000, to which, in order to obtain the vast volume of business transacted in Galveston, should be added to wholesale merchandise business, amounting to roarly $60,000,000 per annum, the annual output of our 304 mannfactories, amounting to several millions of dollars, and the bank clearances, which far exceed $250,000,000 per annum.

The city has an available wharf frontage on Galveston channel of over 6,000 feet. Its beach is said to be unsurpassed by any other on the American continent. It extends the wholo length of the island east and west, and nearly straight, and almost as smooth as a floor.

There are two lines of steamships plying between Galveston and New York city, with a daily line to New Orleans, and another to Indianola and Corpus Crhisti, a weekly line to llavana, and a semi-monthly line to London.

The entrance to Galveston harbor is ob- strneted by an inner and an onter bar, the removal of which has been undertaken by the United States Government. The work was begun in 1874, but the appropriations liave been inadequate, and the work is still incon- plete, but very satisfactory as far as prose- cuted. The water on the bar is steadily inereasing in depth, and vessels are now passing over the bar drawing fifteen feet of water. The number of vessels requiring lightering before passing over the bar aro fewer as the increased depth of water on the bar permits them to come in and discharge their cargoes. The work of deepening the water over the bar may be considered as experimental, bnt of sufficient importance to demonstrate the fact that when the work proposed is completed deep water over the bar varying from 18 to 20 feet will have been secured. The last report of the engineer in charge of the work shows a gain of six inches on the bar at mean low tide. In 1885 13} feet was the maximum depthi over the bar. In 1886 only one vessol went out over the bar drawing 14 feet of water.

Galveston is a beantiful city, with wide and straight streets and elegant parks. It has a number of costly public buildings. Oleander

217

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Park occupies 80 acres, the City Park 25 acres. There are a number of public squares, an esplanade two miles long, and several public gardens. Magnolia Grove Cemetery comprises 100 acres, and the City Cemetery 10 acres.

Four railroads run into the city of Gal- veston. They are the Galveston, Houston & Henderson, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe, the International & Great Northern, and the Aransas Pass-the latter running into the city via the track of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fé.

All of the principal railroads in the State also have an outlet to the gulf over these lines.

In point of mannfacturing and commercial importance Galveston surpasses any city in the State, and rivals many of the leading cities of the South with even greater popu- lation.

Galveston is the most attractive, coolest and healthiest. city in the South. Constant gulf breeze, unsurpassed surf bathing and thirty miles of beach for riding and driving, which is unequaled in the world.

Georgetown, the county seat of William- son county, is situated in a high, healthy seetion of the county, on the bank of the beautiful San Gabriel river, at the terminns of the Georgetown branch of the Interna- tional & Great Northern Railroad from the south, and also the Georgetown & Granger branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad from the east. Its population is 2,538. It has two banks, one private and one national. The transactions of these two banks during 1890 amounted to $8,000.000.

Amount expended in building operations and public improvements, $500,000.

Manufacturing establishments consist of chair and furniture factory, sock factory, two

planing mills working all kinds of woodwork for building purposes; ice factory, capacity six tons per day; one roller flonring mill, capacity 110 barrels per day; one saddle and harness factory; one plow factory.

The Southwestern University is located here, which has the patronage of the five annual conferences of Texas, of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church, South. The annual enrolled attendance in 1890-'91 was about 600; $100,000 was expended in 1891 in improvements of the buildings of this nni- versity.

The Texas Chautauqua Assembly is located on a high, elevated hill, immediately west of the city, and on the opposite side of the river, which is spanned by a magnificent suspension bridge, and is in a flourishing condition.

The city is supplied with a magnificent system of waterworks, furnishing pure water from springs.

Gonzales, the capital of the county of the same name, is situated on the Guadalupe river, a mile below the month of the San Marcos river, about sixty-six miles east of San Antonio and sixty miles south by east of Austin. It has a population of 2,500, two banks, three churches and a college.

Hempstead, in Waller county, is situated on a high, rolling prairie, abont fifty miles northwest of Houston, on the Houston & Texas Central Railway, and is the eastern terminus of the Austin branch of that rail- way. It is in the midst of a most productive agricultural region. Population, 2,259. There are sold in the place about 3,500 bales of cotton annually, and it is also a great shipping point for watermelons and canteloupes.

Houston, the capital of Harris county, in latitude 29° 30', longitude 94° 50', is at the head of navigation of Buffalo bayou, fifty miles northwest of Galveston, and the rail.

218

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

road center of Texas. The city is situated on both sides of the bayon, on gently undu- lating land, and bas steamboat communica- tion with Galveston daily. In 1890 it had a population of 27,411. Besides the usual complement of schools and churches it con- tains the Masonic Temple for the Grand Lodge of Texas, and its city hall and market house are unsurpassed in the Sonth. The annual State fair is also held here. It is an important manufacturing center.

Assessed value of all property in 1891, $15,776,449, which is greater by nearly $3,- 000,000 than that of the preceding year. Total value of all the property owned by the city, $260,000. Number of square miles within the corporate limits, nine.

Huntsville, the last residence of the lamented Sam HIonston, is the seat of gov- ernment of Walker county, on the IInnts- ville branch of the International & Great Northern Railroad, seventy-four miles north of Houston. It contains eight churches, the State penitentiary, Andrew Female College, Austin College (Presbyterian), etc. Popula- tion, 2,271. Assessed value of all property in 1891, $490.000.

Kaufman, at the crossing of the east branch of the Texas Central and the Texas Trunk railroads, has enjoyed a constant in- crease in population and in taxable values. Since 1870 the number of inhabitants has increased from 400 to about 3,000. Assessed values in 1890, $800,000.

Lampasas, with a population of about 3,- 000, has a property assessed in 1891 at $1,- 096,325. There is also a seminary at that place.

Laredo, on the Rio Grande, at the june- tion of the International & Great Northern and the Mexican National railroads, has a

population of 11,313, an Ursuline academy or convent, and property assessed at $2,405,- 870 in 1891.

Marlin, the county soat of Falls county, is situated four miles northeast from the geographical center of the county, on the Waco division of the Houston & Texas Cen- tral Railroad. It has a population of 2,276, and property assessed in 1891 at $1,050,000. Amount expended in buildings and improve. ments during that year, $65,000.

Marshal', the seat of government for Har- rison county, in the eastern part of the State, has now a population of 7,196, six churches, a female college, Wiley University (Metho- dist Episcopal), the machine shops and head- quarters of the Texas & Pacific Railroad, etc. The Shreveport branch of the railroad forms its junction there.

Mckinney, the headquarters of Collin connty, on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, is the terminus of the East Line & Red River Railroad. The assessed valne of the property of the place increa ed from $610,000 in 1880 to $1,230,780 in. 1888. In 1890 $30,000 was spent in buildings and improvements, and this is but a sample of what that city is averaging. Population in 1890, 3,849.

Nacogdoches, capital of the connty of the same name, is situated on the Houston, East & West Texas Railroad, 140 miles from Ilouston and ninety from Shreveport. It is the best trading point between those two places. The amount of bank exchange in 1890 was $400,000.

New Birmingham, in Cherokee connty, with a population of 1,200 in 1890, is des- tined to become an iron-manufacturing city of considerable importance. It is situated only a mile and a half from Rusk, and is a new place, being laid off in 1888. It is on

219

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad. White sulphur and chalybeate springs aro numerons in the vicinity. The place is growing rapidly.

San Antonio is, as shown by the last United States census, the largest city in Texas. It is by far the prettiest, the most healthful, and has the finest drinking water of all cities anywhere, and her visible water supply is more than sufficient for a city of two millions of people. That this is no ex- aggeration may be seen by remembering that the San Antonio river, with a width of from thirty to seventy-five feet of purest, clearest water averaging from five to six feet deep, flows right through the middle of the city with a current of more than twelve miles an hour; and the San Pedro springs send a third as nich through the city in the old acequias dug by the Spanish missionaries nearly 200 years ago; then it lias one public artesian well right in the main business part of the city that flows over 3,500,000 gallons a day. This gives a public supply of more than 30,000,000 gal- lons of water a day, and its clearness, purity and sweetness are marvels to scientists as well as to visitors. Besides this, factories, ice works, the United States Government headquarters, laundries, breweries und pri- vate promises have a large number of wells, making the present flow of water within the corporate limits of San Antonio more than 45,000,000 gallons a day.

There is no climate yet known that equals that surrounding San Antonio. Sonthwest Texas, as shown by the most carefully kept statistics and scientific observations, sur- passes any known country. Consumption, catarrh, malarial and typhus complaints are unknown among the natives here, and those coming here in the early stages of hing dis-

cases recovor, and a great improvement im. mediately follows any stage. The evenness of temperature in this section is conducive to healthfulness. The highest temperature in 1890 was 96 in July, and the lowest 24 in February, and the air is almost perfectly dry except when raining. It was these facts of healthfulness, purity of water and mild- ness and evenness of temperature that caused the Spanish missionaries to select San An- tonio and southwest Texas as their abode and headquarters. As soon as the truth is known hundreds of thousands of people will flock to this section.

In the way of climate, air, water, soil, scenery and unlimited resources, nature has blessed this section of the United States above almost any country on earth. Ten years ago a city of 20,000 inhabitants, with scarcely any modern business houses, with but one street worthy the name of a business street, with plazas, muddy eye-sores, streets unpaved and with few sidewalks, we find to-day a modern city of 41,181 inhabitants, and improvements completed and under con- . struction that place the "Alamo City" in the front rank of Southern cities in appearance and in appliances for comfort.

As to municipal improvements the rapid increase in the assessed valnes of the city has enabled the authorities to inangurate unprec- edented expenditures in this direction, while the tax rate has been actually reduced from that of four years ago, and now stands at 1 per cent., a rate lower than that paid in any large city in the United States; and there are more than 155 miles of water mains in San Antonio, nearly 75 miles of paved streets, more than 125 miles of smooth cement side- walks and the best electric street-car system of all cities in the United States-seventy-five mniles.

220

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

The total number of mannfactories now in operation is about 150, with a capital of $2,- 750,300. The raw material used in 1859 amounted to something like $1,800,000. In these establishments some 1,500 persons find employment, to whom wagos are paid mnonnting to $400,000. The value of the prodnets for 1889 aggregated $3,750,000.

One of the grand features that promises to have a great effect in San Antonio's success as a manufacturing center is the discovery of natural gas in considerable quantities both in and adjacent to the city. The wells already developed have more than enough to supply the entire city for domestic lighting and heating purposes. It has a confined pressure of from 50 to 200 pounds per square inch. And on the same lands, belonging to Mr. George Dnllnig, are some oil wells that flow the best lubricating oil on the market. It brings 20 cents a gallon for all that is pumped, and the Southern Pacific Railway gave a certificate saying one of their freight engines, oiled with it, had run over 3,000 miles without replenishing the cups-a re- cord unprecedented for any lubricating oil evor discovered.

The increase in taxable values is a good index of the prosperity of San Antonio. Tax-Stato, city and county-is less than in any city in the United States-less than $2 on the $100 for all purposes whatever.

The San Antonio military post will one day be the largest in the country, as to-day it is the most beautiful. Nature has given the site, the location, the strategic impor- tance, and Uncle Sam has always recognized the importance of keeping troops here.

The first military post in San Antonio was established in 1865. The troops were witlı- drawn in 1873, but two years later they were marched back, as the war department

had discovered what an important point this was. It was determined to make the establishment hero permanent and the citizens were agreeable to the idea. What is now known as Goverment hill, be- ing then a long distance from the town, met with favor in the eyes of the officers detailed to select a site.

The various Christian and Jewish denom- inations have a strong representation in the city. Many of the buildings in which their worship is conducted are fine specimens of church architecture. The most imposing church building is the San Fernando eathe- dral, which is the central church of the Catholic religion in the Southwest. This cathedral is situated on Main plaza and its fine peal of the bells and sweet-toned organ are famous throughout the Stato. The largest Protestant church is called St. Mark's. It is the seat of the Episcopalian bishop of West- ern Texas. This church is beautifully lo- cated on Travis square and is widely noted for its magnificient choir and choral services. In the same neighborhood are situated the Jewish synagogue the First Baptist church and the Methodist Episcopal church, South. The following list shows the number of churches owned by the several denominations: Episcopalinn 4, Catholic 4, Presbyterian 3, Methodist 6, Baptist 5, Lutheran 1, Chris- tian 1, colored denominations 7. The rolls of church membership are large, and well filled churches attest the great number of worshipers in the city.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532