New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 16

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

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No one will deny but that the Cotton Palace has been the one outstanding factor in city development.

The Main Building, Home of the Texas Cotton Palace, Waco, Texas

MASONRY: ITS OBJECTS AND INFLUENCES By SAM P. COCHRAN, 33º

Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Texas

T' HE practical object of Masonry has been de- fined as to be "the physical and moral ameliora- tion and the intellectual and spiritual improvement of in- dividuals and society." Prob- ably the latest definition of Free Masonry is that given in the "Declaration of Prin- ciples" of the International Masonic Association, viz: "Free Masonry, a traditional, philanthropic, philosophical and progressive institution, being based upon the prin- ciple that all men are broth- ers, holds high in its purposes which are: The research of Verity, the study and the practice of Morality and of Solidarity. It exerts itself for material and moral improvements as well as for the intellectual and social perfection of mankind. Its chief duty is to extend to all mankind the brotherly ties which unite all Free Masons all over the Globe." Society can be improved only as the constituent individuals are made better; and Masonry seeks to accomplish this by inducing in each individual consciousness, a deeper and stronger sense of personal responsi- bility and a higher and keener appreciation of the things of moral and intellectual worth. This is character building, and this is the ultimate object and aim of Masonry. Therefore it is that our system of philosophy takes the homely and practical opera- tion of building a structure-a temple-as a symbol, by means of which to illustrate, to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, those great truths and virtues which, woven into the warp and woof of life by practice and experience, clothe man with a garment of beauty and honor, and polish and adorn his true character. The cornerstone of the Masonic structure is Truth, which is declared to be a divine

The Scottish Rite Temple, Harwood and Young Streets, Dallas

attribute and the foundation of every virtue. From this cornerstone extend the foundation walls, con- structed of the moral virtues and intellectual ex- cellencies, and like the foundation of the metaphoric City of Revelation "garnished with all manner of precious stones," chief among which are Temper-

ance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Brotherly Love, Relief, Toleration and Patriotism. And as the physi- cal structure rises secure and faultless on its founda- tion of solid stones, so Masonry undertakes to erect on the foundation of these great virtues, in each individual consciousness, the Temple of Character- that temple where in each must dwell and serve, until, perfected by the process of God's alchemy, sweetened

The Dallas Athletic Club. The Finest Club Building in the South. From Architect's Drawing Lang & Witchell, Architects

by suffering and sanctified by love, he is prepared to enter in, through the gate over which is in- scribed, "Holiness to the Lord," into that city, made without hands, eternal in the heavens, in which there is no temple, "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (Rev. 21:22).

The world needs today, as much as at any period in its history heretofore, men of sound, solid char- acter, like the foundation stones of a well built structure, and based on the great principles of our Order, to direct and govern its affairs, that justice may be done in the earth and the people no longer be oppressed. Is there not need for such men to lead and govern? Look at Europe, where ambition, envy, hatred and greed, have drenched the earth with human blood, spreading devastation and woe everywhere, and almost proving the Brotherhood of Man to be a myth. If the Spirit of Masonry abode amidst those warring nations, human slaughter would cease and their differences would be readily composed on the Masonic basis of Justice, Right and Truth. Let us rejoice that in our own blessed land we enjoy the great right-which we should cherish and defend-of teaching and practicing Free Masonry without political or pontifical interference or restraint.

Let us rejoice that the foundations of our Craft- hood are co-extensive with our national domain, our

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

asylums planted in every community, and our prin- ciples so pervading the public consciousness and gaining such foothold among increasing member- ship, that all distinctions of sections, of religions, or of races have been eliminated, the spirit of na- tional brotherhood born anew, and the possibility of civil strife forever banished. The Spirit of Masonry is making our nation great, and preparing it to play a great part in securing and maintaining an endur- ing peace among the nations of the world; and we need great men, inspired by the principles of Masonry, and possessing characters built upon its foundation stones, to successfully achieve this grand result of humanity.

But look close at home: We see graft, bigotry and intolerance thriving and holding sway in our midst. Dishonesty in both high and low places goes unpunished because of fear and favoritism. Some churches, commissioned to teach and persuade alone, are insidiously or insistently thrusting themselves into public affairs, sometimes seeking to direct pub- lic or political actions, or control political patronage. Intolerance still blinds men as darkly as when perse- cution drove our hardy ancestors to settle a new continent, and seek to establish a land of religious liberty, or when the newcomers burned so-called witches at Salem. In our legislatures we find those sent to represent the people, who evince an entire willingness to imprison or expatriate others who have the temerity to differ with them in respect to political, religious or medical opinions or prefer- ences.

We find the rule of the mob threatening our very political foundations, in the great strikes that keep the country in apprehension, when great bodies of men, in contempt or defiance of law and ignoring all legal processes-setting their own desires above all questions of legal restraint-seek to enforce their own demands by power of numbers, often in actual revolt and open rebellion against constituted, lawful authority; ruthlessly trampling upon the rights of others not co-operating with them, and openly-as well as secretly-resorting to violence against per- son and property.

We find these great forces growing in aggressive- ness and fierceness because it frequently happens that the ofcers of the law fail to restrain, or even attempt to restrain them, through sympathy or fear, or because of the political weight of their numbers, and of their influence boldly asserted and used. We find state courts failing to punish or restrain the participants in such cases, for like reasons of politi- cal fear or prejudice, and refusing to protect in their legal rights those who are mercilessly trodden upon or injured by the revolters.

We see our legislatures quibbling over road laws, school districts and petty statutory offenses, or equally inconsequential matters, while the rights of the quiet, law-abiding and tax-paying element of our people are invaded. We see more laws enacted to hamper the law-abiding and the reins slackened on

the vicious and turbulent; laws passed to favor classes of citizens large in number, and against the fewer. And we see our paid officials zealously prose- cuting for alleged statutory offenses small bodies or numbers of citizens of particular trades or occupa- tions, while those of other callings who number many voters in their ranks follow unlawful methods and practices in quiet security, seemingly unobserved by the official eye. In a hundred ways in less im- portant matters, but frequently to their great dis- comfort or annoyance, the rights of law-abiding peo- ple are invaded because no one individual has the courage or the time to protest.

Do we not need great men, strong men-men with strong, firm characters, built up on the principles and virtues inculcated by our great Order-to help in the battle against wrong, vice, usurpation and oppression.

I do not know whether J. G. Holland was a Mason or not, but he certainly has a very high concept of the principles and teachings of the Order, as beauti- fully expressed in the following poem, and which is worthy of every man's serious thought:

"God give us men. The time demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and willing hands;

Men whom the lust of office does not kill;

Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;

Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor; men who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue

And dam his treacherous flatteries without winking; Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty and private thinking.

For while the rabble with their thumb-worn creeds, Their large professions and their little deeds

Mingle in selfish strife; lo-freedom weeps- Wrong rules the land, and waiting justice sleeps-"

A person only submits to wrong or injustice be- cause the individual has not the courage to stand forth alone; given trustworthy leaders the people will follow in every fight for liberty, justice and country. Masonry interferes with no religion, in- trudes into no political affairs, and claims no special favors for its votaries. It seeks to inculcate its great principles, that men may be made wiser and better, individually, and collectively, and that the welfare of humanity as a whole may be advanced through the agency of its teachings and practice.

Men imbued with its principles are qualified to lead the people in their struggle upward, and those not appointed to lead know how to follow and serve in every movement for Justice, Right and Truth.

To build the Temple of Character in men, that. they might be fit to serve the Great Architect of the Universe and their fellow men, and may reap the reward of right-doing, is, I believe, one of the legiti- mate and laudable, one of the foremost duties and missions of Masonry.

HISTORY OF DALLAS

By E. J. KIEST Proprietor of the Daily Times-Herald

D ALLAS was named for the Vice-President of the United States, George Mifflin Dallas, under the president James K. Polk. It was formerly known as Peters Colony which was established under the instru- mentality of W. S. Peters, a colonizing agent who had a contract with the government as did a number of others for colonizing tracts of land in northern Texas.

The first family to locate on the site of the present city of Dallas was John Neely Bryan, a bachelor who was a native of Kentucky. He came here in the fall of 1841 with no other companion than his indian pony that he had secured from the Cherokees and pitched his tent on a spot near the present site uf the County Court House. He was a man of sturdy physique and sterling character, he unved on bear and buffalo meat and such food as abounded in the forest and surrounding prairie. Six months later Captain Gilbert and wife arrived and a little later John Beeman with his family put in appearance. The lonely Mr. Bryan welcomed them with open arms and shared his provisions liberally with the new arrivals. Shortly afterwards the host was awarded for his hospitality by the gift of his former guests fair daughter, Margaret Beeman for a bride. This was the first wedding in Dallas. The three fam- ilies built rude huts of logs in which to live and W. H. Beeman was the first man to break the ground and start farming. The following year witnessed

Courtesy of Mrs. Charles Capy

First Brick Court House of Dallas, on Site of the Present Court House. Photograph Taken in 1857

the emigration of several families, most of whom settled on the land around Dallas and engaged in farming. Dallas was then a part of Nacogdoches county with the town of Nacogdoches the county seat over fifty miles away. The nearest shipping

point to Dallas was at that time Jefferson, one hundred and seventy miles distant, over a very poor road through the wilderness.

On March 20th, 1846 the Texas Legislature cre-

Main and Akard Streets, Looking East, Dallas, 1887

A View Familiar to Many Dallas Citizens

ated Dallas County with Dallas as the county seat Judge W. B. Ochiltree held the first court ever con- vened in Dallas; he was the father of Tom Ochiltree, who became a prominent figure in Texas history. The first grand jury found sixty-one indictments, one for murder, four for assault and battery and the remainder for minor offenses.

The industries of Dallas grew rapidly, the first Bank established was that of Gaston and Camp. The first manufacturing plant was a carriage and wagon shop by Maxine Guillot. The first mercan- tile store was erected by J. W. Smith and J. M. Pat- terson. The first saloon was opened by Adam Haught. The first lawyer was John J. McCoy. The first man to navigate the Trinity river was Cap- tain Gilbert. The first Grist Mill, a hundred barrel a day plant was built by W. T. Overton. The first hotel or tavern was run by John Beeman. James A. Smith planted the first cotton seed in this dis- trict in 1851 and in the autumn of that same year built the first cotton gin that operated here. The following year a boat load of cotton was taken down the Trinity river as far as Porters Bluff.

In 1848 Nat M. Buford, one of the historic char- acters of the early days of Dallas came to this city, two years later he became district attorney; in the succeeding years he served as District Judge and was one of the most prominent figures in the politi- cal life of northern Texas.

The Dallas Herald the first newspaper, a weekly was established in 1849 with J. Wellington Lattimer and a Mr. Wallace as proprietors. Mr. Wallace shortly retired from the paper and Mr. Lattimer be- came sole proprietor and editor. The Herald pros- pered under the able pen and management of the latter and was a political power and potent influence for progress through the whole history of Dallas. In the early files of the Herald are found many of the interesting facts which have preserved for fu- ture generations the details of the city's history.

The city of Dallas was incorporated February 22, 1856, Colonel Nat M. Buford drew up the charter.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

The city at that time had a population of between 400 and 500 people. At the first election Dr. Sam- uel B. Pryor was elected mayor, Andrew Moore, Marshal, William Moore, Treasurer, and Samuel P. Jones, Recorder. The city of Dallas burned in 1860. The cause of the fire was never satisfactorily set- tled but it was generally believed to have been of incendiary origin by negroes, whom it was reported had started many fires in this region. Three negroes were found guilty of the crime and hanged and every negro in the county was given a flogging. There were about fifteen business buildings and a great many residences went up in flames.

At the opening of the Civil War, Dallas, which had been strongly in sympathy with the Confed- eracy, recruited a company, taking away many of her leading citizens, and the city's progress was naturally for a time retarded. After the war things picked up and a new era began. In 1870 the pop- ulation of Dallas was 2,960 and the County boasted of 13,329 inhabitants. The transportation was the one great problem, the lack of which greatly hind- ered the development of the district. Throughout the history of the city there has been more or less agitation for the improvement of the Trinity

first edition, this paper enjoyed an era of rapid growth. The same year the first State Fair was held at Dallas and met with such success that it became an annual event in the life of the city.

On March 31, 1888 an election was held consoli- dating North, East and South Dallas in one enter- prising and progressive city. That same year the old City Hall was completed. In 1890 the census showed that the population of Dallas was 38,000 The year of 1882 witnessed the completion of the present Court House. In 1894 the State Demo- cratic Convention was held in this city. In 1895 the Oriental Hotel, then one of the finest hostelries of the south was completed and opened to the pub -. lic. The arrival of the steamer H. A. Harvey, Jr. from Galveston in 1898 revived interest again in the navigation of the Trinity river. Three years later a Bill was passed in Congress appropriating $750,000 for the improvement of the channel. In 1902 Dallas entertained the Confederate Union Sol- diers in a convention here. In 1904 the city became the owner of Fair Park. A company composed of local citizens who owned the tract of land was of- fered $125,000 by an improvement company for the purpose of dividing it into resident lots, this offer

Panorama of the Business Section of Dallas, from the Roof of Butler Brothers Wholesale Company Building

river to enable navigation. In 1868 a steamboat commanded by Captain McGarvey sailed up the river from Galveston and landed at Dallas loaded with supplies. In December of the same year the Sallie Haynes, the first boat built at Dallas, was launched.

In 1871 the old court house was sold and the build- ing of a new one begun. It was completed in two years at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars. In the Fall of 1872 the first iron bridge was com- pleted over the Trinity river at a cost of fifty-five thousand dollars.

On July 17, 1872 the greatest event in the history of Dallas occurred. It was the arrival of the first rail-road train over the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, which reached Dallas that year. A large barbecue was held to celebrate the event. Over five thousand people from the surrounding country attended. An interesting incident of this historical event was an address by the venerable John Neely Bryan, a pioneer citizen of Dallas, who arrived here on an Indian pony thirty-one years before.

In 1876 the North Texas Fair Association was formed and annual fairs were subsequently held. That same year the Dallas County Medical Associa- tion was organized with Dr. A. A. Johnson as Pres- ident. In 1881 the population had increased to 19,000. In 1882 East Dallas was laid out and the city started. In 1884 the American Exchange Bank, now the largest financial institution in Texas, was organized with W. H. Gaston as President. On Oc- tober 1, 1885 The Dallas Morning News issued its

was refused. At this time a number of public spirited citizens organized a movement which re- sulted in the city acquiring the tract, thus making the annual State Fair a public institution.

In another article, the History of the Fair, from its beginning, telling the complete story of its progress up to the present time, is attractively told. Much can be said of what has been accomplished in Dallas during recent years. It has become the largest interurban center in the South, with more miles of electric line radiating from the city than any city of its size in the United States. The city has become a center for education in the South. It has as many fine hotels and office buildings as any city west of Chicago. The city has twenty-two parks covering thirty-five hundred acres, containing tennis courts and playground facilities. It has a Welfare Com- mission engaged to look after the needy, to provide work for the unemployed. There are no slums or tenements. The new City Hall is one of the finest Municipal Buildings in the South. There are one hundred and seventy churches, active Y. W. C. A. and Y. M. C. A., both up to date buildings. There are one hundred and twelve schools and colleges in the city and every facility for highest education is given.

In the foregoing article the writer has endeav- ored to chronicle the most interesting events, the high lights as it were, of the history of Dallas from its beginning up to a little more than a decade ago. The recent progress of the city will be treated with other articles dealing with the later activities.

INDUSTRIES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF DALLAS By DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

H ERE one beholds a city whose march is irre- sistible, whose spirit is real, destiny sure, and whose every department pulsates with Progress, Prosperity and Promise. Its growth from a single building which still stands, to a cosmopoli- tan metropolis, the skyscraper center of the South and the West, with sixty-two buildings six to thirty- one stories high either completed or under construc- tion, and all in the life of the one man who built the first Dallas house, is ample justification for the name Dallas has won over the Nation as the "City where men are looking forward." The "forward look" is the look of "youth," and that means com- radeship, confidence, faith and team work. This is the spirit that has brought Dallas from a city of 42,638 people (U. S. Census in 1900) to 158,976, ex- clusive of suburbs, which bring the total to 174,025, or from the 86th city in size in the Nation to the 42nd, and that without any boom influence or artificial stimulus. Within a circle the radius of which extends one hundred miles from the city, ap- proximately one-third of the people of Texas live; there are 17,000 rated business concerns, and 686 National and State banks with a combined capital of over $38,000,000.00; within the same territory there are 156,373 farms or 16.6% of the total num- ber of farms in all Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana combined, with 10,000,000 acres of land in cultivation yielding 17.75% of America's cotton crop and over 1,200 prosperous towns and villages from which Dallas commands a large whole-sale and jobbing trade as well as an extensive retail business.

Financial and Banking Facts

Dallas is the home of the Federal Reserve Bank:

of the Eleventh District and has eight National Banks and 8 State Banks, besides individual institutions and Trust companies. In 1920, the bank deposits amounted to $140,000,000 and the bank clearings were $1,868,685,312. The wholesale business for the same year totaled $600,000,000. The wholesale business in all automotive lines is approximately $200,000,000, while the Federal Census of Manu- facturers for the Dallas Industrial District indicate the output of "made in Dallas" articles as over $100,000,000 a year. In Express business Dallas ranks first per capita of all the cities of the United States and is seventh city in the volume of express business. Dallas building permits for 1925, totaled $30,000,000, giving the city high rank among the nation's builders. While Dallas is 42nd city in size, the rank becomes 24th, in Postal Receipts which amounted to $2,363,380 for 1920 and only six cities in the union pay more money orders. Fire, Life and Casualty Insurance covering several states is an important factor in financial activity of Dallas. More than 100 fire insurance companies and 40 life insurance companies are represented by General Agents in Dallas. Four of these Life Insurance Companies have their palatial office building homes here and their income approximates $6,000,000 per annum.

Dallas is the farm center of the southwest. Ac- cording to the census, 91.8% of the total farm mortgage loans of the state are held by Dallas com- panies.

Distributing Center

Because of its location and transportation facili- ties, Dallas is the logical jobbing and wholesale cen- ter for a territory, larger than the New England and

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(Photographel by Ho"srl K. Neal. A'rplane Photographer, Telephone C-0608)

BUSINESS CENTER OF DALLAS AS SEEN FROM AN AIRSHIP

The Federal Reserve Bank and Cotton Exchange are Seen in the Foreground. In the Center is the Magnolia Building with group of Hotels and Office Buildings. The City Temple and the new Post Office Site are in the Background

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the Middle Atlantic states combined. Practically every important wholesale house in the United States has its southwestern headquarters in this Texas metropolis. There are 750 wholesalers and manufacturers, 256 of which are of national im- portance. Dallas leads the world in the manu- facture and distribution of cotton gin machinery, and in saddlery, harness and leather goods. This city ranks among the three largest distributing de- pots for farm implements and machinery in Amer- ica. Dallas ships more galvanized corrugated tanks to oil fields than any other city in the United States and is the geographical center of the oil territory of the Southwest. Dallas is also famed as the largest film distributing center in the world.

Dallas is the largest inland cotton market in the world, having financed 1,500,000 bales in one season.

Transportation Facilities

Nine trunk line steam railroads enter the mag- nificent $6,500,000 Union Terminal Station, from which eighty-nine passenger trains are operated daily. A network of 282 miles of interurban elec- tric service operates out of Dallas in every direction, which fact makes this city rank with America's great- est interurban centers. The $1,600,000 Interurban Terminal Station handles 186 trains daily and has a yearly capacity for 4,000,000 people. Freight and Express are transported by steam, electric and automobile truck lines with a dispatch not equalled by any other city in the southwest. To the present existing system of good roads, a number of which are concrete highways, Dallas has voted an extra $6,500,000 to be appropriated for road construction.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 16

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416