Chapter M: C. Hurley and J. J. Roche both still living and residents of the city

were active participants in the promotion and construction of this road. It was later absorbed by the Southern Pacific System, where the ownership still remains.

The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe railway entered Fort Worth on the second day of December, 1881. In the meantime work had commenced on the Fort Worth & Denver City railway, which was chartered as early as 1873, and the construction of which was delayed by the same panic that had wrought such havoc to the fortunes of the Texas & Pacific. The grading was commenced on this road in November, 1881, at or near the present station of Hodge. The first rail was laid the following February and the work was prosecuted with vigor until the road reached the State line at Texline, where it met the Denver & New Orleans, which had been constructed from the City of Denver.

The M. K. & T. came into Fort Worth over the rails of the Trans-Continental Division of the Texas & Pacific in the early part of 1880. It continues to use the same line, there being a joint ownership thereof.

On November 23d, 1886, work was commenced on The Fort Worth & Rio Grande, a company organized and promoted by the writer.

In 1887-8 the "Cotton Belt" made its advent into this city and in the 90's came the Rock Island, the Frisco and the I. & G. N. The Trinity & Brazos Valley followed soon after using the Santa Fe rails between this city and Cleburne and later the Rock Island between this place and Dallas.

PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.

Many erroneous statements have been made from time to time about the organization of the Public Free School System of this city. Credit for this work has been ascribed by different persons to almost every one that ever had anything to do with the schools, and to some that never had anything to do with them, except, perhaps what they were paid to do out of the school funds of the city.

The truth of history makes it necessary to say that credit for the initial work essential to the organization is due more than to any one else to Major K. M. VanZandt, Dr. Carroll M. Peak and to the Fort Worth Democrat.

As early as January, 1877, the Democrat commenced a campaign for an independent school system in this city. It appealed to the City Council to order an election to ascertain whether the people desired to take control of the schools. The necessary resolutions were passed and an election ordered for the 28th day of February, with Dr. Peak as presiding officer. The election was held at which 90 votes were cast; 85 for and 5 against the proposition.

When it was proposed to organize, it was contended that a city of less than 10,000 population could not become an independent school district. As Fort Worth had less than half this number of people, the project was abandoned until the early part of 1882. All during the interim the persons mentioned were working in favor of the independent schools. It was known that there was opposition to the special tax for school purposes.

In February, 1882, the Council was again appealed to. This time to have a special census taken to ascertain if the requisite number of people lived in Fort Worth to authorize an independent district. The Council objected to this on account of funds. The writer of these lines agreed to do the work of supervision and Col. Smith and Maj. VanZandt furnished the money to pay the enumerators. The work was done efficiently for the sum of $300.00 and there were found in Fort Worth 11,136 people. A. E. Want was one of the enumerators who took this census. An election was then ordered to levy a special tax to supplement the school fund. Dr. Peak was on the streets, in season and out of season, urging the tax and it was approved by a very handsome majority. There were only 35 votes cast against the proposition, but from the noise made by the opponents, many more were anticipated.

The first School Trustees were J. J. Jarvis, John Hanna and W. H. Baldridge. The school opened in October with about 650 pupils.

An advertisement was inserted in the local papers and those in Saint Louis for a superintendent. There were thirty-two applications filed and some of the applicants came in person to interview the trustees. After much deliberation and discussion Prof. Alexander Hogg, of Marshall, was elected at a salary of $1200 per annum. He entered upon his duties at the Fall opening of the schools. The following teachers were selected:

Principals: Mrs. Clara Walden, Miss Sue Huffman and Thos. Lacey.

First Grade: Miss Jennie Oliver, Emma Hildebrand, Pinka Jones, Ida Rich and Mrs. M. L. Pearcy.

Second Grade: Miss Bessie Foute, Jennie Howard, R. Madden, Eva Haywood, Clara Burnham, Maud P. Johnson, Lula Dial and J. N. Lacey.

There was in the Available School Fund $3,906 and the Board announced that with the special tax levy a school could be conducted ten months in the year.

CHURCHES.

When the writer came to Fort Worth in October, 1872, the only church edifice in the town was that of the Christian church which occupied the center of the block bounded by Main and Houston, Fourth and Fifth streets. It was a small brick structure but of ample proportions to accommodate the small congregation that worshipped there. Elder J. A. Clark filled the pulpit.

The Presbyterians had no organization at that time, but one was perfected early in the year 1873 and there were services once a month by an evangelist who lived at Waxahachie. Very soon Rev. W. M. Kilpatrick, who was traveling through North Texas with his family, in a covered wagon, was called by this denomination and thereafter it had regular services in a room over Knight's livery stable, which stood about the corner of Calhoun and Third streets.

The Methodists worshipped every Sunday morning and evening at the Court House with Rev. R. R. H. Burnett as pastor.

The Baptists under Rev. J. R. Masters met on the first and second Sundays at the Masonic building, which stood in the middle of Belknap street, near the corner of Elm.

The Cumberland Presbyterians held one meeting in the month at the same place with Rev. W. D. Wear as pastor.

The Catholics met on the last Sunday of the month at the residence of Mr. Scott, on Main street, Father Parrier being their priest.

On May 15th, 1874, the Methodists commenced the erection of a place of worship at the corner of Fourth and Grove streets, where they remained until their present commodious and imposing structure was erected.

The Baptists started the building of their first church on the 15th day of August, 1874. The building was erected on the grounds where the City Hall now stands.

In May, 1877, the Presbyterians commenced the erection of a commodious edifice at the corner of Fourth and Jones streets. B. B. Paddock, J. P. Alexander, J. M. Hartsfield, S. P. Greene and J. C. Scott composed the building committee. It was described by a local writer of the day as "handsome and commodious." It must have been, as its dimensions were 30x50 feet and would seat 350 people.

The Episcopalians seem to have left no record that is accessible of their early work, but it is known that they were here, though in small numbers. They must have made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers for it is recorded that on November 23d, 1877, they purchased a lot at the corner of Rusk at Fifth street for the fabulous sum of $325.00 and announced that they would proceed to build a church edifice. They kept the promise. It was occupied for the first time on the 12th day of February, 1878. It was dedicated April 15th, 1878. It was reported to have a seating capacity of 280.

As an evidence of the change that time has wrought in church matters, it is recorded that the Rev. M. D. Fly tendered his resignation as pastor of the First Methodist church in September, 1878, giving as a reason for his action that he could not live on $275.00 per year. That must have been before W. J. Boaz joined the church and before George Mulkey made his "stake."

FRATERNITIES.

Fort Worth Lodge, Number 148, A. F. & A. M., is the largest and wealthiest Masonic lodge in the state. It was constituted April 14th, 1854, "Under Dispensation" issued by M. W. Grand Master Wm. M. Taylor on the 18th day of March, 1854, and chartered January 18th, 1855. Julian Feild was the first Worshipful Master and John Peter Smith its first Secretary. Its first home was a two story brick structure which stood in the middle of Belknap street, at the intersection of Elm street. The lower story was used for school and church purposes. The writer of these pages is the Senior Past Master of the Lodge at this time. W. H. Feild, the present Secretary has filled that position for about thirty years, the last twenty-five of which have been consecutive.

There was a small lodge of the I. O. O. F., but no record of its official roster is accessible to the writer at this time.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

The first meeting held to perfect an organization of a Lodge of Knights of Pythias was on July 23d, 1877.

Queen City Lodge No. 21 was organized August 17th, 1877, with G. M. Otten, P. C.; T. S. Levy, C. C.; Max Elser, V. C.; Chas. Gay, M. of A.

Red Cross Lodge No. 14 was organized February 26th, 1881, with S. Rosenfield, P. C.; W. R. Gause, C. C.; C. K. Fairfax, V. C.; H. P. Purnell, M. of A.

The lodges at once took up the matter of the erection of a Castle Hall. Committees were appointed and subscriptions obtained as far as possible and a bond and mortgage placed on the property for $12,000, bearing twelve per cent interest.

The corner stone was laid on the sixth day of June, 1881, with impressive ceremonies under the direction of Supreme Chancellor Justin H. Rathbone, of Washington City.

The lodges formed in procession at the corner of Fourth and Main streets and marched to Weatherford street, thence to Houston, thence to Fourth, thence to Main, thence to Third at the corner of which the Castle Hall was to be erected.