its lawn in summer is an oasis in the midst of paved streets. Great is the influence of civic leagues.
Stores, churches, schools, homes continued to increase and despite the fact that almost every able-bodied citizen was away In the array the greater part of four years — and the reconstruction period was fraught with even more bitter strife, the growth was steady. The materials for building, stocking a store, etc., all had to be hauled by ox wagons about one hundred miles from Millican, which was the terminus of the Central road up to about 1870. People traveled by stage coach and did not make as much fuss over a three days' delay in arriving at their destination as we do now over three hours.
I have mentioned the Baptist and Methodists for they were the pioneers in religious and educational work, but soon there were Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Campbellites and various other sects. One achievement which by its importance would seem to belong to the "Progressive City Period" is a standing monument to the enterprising "Country Town," for immediately after the war between the states, when the town numbered less than four thousand inhabitants, there was formed a corporation to build a suspension bridge at a cost of about $140,000, which price was probably due to the fluctuation of United States currency. It was finished in 1870 and was the second longest single span bridge, not only in the state or nation, but in the world. It stood without a pier — spell it any way you please. The material for the suspension bridge, its immense cables of copper wire, large castings, etc., were hauled on ox wagons from Bremond — 45 miles — that being the nearest railroad point. (For years it was a toll bridge, and was bought by the city and county at the price of $75,000 in 1889, and made free).
This one example makes Waco unique in her ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible. This connected Waco proper with East Waco — then a cotton field, now a thriving place of three or four thousand inhabitants, with paved streets, schools, factories, churches and all the improvements that go to make up the modern city. And East Waco can boast that it had the first railroad, for the Houston and Texas Central built from Bremond in 1871, and they have extended their tracks some three hundred miles to the northwest, now the "Texas Central."
THE PROGRESSIVE CITY.
Waco has achieved many things, overcome many obstacles, made mistakes, of course, but I shall not mention those except as in the case of the cutting of the trees in the court house square, and the few others that bear directly on our present day work, in city, state and nation. By recognizing these mistakes and trying to remedy them, we also assist younger towns to prevent them, and the sooner will reach our aim for civic beauty. I have endeavored to eliminate the mistakes, but you will be sure to stumble over them. When you have to wait for your train at McGregor you can not help wondering why the Santa Fe did not pass through Waco — it's a long and painful story. It happened more than twenty years ago and we have not quite recovered, but it is fast becoming a reminiscence since we have been enjoying for a year the "Santa Fe Connection,"
