I have thus given an important part of Waxahachie history, which I trust will prove instructive in its future. There are great opportunities presented every now and then, which should be taken advantage of and properly cared for by the progressive citizens of a community and should be ably seconded by a public spirit. This is due from every man who is a beneficiary of the growth of his home city.
It should be borne in mind that in the period when we first submitted the railroad proposition, Texas had hardly felt the great benefits of railroads and it was difficult to induce small communities to take hold of such enterprises; besides there was no money with which to build them.
It is easier now to build a long line of road, provided it is practicable and the inducement sufficient, than at that period of time to build a little tap road.
In conclusion, I must be pardoned for a seeming egotism in claiming to be the originator and having done the principal work in this enterprise, but I cannot do otherwise and state facts. Whilst it is true that others completed the road, it was comparatively an easy task to do this by giving it away. The only recognition I have ever had for my efforts in behalf of your town was an occasional expression from prominent citizens whom I met in years after: “Well, Mr. Graber, if you had not come to Waxahachie when you did, our town would have been an old rat hole.”—Dr. Conner. “Mr. Graber, they treated you badly.”—Captain Patrick. And other like expressions, but permit me to say I feel compensated in the fact that I was probably instrumental in starting your town on its upward march, and therefore feel that I have been of benefit to others, and have not lived in vain.
Thanking you for this courtesy, I am with great respect,
Yours very truly,
H. W. GRABER.
CHAPTER XXXI
Business Troubles.
The second year of my labors in building the Waxahachie Tap Road required all of my time, and, in consequence, a neglect of my business. This, coupled with the fact that many good farmers seemed to shun my business, fearing I would tackle them for a railroad stock subscription and the further fact that jealous competitors, joined by a man representing P. J. Willis & Brother of Galveston, a house I was dealing with most extensively and with whom I had a credit and a running account of about twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, and the representations of these competitors that I was investing heavily in the tap road, which was not a fact, caused me to become embarrassed in business. I paid my account with P. J. Willis & Brother in order to get rid of this jealous competitor, and this amounted to a withdrawal of fifteen thousand dollars of my capital.
In November of that year I owed nearly twenty-three thousand dollars, which I reduced to ninety-four hundred dollars by the first of March following.