Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-11-24

as required, that quite large number of linen l.
tents we're pitched IN every direction over the i
prary, which gave the city the appearance of
Methodist camp-ground. Some of these tents, i
such used for groceries, were calculated 1
TO surprise one from their grea, size. A number
Of them measured more than hundred feet each
in circumference, with comic al tops, thirty or FOX
ty feet IN height, supported by means OF pole
the centre.
Laborng hands were then exceedingly scare
50 that house carpenter even if he was not
more than an ordinary hand would readily con- |
mand after being boarded the sum of three dollars
| day. Lumber ri all kinds hard TO be pro- i
cured, and was selling Tor seventy dollars ,hous-
and. Some was brought from the United States;
! but most Of what was used sawed ~ hands |
at pits, whose operations could be seen AID heard
in every quarter Of the city Notwithstanding |
! the high prices Of every thing improvements went
on, and people rushed IN until the place in the |
| fall, when l left, contained some RESPECTABLE |
! frame buildings, and numbered, as was told by |
the best authority, seven hundred inhabitants.
! 1t is nothing more than right that should men
I ton, that many Of the improvements were tempo
rarv, and that it was matter of doubt how long
most of those who were there intended to re-
main.
| 1t occurred to me that the most of those who
might be considered citizens, were mele adven-
turcrs, who had pitched their tents for a time up
on the prairy, TO see what advantages might be
seized upon in the combinations which were form
ing from the elements that were about to create
new nation; with ii view to depart should fortune
prove untind. Persons visiting the place during
4 the summer, with the in ten,ion Of making obser-
vatIons upon the country, before they linked
themselves with its destiny, and who came to
speculate, from any other motive, suffered great
Inconvenience for the want of accommodations.
A blanket upon the ground, upon the floor, or any
where else. so it was under cover, much
as could be expected. NV own couch at one of
the principal hotels, viii give the the reader
idea of the comforts of the place i'll this pariicu-
lar, if he will keep in mind that, from the fact
that was n regular boarder, was entitled to the
best bed IN the house. In open cabin without
floor, fork driven into the ground, a few
feet from ono of the corners. Poles were laid
from the fork to the openings in the logs which
were covered with clapbos rds Upon this plat
form was strewcd some moss, which toge, hcr with
blanket made up the whole bed. Perchcd upon
such an eminence, could look down with a kind
of patrician dignity upon the less favored, who
were Uttered upon the ground. But the ottiest
pened, tina; the boards became displaced, which
often occurred from the invldious feelings with
which my elevation was regarded, suffered The
penalty of all superior professions. by tumble
upon the gro md. The inconvenience of bad
lodging has been IN great measure obNlated by
the erection OF large and comnodious frame
bnild,ng, used q house of public entertainment.
Provisions during the summer were scarce, and
. living not only extremely Indifferent, but
! very high. From one dollar and n half to two
dollars day cheap as boarding could be
had. Even the sweet potatoe, which grows here
to the greatest perfection, sold as high four
! dollars per bushel; and corn, most of which was
imported, was selling for FIVE dollars for the same
; measure, during the create: part of the summer.
Flour varied according TO the arriva! of vessels
from the United States, from fifteen to thirty dol
lars barrel; and that, too often of the in
different kind Chickens sold for dollar apiece,
and eggs high dollar a-dozen. Surely it
cannot be said. 10 account for all this, that the
= great influx of Immigrants, created an Overd'aft
: upon the usual productions of the GENTRY; for it
must be borne in mind that two-tblrds OF the i'm.
, migrants stopped in Houston, (if we will except
those who went 10 the Eastern part of Texas.
which, however, does not alter the case J and as
the whole population at that place, did not exceed
the number of seven hundred at any tine, one
third of which Texans collected rom the
surrounding country. an attempt to account for
the grea. scarcity and high prices of eve.y thing
in this way, can excite nothing but o smile. When
consider that no country exceis Texas in fine
cattle, would suppose that butter md milk
could be had in the greatest abundance, and upon
the most reasonable terms, yet It is fact. that
while the latter was scarce and hard to get, the
former could seldom be procured at any price.
This Will appear strange to the reader when he
/ is informed that butter was worth from fifty to
, seventy five pound; and that there a num-
Der of persons in the neighborhood of Houston
head of cattle One would suppose that vege,a
bles might be had a, moderate prices in country
where they may be planted at almost all seasons
of the year; and which is said to be productive
, in the highest extent. Still every kind WI:
scarce, and could not be had at any sum. The
best explanation for all this, be sough, for II
the unsettled state of the country; which, if ia,
from being satisfactory, is the best that can b.
, given without rejecting upon the industry of the
inhabitants. Ii is TO be feared that the Texa.
! farmer, accustomed to provide only for his OWL
r wants, must have some more powerful inducemen
than he has yet Felt 10 tax his exertons to contri
: butte any thing to those of his neighbor.
o To compensate, however, for bad bread wan
of butter, vegetables and milk, the traveller IT
: Texas has good beef as is to be found in any
d part OF the world which may be had in the great
n est abundance al from two TO four cents pound
n In the month OF March, beef killed upon the p-a
: rie. is sweet tender and fat any have
g seen or eaten. During the summer. the none,
I most in circulation, was notes of the Louisiana
;. and Mississippi banks and gold and silver Note:
II upon most of the southern and miGdle States pass
ed without difficulty. Bank paper by NJ
h means scarce, every person coming from tn.
States. especially those who called specala
: tors. brought i, with them in large quantities Blu