Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-04-18
Extract of a Letter to the Editor, dated

Extract Of q Letter to the Editor, dated .-
GALVESTON. February TO- 1889.
Mr.. ADAMs-Before left Litchield you and some
others of my friends advised me not to go to Texas;
thinking presume, as many others dc, that it was a
den of cut-throats and villains; and that account
presume to write to you and if You think my letters
worthy of your attention, wish you togive them pub
LEGATION in your paper for various reasons will
from time to time give you history of the country,
the manners and customs of the inhabitants and in
fact give complete history of Texas-hopng can
remove many of the preudices existing in the minds
of many Of my friends a, the north All the nforma-
ton shall give will be from my own personal obser-
walton, or well authenticated sources. 1t is not ex-
pected shall see every man, woman and child, or
step upon every spot of ground, but probably shall
see enough to torn pretty good opinion respecting
When first started for Texas, I allow came with
some preudices, thinking might pass through unmo-
Tested, coming many others DO for little of the root
Of all evil ~ but since have arrived, have
formed very different opinion respecting the country
and its inhabitants. left New.York Jan'y 26, 1885,
and on'the 4th day Of Feby we made Galveston Isl.
and. -
Galveston is the principal port of entry in Texas.
The Island stretches along the Gulf of Mexico for
about thirty miles, in nearly north eas.erly and south
westerly direction. Upon the most eastern part is
laid out the City of Galucston. The harbor at this
city spacious, and sufficiently large for FIVE hundred
sail Of vessels to lie at anchor. Its immediate location
is one Of the most beautiful and healthy OH the sea.
coast. 1t is considerably rising above the bay affords
they think here) admirable ground for building. But
people coming from the north would think it otherwise;
for ever since have been here it has been almost i'm
possible to go the distance of feet without going up
to ANGLE deep in mud but the cause is easily account.
ed for At certain of the year they have hea-
Wy rains, and more particularly this season of the
year. But the warm sum- soon as it makes its ap-
pearahce, quickly dries up the mud. One year ago
there was but one framed building on the Island
Now there two hundred and fifty already up and
great numbers in progress and three thousand nhab.
ants. Where the city is now located is the place
where the celebrated Pirate, Lnftie, had his Fort,
with three thousand men. The city of Galveston is
laid out very handsomely with lots of forty feet front
by one hundred and twenty deep, and the principal
lots the water from o. COO to 600 lot,
and are still advancing in price. No docks or wharis
are yet completed, and the means Of discharging
freight is very bad principally unload by fats or
scows they charge 81. so oad and will carry about
50 bbs at time, and if you want 10 60 on board Of
any of the vessels in the bay you have to pay 81 and
upwards. At the present time, there eight Steam
Boats tina, go from this place, five TO Iiouston the
seat Ofgovernment seventy miles above, and three to
New Orleans. The amount of duties paid in at the
Custom House last year was rising of 100000, and
the probability next year will more than double In
speaking Of the harbor, vessels drawing twelve
feet of water cannot the bar, but vessels of
the right construction, of two hundred and fifty to
three hundred tons bur,hen can pass. Such vessels
are sufficiently large for the ooasting trade with the
United States, Mexico, South America, and also for
the West India trade. But for trade TO Europe and
other parts of the world, large vessels OF four or five
hundred tons may be desirable, If not necessary.
At the present time there is but little attention paid
to the farming interest; not more than two or three
plantations now cultivated on the Island; but cal
cuIatons are now making for cutvating the SOIL
The principal production will be cotton, quality or
quantity not surpassed in the United States, On this
whole Island there but two trees, bushes in clus
tiers, scattered here and there !; the prck!ey pear
grows in.abundance on The Island, and in some places
they have begun to cultivate the fig. Oranges and
lemons have not been cultivated at oil, and believe
they viii not grow, the climate not exactly suitable.
By the first Of April we shall have the melon in per-
fiction; they have made their gardens. and our
tables will be loaded with all the Injuries that the
north have in July and August. The inhabitants Of
this Island mostly from tho United States, prnci.
patty from the Southern and Western States, but
casionaly you will meet full blooded Yankee, sell
ling his wooden clocks, nutmegs, &c. &C., and will
pick up some Of their loose change, and as far as
have seen they will have 10 take the lead in trade
VIC. R.
Cold CoMFoRr.-The Loco Focos profess to feel
quite rejoced in view Of The fact that majority is
not quite as large as il last year. II they
E,pAn The