Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-01-09


has done so little TO initiate that bodness
and grandeur that characterize the extern
sive coast and interior of Maine. This, of
course, refers more particularly to Calves
ton island as the soil of the interior is
generally more fertile.
The city of Galveston is located on the
Eastern end Of the island and has been
laid out for very great place which it
must eventually become, for it has fine
harbor, the best, almost the only one on
the coast. Several tivers empty into Gal
weston bay. The country in the interior
is first rate cotton growing country, and
the cotton must all be brought here for
expectation. In fact Galveston must he TO
this part of the country what New Orleans
is TO the states bordering on the Mlsslssip-
pi.
The population of the city is rapidly in
creasing unless one could be an eye
witness, it would hardly IL believed, the
rapidty with which houses go up and fam
lilies are settling around us. Two years
ago there were TO inhabitants, and, oil
course, no dwelling houses here, now there
is large city laid out and filling up al
most incredibly fast large, handsome
stores are built, hotels wharves, and all
the other necessary, and many unnecessary
buildings and appurtenances OF what Is to
be, at no distant day, the commercial en-
porium Of Texas, are going up as II by
magic. Two school houses have been
built this summer, close by my residence,
and the square, directly opposite, has been
given for an Episcopal Church lot OF
land on the same street has been selected
for Congregational meeting house. A
Sabbath school has been successfully com
menced-a temperance society formed, and
the city authorities are taking all measures
essential to the proper regulation Of order
and quetness throughout their department.
The city now contains about three thou
sand inhabitants this estimation does not
include the transient population whom
business, amusement or speculatioDs of va
rious kinds are taking all over the country.
The SOIL on the island, has not been fair
" tried and | should think is ton sandy 10
be very fertile, besides it needs two or
three summers cultivation, at least, to bring
it into fit state to produce much.
We have had varions kinds Of fine vege-
tables from the county, and indeed there
have been great many raised on the Is
land Figs, grapes and melons are the
only fruit have seen, except few dew
berries which very much resemble, in APP
pearance aud taste, the common backber-
ry, only much larger. Vegetables are
enormously dear every eatable may be
obtained here but at exorbitant prices.
AS | sit writing in my chamber | can
look out to the North on the bay where
there are even at this time Of year, a
great many vessels, and on the South
can see the blue waters of the Gull OF
Mexico, and hear the almost incessant roar
Of its waves upon the beach. This by the
way is a favourite ride; one can 90 thirty
miles on beautiful hard beach-occa-
sionaly crossing bayou, quite at the ex-
tremity of the island Some kind of fam
lily carriage would not only be luxury,
but seems almost a necessary article for
this place. The winter season is general
" wet and very muddy; Gentlemen go
constantly with their boots outside of their
pan,aloons This is however, considered
very healthy place ; the complaint most
prevalent, and which generally precedes
all others, is darrhea 1t is usually, &C.
casioned by the same causes which produce
il at the North-intemperance in eating
or drinking, and imprudent exposure.
One thing struck me oddly when came
here, that was, seeing no chimnies, and
as the houses are not clapboarded as they
are at the North, they have rough ap-
pearance which make them to a stranger
look like a collection of barns--indeed
MANY Of them are little better as the eli
( mate requires little else than protection
| from the excessive heat in summer and