The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-31
BRAzoRIA, Texas, February. lS47.

Trip from Galreston to Brasoria-NafuraI Turnpike
Wind-wagon- Of TrareI-Erchanging the
Names Of Ripers-.4musing .7necdote.
write you from Brazora In Texas. | arrived at
this place yesterday evening, having left Galveston
In the morning Of the day. We travelled In what
| is called stage in these parts-you would probably
name it wagon. Nevertheless had quite pleasant
of it. During the greater part Of the day road
along the beach by the waters edge and you
not imagine finer road than is here presented by
ture, without any labor any repair toll gates The
gulf beach In this country is composed of pure sand
and the descent from the main land into the water is
gradual that person might wade into the gulf hun
bred yards by merely rolling up his pantsloons above
his knees That part Of the beach which lies between
high and low tide. forms the turnpike upon which
travelled The have beaten upon the sand unit,
it has become firm, that the wheels of our stage
scarcely lift n track upon it, During the summer sea-
son pleasure carriage driven by sails navgstes this
road from Galveston down to the enda distance
Of thirty miles The proprietor Of IL charges believe
dollar for carrying person this distance and back
which he does in ten hoursa distance of sixty miles
The OF travel in this country however yet
very insufficient and announcement here is little
ments running from Galveston inland But capital
commands such high rate Of interest and besides IL
scarce that very slow progress is effected Foreign capt.
tai has not yet found its way into the channels which
are here awaiting it.
BrAzoria is the county seat of Brazoria county and
contains about hundred inhabitants It Is
the west side Of the Brazos river about thirty miles
from its mouth The territory around Brazoria is the
most fertile portion Of Texas and ut the same time the
unhealthy In this region will be found in the
OF few years. some of the finest sugar panta-
tions in the world There scarcely any bottom to be
found to the rich black mould of which the is
posed The few experiments which have been made in
the culture of sugar promise realization of the most
sanguine expectations.
Brazoria Is situated in the southern portion of the
territory which Stephen F. Austin chose for his colony
when he first settled Texas With the grant of lands
for the purpose Of colonization to Mr. Austin
ted oil those singular incidents which sometimes
account for the appropriateness Of names The river
Of Texas, which is called the Drazos was formerly
and first called the Rio Coloradoand the river which
bears the latter then known by the
mer. But in order to procure grant of land for a
colony in the location where he desired it, Stephen f.
Austin found 1t convenient to make these rivers ex.
change their names. By doing and presenting the
which the rivers laid down he did find 1t ne
cessary to contend with their former not
grant any land beyond the BrazOs The rivers have
yet been restored t. their former rghts-and pro-
badly will be. Perhaps it will be considered
strong confederation of the truth Of this incident that
the present Rio Colorado (Which Red River) il
clear crystals in fact remarkable rs one of the
cearest streams In the world whilst the Brazos is
turbid aud muddy stream such the Spaniards have
several times named Colorado.
There IL snecdoe connected with the first settle
ment Of this town which may prove undressing
to some of your readers 10 frat laid a II, n
Of the OF Robson in the latter part OF the wear
1926 Robson came to Texas from the United states
about that time, with six negroes which was
something unusual at that early day the history of
this great country He purchased 64O acres of lsud
from Brown Austin in the absence of Stephen r Aus
tin; and 1t is upon these the town now stands
Just where IL Is situated there plot or parcel of
ground called the pap corn patoh.p name which
it received from the raising of crop pop corn there
by emgrants who had arrived there some time be-
fore, but who Of had since left it, Robson laid
out his town and ohrssned IL Napoleon; but the name
unfortunate one. A man by the ane of Pettis
who wag and to have been the wit of that
day in these frof places gave 10 the name OF Napo-
leon de Pop Corn The effect Of cttis pleasantly was
to turn this place into ridcule much So as to almost
destroy all prospects of town When Stephen f. Aus
tin, however returned home Brown complained TO him
Of what Robson had done IL seems that the establish
mcnt Of towns at that time part of the preroga
tive The elder Austin hereupon made arran cement
with the Romulus Of the place whereby the walls of the
city were extended and Brown Austin was admitted to
the rights Of Remus-modernized The effect of this
plan account of the respect paid TO everything
stephen +. Austin did, the REDEEM ption of the place.
whtreupon 10 received a new name among men for Mr.
Austin called 1t Brazora" and no il is called gyen
unto this day But the devil being cast out IL WAS
bound to enter into something aud 10 and behold IL
entered poor Robson and he by the name of Pom
Corn Robson afterwards.
Though much the seat of war than Won
are thanks to the absence OF railroads and teeprahs
aud regular mails hear OF nothing which trans
pres there until you have done likewise / might
write you great deal from this place which might
perhaps be interesting; but as this letter has reached
proper length IL must be closed And 50, Tor the
nonce," bid you good bye