The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-04-11
THINGS IN TEXAS,
Fayette, 1854.

Tho New York Times has correspondent
who is making a tour in tho Southwest, and
whose letters arc really valuable as giving a
sort of daguerreotype picture of what he secs,
and truthful relation of what he hears
His latest letter is from Austin, the capitol OF
Texas. and he gives the following as the rates
of living. the prices of work and for materials
for building there. He also has found that cot
ton is really cultivated by free labor. and can
be cultivated just profitable as bv slave la
Dor. 1t will al be seen that there are tricks
practiced to obtain work for slaves at remune-
rating prices by these who advocate the patri-
archal Institution. when they come in compe
ttion with free labor, Just as though it cost
more to do tho work by slaves:
To-day, met a free-labor cotton planter.
It is the first time you ever the words
reader; pause a moment and think what they
portend. Stop yet momon. longer. and look
at the map. 1t is in the west and emigra-
ton is actually rolling over slavery in that di-
roction. Cotton comes to market this year
from beyond Slavery. One thousand bales,
probably out of three million.
The cost of living at Austin is extraordnari-
ly high. Twill append list of prices of build
ing materials. Sc, and Of articles of household
use, as sold at retail
Pine lumber is car,ed from Bastrop. thirty
miles below where there is tract of poor pine
land and number of steam mills. Boards are
sold at 4,50 to $5 per 100 feet. Brick poorly
made in the vicinity are sold at tho kilns at
$40 per M. The town is built upon ledge
of very soft limestone. which is worked almost
as easily as wood II is cons 'derably used for
building-I do not know at what cost.
Wages of negroes are higher than 7 have
known them anywhere else. Notwithstanding
some German competition in the labor market
Tho Germans complained that the labor in
building the State Capitol was advertised 10
be contracted for 10 the lowest bidder Nh
nv Germans came with offers but were undor
bid by negro owners. After the G rman.
had all left town again, these gon'lemcn threw
up thor contracts and new contracts were
made with them at advanced prices. 4 lot of
the negroes engaged as lbborers on the Capitol
only one of them poor mechanic, were late
ly hired for the year at $3.50 EACH the hire to
cothp and board them, field hands in the coun-
try, @l90, clothes. &c. A negro cook. the
poorest possible, was told. was paid $50 a
month at the hotel Another hired at 5000 a
year. l saw very pretty girl II years old.
who had beenborght for 5000 first rate white
iourneyman mechanic commanded $50 month
and found.
Rcnts-vory high. A smithy, 30x20 feet of
brick, one story high, rented for $50 month.
A log shanty, the poorest a mechanic could
think of living in, go month
Rails for fencing one plantation, S. per 100
Iron. bar Sc; nail, &C.: Shoe l0c. cast steel.
30c.; horse shoeing. 75c. shoe: charcoal, 25c
a bushel: mineral coal, mono to be had. wood
for fuel, knotty oak, S3 cord; washing g per
dozen,
There were thousands of cattle pasturing
within sight of the town, hut milk sold by con-
tract, for The season, at 12bc. quart, and at
yetail at 15c. to 20c Butter-Goshen, 4Oc.;
country fresh. soc.
Fiour Sl5 barrel; bread of inferior -four,
by German bakers, SC. per h.: corn, soc. to
75c bushel; eggs 25c. per dozen; crackers
15c. per h.; sugar, crushed, 1890. per lb.;
"Star' (New York; candles. 40c. per ib; ap.
pies inferior, 75c. per dozen; beef; fresh, 3hc.
per ID; pork. do. &c.; bacon sides, lSc.; hams,
zoe. to 25c. per pound.
Rope, Manila half-inch line, lOc. per ib.-
Harness lcateer. (such rs is bought in New
York at 20c.,) 40c. per pound.