Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-08-16
Editorial CORRESPONDENCE.

InprorenGntS about CidrESrtfe - business - Inc
Crops and Scason--7errifc Storm and Destruc-
tion Of Property-Eraminaion at the .ncRen=te
Iastitutc-PuJhc Spcaking-Prospects Of the Dif-
teren. Candidatcs-PolficS, sc.
GAINESVILLE, Texas, Aug I'd, 1856.
Dear Herald:I have scarcely anything worthy Of
note to communicate since my last.
This place has improved but little since my last
visit The Me.hodists are building large and conf
modiou Church. and other buildings of less note have
gone up. The amount of business done here, partic-
ularly the amount of goods sold, judge, isconsdera-
bly, less than that at Dallas Most of the merchants
here have had to haul their goods for the last two
years from Shreveport and Gaines Landing The river
has been down except at intervals for the whole OF
that time Two crops of cotton have thus been kept
from the market except such succeeded iii getting
their crops down the river on fiat boats. The consc-
quence is an unusual depression and stringcncy in
money matters Everybody complains of hard times
Many of the most substantial farmers Of the county
are unable to pay their debts until they get their
cotton to market and sell it. All, however, have
enough to live upon Bes des the present CROP which
is an average one, many have suicency of old corn
to last another year. The cotton crop was suffering
for rain until few days since, when we were favored
by good selsCn which will save the crop
On Thursday night last this neghborhood Wis
tied by one of the most terrific thunder storms have
ever witnessed. For two hours there continued
blaze of the most vivid lightning, accompanied by
,deafning peas of thunder that seemed to shake the
very foundations of the GARTH The lightning struck
in many places in the ncighborhood, but did no seri-
GUS damage except at Mr.. James Ritchie's, about n
mile and half from this place. Mr. Ritchies barn,
cribs stables, granery, &C., are oil connected to-
gether under the same roof The barn was struck by
lightning about ten O'Clock at night, in the midst Of
the storm. The ethereal spark is supposed to have
been communicated to some of the combustible mate
rial about the premises, and the whole building, when
discov cred, was wrapt in sheet Of fame. Nothing
was saved the barn, cribs, stables grainery, corn,
fodder, wheat and farming utensils, together with
four horses, were burnt up. The loss will probably
amount to $1,000 or 81 500.
The examination of the pupils at MKenzie's 1nsti-
tute, three miles West of this place, commenced on
Monday and closed Thursday last. This is the
most hourishing well one of the oldest literary
Institutions in the State. 1t has just and widespread
celebrity not ony IN leAas Out In all the surrounding
states is sufficiently attested by the goody number
of students from other states, in which Arkansas Lou
siana Alabama and the civilized Indian tribes on the
Red River, we're well represented. attended several
days of the examination and, together with the large
ofspectators witnessed ndubitabe evidence
Of the thorough training to which the young gentlemen
and ladies of the Institute have been subjected well
as the rapd progress they have made in their studies
Of course could not parcularize, in the limits Of an
ordinary letter. the details Of the course ofins ruction
as ELECTED in the examination II is sufficient TO say