The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-07-25
CoRREsPoNDENCE

An intelligent gentleman, formerly . cit
izen of Davenport, hut now . resident Of
Texas, writes US a lengthy letter in regard
to that country, from which we make the
following extract. Due allowance must be
made for q considerable mount of Preju-
dice. He says nothing Of the hortid in
sects that abound in that country. Though
the extremes Of heat and cold are greater
in Iowa, We, we presume the ayerase tenn
perature Of the t~welyemonth would not vary
considerably from that of Texas
with an imm q expanse OF territory
a genial healthy climate, unsurpassed ierti-
i,y OF soil, adapted to all the productions OF
the temperate and many OF the torr,d zones
almost exhaustless range, refreshing oaimy
~breezes. large extent of coast washed oy
the Mexican Guif,-with these and many
other grsa. advantages, Texas has the pros
pect of a great future. She has adsan'a'
ges which, in number and weight, are ane-
q~uslled, and her disadvantages are not Tor
the most part, without the possibility Of a
remedy. The north winds of the winter
season are often severe as they are SUDDEN
and are considered a very strong objection
TO Texas. But though they constitute an
unpleasant feature of her climate, yet tney
are not " ithout their obvious and great ben
ehts. They produce neither bad colds nor
sickness, but on the contrary brace the sys-
TEN, impart to it a higher tone aud incseas-
ed energy and purify the atmosphere. Tim
Der is scarce in many places, but the pratt
ries are surrounded by bodies of lasting ce.
dar or post oak, with other species OF tim.
Der which settlers can afford to haul a con.
siderable distance in view Of the c~heapness
OF land, and the fact that no clearing is ne
cessary. Many have thought it cheaper to
haul rail timber the distance of ten miles,
rather than to clear heavily timbered lanes.
II edges and firewood can be grown in the
course OF a few years, and with such rail-
road facilities as Texas must and will have,
lumber can be transported from her extern
sive ~pineries TO her prairie regions, both for
building and fencing purposes. The sub
ject Of railroads is now strongly exciting
public attention. A few have been com
meneed, others projected and systems OF
railroad communication on q large scale are
being discussed among the people.
The population of Texas is largely in
creasing, by the annual accession OF ,hous.
ands om the old States and the old world,
and she has the capacity, like the beautiful
State OF Iowa, for sustaining millions. 1t
is said by the knowing ones that in 1860;
Texas will rank fourth in point OF popula-
ton in the Union. The tide OF immigration
constantly flowing into the State is consid-
cradle. But Ipresume it will not compete
with Iowa. Texas contains an area OF
Sa5 $40 square miles-more than five times
as large as the State OF Georgia, and seven
times as large as the tate of New York
The climate though varying in location from
tropical to temperate is pleasant. The av-
erage heat, | understand, during The SUN
mer season is So Fair. During the win.
ter ice is seldom seen, except in the north
western part of the State. Periodical
winds rom the north in winter, and from
the south in summer, pass over the country
purifying the atmosphere and contributing
much 10 its sdlubrity."