Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-18
Ell Paso.


A correspondent of the San Antonio Ledger, da
ting at 81 Psso, Nov 8, 1857, gives the following
graphic account of affairs on that extreme border
of the State.
Fl Paeo county is decidedly the richest vslley OF
the Rio Grande 10 Texas, and had we plenty o
good American farmers to till the land. it would
soon become perfect garden. As it is ever with
Mexican culture, every thing is made in abundauce
for home consumption. ! came here st the prop
or time TO see the corn growing in full vigor, and
must candidly admit that have never seen better
corn grown in the State Of Texas The farmers
here don't ask the rain any o5ds for whenever
thy want water, they have only to open their
bitches, and their farms are soon irrigated. This
mode of farming is not popular With Americans;
and when they get thus far westward, they conceive
t5st they can smell goIi in the California lands. and
push Or; but be assured that nine ont Of every ten
would fare better If they could make up their minds
and stop, and 20 TO tilling the earth.
Corn is planted here generally from the 18th to
the 25th of June, ard not more than two wettings
required before the rainy season sets in, when
it soon comes to maturity. IWould suppose, look
ing at the crops standing in the fields as passed
ahrOugh them to this place. that each produced
it's sixty bushels of corn, besides pumkius beans,
wster-meloDs, &c. feel satisfied, however, that
with American pIows ar American farmers, the land
could be made to produce seventy-6ve bushels OF
corn to the acre, besides other crops in great
abundance.
As to wheat, I sincerely believe It is the b ct
raised in the United States the grain being large
aud heavy, clear of rust and smut, and grows lux
urianty. Beans, pumpkins, squashes, cabbages,
lettuce, turnips, carrots cucumbers, Gets and me-
Ions not inferior to the best grown in any part
of the world. Fruit of every kind-grspes and
fgs-are produced in great profusion; and the
wine made from the FL Paso grape, when taken
of, will compare with that of France or Italy.
Let me here make prediction, that if ever rail-
road reaches this country, more brandy and wine
will be produced than be consumed in the
Southern States. To walk through the vineyards
and fruit orchards of FL Paso during the summer
months, is a sight that would more than repay
traveller coming from distant Maine and such is
the salubrity OF the atmosphere, that many con-
sumptive persons, after sojournng here but short
time. regain their health. Bilious fevers, agues,
chils and pneumonia unknown to this country.
And more peaceful and cOntented population is
not to be found in the State of Texas
But my dear sir, after enumerating all the bene-
fits and pleasures of the country, / sorry to
confess there is dark side to the picture. The
country is infested by thieVing band of Indans
called Muscalero Appaches who punder the coun-
try WILL and retire again to their mountain fast
nesses, where they completely sheltered from
pursuit. few days ago. in the broad light of day
they approached within three quarters of a mile
OF the Fort (Blss) near this place. stole twenty-five
head of mules, and put out for the mountains But
two three Gays ago Mr.. Bradd Daily and family
were attacked near this place. but got away from
them after Exchanging a few shots, losing both of
his carriage horses. One of his horses was killed
by an Iudian the first shot.
The only way to manage these Indians, and it
has been advised again and again, is to make them
live at Pueblas and have them taught to work As
to any treaties the Government may make with
them, it is all fudge, for the ink will be hardly dry
upon the paper before they are again Dlundering
the country and committing murder.
Col Leach, with large force, reached this place
about two weeks ago, and commenced working on
the road near this place. He will continue on
through the winter, until he reaches Fort Yuma,
at the Gadsden purchase Col. Leach has quite
number of intelligent and gentlemanIy young men,
(engineers) along with him, and they appear to be
of the right stamp for carrying on the work.