The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-05-12

tohZALEs COUNTY, Texas,
AnFtl 81 rh lAr~

toNZALEs COUNTY, Texas
April y. th, 1851. )
IL may not be uninteresting to your readers, to
near from this far Southern country its products.
psosperny, &c aud although entirely unacquant
ed.-except by reputation and sight--with you |
VIII venture on your accommodating dispositiCp
Tor an insertion Of what | NAV write. In the
company OF friend, / left Richmond on the 5th
OF last December. and coming via Savannah, Ga
some what cireuitous route Mobile and New
Orleans. reached the city of Galveston on the 2lst
of the same month
Gatveston az you are perhaps aware, Ia th Z
principal shipping port of Texas, aud is on that
account, of more interest than il would otherwis.
be, having little else to recommendit IL II ia das
uoea.t 10 become OF more importance. when the ne w
@ @,ine OF steamers, owned by G. Vanderbilt, of New
holk' Zone or two of which are already on the
route,l are fully in operation This is both nj ~
line and route; almost fifty per cent In expenses
saved by the former, and los miles of travelin.
on the Gulf by the latter. The route commences
at New Orleans, and running via Berwicks Bay
and Galveston, terminates at Indianola Eighty
miles of the whole distance (3l5 mes) Is over rail-
road.
Houston, situated on Buffalo Bayou, at the head
of its navigation, is very tourisning city and is
the most noted for merchandising of any city or
town in Texas A Railroad is in operation from
this place to Richmond, about 81 miles, aud thence
it is being constructed to Austin via Columbus -
We viii all hail the time OF its completion the
harb,DSer of a bright epoch in our history After
towns, continued my wandering for some time,
aud stopped in Western Texas, near the CID town
of Gonzales hich is the scene of several struggles
for Texan independence. The Guadalupe river,
wends its way through some Of the richest lands
that Ii has ever been my fortune to see and were
| it notsc swift to prevent navigation, would
ask no better home, than one on its banks.
Lands here are cheap could wish com
msuding on aa average, ab lut 81 30 per acre
Corn and cotton the staple productions; the
IiHt1 ont III hQIs m thQ he
latter about 400 lbs, Cattle raising is the most
profitable business here and thous aids are driven
| yearly TO the States of Missouri aud AIkansas-
Horses are easily raised but being cross of the
Mexican musta1g ard American, they not so
valuable; commanding about S25 per head.
1t would amaze some of our old ViSginiaus, to
see with what dex:erity, Texan can la,So, or
they gsnei ally say, rope wild cew or horse. Is
affords no little Amusement | assure you
Merchandising would be good busi ess here. if
the policy of State government, had not preciuded
all possihl y Of establishing by banks, a coDve
nIeut currency; and thus dispense with the ruin
ous time system of lq dation, which the exclusive
gold ana SILVER currency has brought about The
Press se seraily seem to be awakened on this sub
jsct and look forw ard TO refo ocua.iou no dis
ssni period by 4 change of policy
as far as | am conversant with the appoint
N eAts Of Mr. BIchau n, l am very We'll sat, fled;
being gratihed TO see at old Virginia has a h5 nd
in Iekuiatiug tie machinery of this q lr glorious
unrY. This oelitve is the general sentiment OF
Texas
The people here unanimously in favor of
Walker proceedings in Nicaragua and manifest
as much interest in him, as if ii were cause OF
our own; this is appa -ent from the number going
from Texas 30 aid um. | could not wish for his
defear. although 1 anticI ate no adva. ,ges from
bis ascendency; fearing thai ambition rather than a
desire to assist the oppressed, impels him to such
action Having already irespassed upon you pa .
thence, l must close this hastily written, and de
fective epistle. Yours, &c,