Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-07-17
A Letter from Austin.
AUSTIN Texas, July 9th,

AUSTIN lex1s, July oln, ISOo.
Before this, YOU ought 70 have had some
thing in the way Of letter, had fulfilled my
promise, but "promisesS these hard times are
made only to be broken by so many, that the
most honest and well meaning can sometimes
but 90 with the herd. AS matter Of news in
these parts, we have nothing that would excite
IA degree Of interest beyond the usual anxiety
felt BY "heads of families" to obtain by honest
means, the whrrewithfo feedand clorhe their
responsibilities. From efprospect now, this
anxiety j, soon to be gratiied, in the harvest
Of breadstufs this fall. Notwithstanding this re-
gior of country was SO devastated the past
lspring by old nun Pharoah's curse, the ocusts.
We have had frequent fine showers Of late, in
various parts of this county, and may safely
calculate on something over halfcrop of
corn. Immediately around this "city of hills"
the visitations Of Providence in the way Of re-
fteshing rains have not been troublesome,
though our gardens have not suffered very
greatly The crop Of sorgho will help out as.
tonishingly, Of which there has been consd.
cradle quantity raised. For this dry latitude,
| am very strong in the faith, that this plant is
the very article and from the trials | have
made with it in the last week, | am induced
to class it with the old niggers rabbit-good
for most anything. appropriated a measured
acre of ground, from my small patch, to it this
season for a n;al-the poorest spot had. A
few days ago constructed little millcostng
me $3.50 in cash, and my own labor worth 81,
per- day S2-cost of mill $50 all told-by
which can get about one half the juice from
the stalk, giving me about fifteen gallons per
hour. have boiled in a common wash pot,
and yesterday made about two gallons of the
finest favored, the best looking, and sweetest
syrup lever have tasted If the necessary at
tention is given in the clarifying or defeating
process, it is no sort OF trouble to make syrup
equal, if not superior to the very best steam
refined. have cut and ground the poorest Of
my cane, the yield has been 20 per- cent Of
syrup. Outside of this, everything, cattle,
hogs, horses, chickens, and children have been
aud are still in good keeping from devouring
it.
The "glorious fourth" passed off quietly
here being Sunday.) On Monday however
the dawn brought the noise ofcannon under the
direction Of the Quitman Rifles, newly or
ganized volunteer company, displaying in their
dress and movements on parade as much mill
tary precision and knowledge as the best train
ed troops. am not aware that they have Of
iored their services to His Excellency FOR the
new Regiment or that they intend doing So
At IL o'clock banner was presented TO them
in the Hall Of the Capitol by the ladies Of Aus
tin, and flag by the ladies Of Galveston, so it
seems that they are appreciated abroad as well
as at home. Appropriate patriotic speeches
were made on the occasion pro and con tthe
ron means side bar remarks Of course add AT
niehfthe exercises Of the occasion were wound
% vita ball WHARF che besux and aaaeaa-
,rsissllss had an eppsnghi,y 10 pat The besl
foof ieregezi and 'ypsng Amsr'ea' Nasqaiie