Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-10-27
TEXAS.

An intelligent correspondent from tho wilds of
Texas, furnishes with many interesting facts which
have come under his imnedute observation. We
give the substance Of them below for the benefit Of
our reaGors 1t is as well to SEQ tho dark Us tho
bright side Of those Western pictures.
Tho State of Texas on its Eastern border common
ces ut Longitude o.; its extreme Western border, FL
Pa,o at lO7 its most Southern point to latitude
26 and its most Northern to &c. 90. Its Eastern
ties or considerable portion Of them, similar to
the States of Louisiana and Arkansas, wlich form
its Eastern boundary. But West Of these is vnst terri
tory differing very much from any country between
that and Canada. The principal natural features Of
h. region are its houndess prarics and cross mbers
the former covered with luxurinnt grass, tho latter
consisting almost entirely of post oak Those cross
mbcrs are confined almost entirely to two localities,
the chief one commencing about latitude 32 longitude
lO2 and running North East across Red River. This
is about all tue timber worth mentioning on up.lands
in Western Texas.
Her streams are very few and generally very indif-
fsreut. Compared with the States East Of her, tho
country is without doubt very badly watered there
is not single stream in thu whole State that can be
depended on for navigation any distance into the
interior, and one may ride for days and not get a
single drink of good water.
There is variety of soil, Of course, in extensive
country but still there i, sumencss than exists
in any of the other States, The lnnds generally
rich, frequently very rich for hundreds Of miles, and
the landscape beautiful as it is possible to conceive.
large portion Of tue State is based soft rotten
limestone. The Northern counties arc on hard lime
stone and generally healthy. 1t would be Of the
most desirable countries earth if it enjoyed even
tolerable seasons. But after passing longitude 9G
you come to very dry region; and ut longitude 0S
it is no farming country at all. There be de-
pcudence placed Summer crops. Some of the
richest up-lands in tho world, in consequence, will
turn off not unfrequently lcss than flee bushels Of
Corn to the acre. The same lands have this year
producod from 20 to 80 bushels of Whcut per mere.
During the present Summer, there was not single
season of rain not one indeed from the 2jth April to
tho Sth September.
The climate cannot be said to be decidedly bad !;
but it is much too variable to be considered good.
Nights are always pleasant in Summer; but the days
ore frequently very ho. Fahrenheit often rising to
1000 on Friday tho 9th of August last it rose to
1919, and the very next morning fell to 660. There
was brisk wind both days from The North. On Fri
day it was like Simeon Of tho Desert; on Saturday
an overcoat was comfortable This though, perhaps
was unusual. At Camp Cooper last year, the mcrcu-
ry rose to 1000 the first week in June.
But the grentcst bano of Texas is want of water
and timber, of uater especially. Both ruin, sprngs
branches and rivers, West Of longitude 99 arc worth
loss for sll purposes Of tho planter unless ho
located on u stream like the beautiful San Antonio
with valley land capable of irrigation. Mr. KENDALL,
of Picayune celebrity, writes very differently, but the
tacts are at variance with his glowing accounts.
Many persons can doubtless better their condition
by coming hero; but those in tho older States who
are doing we'll would make hazardous change in
doing 30. The true advice to them is to stay where
they are.
The Te1ians themselves are nm inducement to come
them. They are true Southerners and al
ways entertain strangers with the greatest kindness
md generosity. Yet many of them are dissatisfied.
Evon in Tarrant and the adjoining counties this is
tho caso,-the most beautiful part of Texas.