Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-04-07


ton, who ale looking 10 that country as their
future home:-ED.
FAYErTE COUNTY, KY
February 22d, 1859.
W. Is. Thomson, Saline Co., Mol be.
liers l wrote you from Texas a short time
before we left, giving you some of the ad-
vantages of a Texas life, in the way of
stock raising. will now, for fear should
be the means of your being pleased, suffi-
GENTLY, to leave one of the best States in
the Union, give you some of the disadvan.
tages Of that great State, which you have
heard, probably, SO much said about.
In the first place, l will simply state, that
| shall confine myself to facts, as near as |
can. John is situated in Eastern Texas.
some sixty miles from Jefferson, the most
important town In all that country, being
the head of navigation, except in extreme
tides. All Of Eastern Texas is, { as con-
slider, remarkably poor white sand soil,
which you would think nothing could be
sprou'ed; nevertheless they raise great
deal Of cotton, which they have to haul, say
from Johns, sixty miles in OK wagons.
They plant corn and raise in extra seasons,
four barrels per acre, but generally, about
three. They have TO plant one stalk in q
hill, and no more, and that four and half
to hive feet apart. each way. They never
get less than ST 90 per bushel for all they
can raise, making $500 per barrel. The
principle growth is post oak, black jack,
and hickory, and there is actually more
clearing underground than on top. The
last Of June, John had all his corn in the
crib, and not much at that. The corn don't
seem TO mature in that country, consequent
ly the bread is not very good. They raise
more sweet potatoes than the law allows
don't care if never see ons again. have
eaten SO many. They cannot raise much of
anything in consequence Of their periodical
rains. Their rains fall in the winter and
spring, up to the middle of April; then
they don't have any mere until next winter
or spring. So you see that 1t is impossible
to raise much, 1t is the dryest country in
summer ever seen. They raise but few
hogs, for they can't afford 10 feed them on
corn. This fall they did well, for there
was plenty of mast; but if they don't gel
mast they are eaten up in shOat state. 1t
impossible 10 buy bacon ham in all Texas
at any time. have eaten many buiscuit
made up with mutton tallow that you could
smell forty yards. II is a bran nsw country
sure-very little society, and not good al
that. John has very pretty place, nice
house, but none Of the houses in that coun.
fry are finished. They have to send tc
New Orleans for lime TO plaster with, con.
sequently they don't plaster at all-being
in warm climate, John is displeaset
where he is, although he is as close TO towr
as your house is 10 uncle Bobs, or believe
closer. He says he intends going up TO The
prairies where he can raise stock, which j.
very profitable-but up there they cam
have any more rain, but they can raise more
small grain than any other county ever
was in; but they have 10 sit down and ca
it up, for they have no market nearer thar
200 miles, and that 10 haul on wagons
They have railroads in contemplation, but i
will be great while before they are built
Those persons living in the prairies have
to haul their lumber $50 miles 10 builC
their houses end fence their farms. They
have on their creeks some oak. but princi
pally Usage Orange, or in other words
BoIsdare, which grow to trees four fee
through the stump; they make post of then
and haul their pine plank $50 miles ant
pin them on with the same as the post
which lasts longer than nails which from
the atmosphere, rust out very soon. Idon'
like Teras. We can get no ice in summer
no apples or peaches, for they don't do well
We can get no milk in winter, because they
only fence in a small field 10 raise grain il
for family use, and cannot fence in much
for they haul their plank $50 miles, and th'
cows are turned out on the prairies, ant
they don't come up You cannot go Il
Church, for there is none near; you canno
get your children to school, for they are no
convenient TO send TO; you can get no suga
under fifteen cents per pound, and haul
200 miles, with oxen; you can get no goot
whisky, for there is none in the country
but you can get plenty Of mean. $50
| Such is the true history Of Texas.
could tell you more, but it would take me I
menlh TO write all know OF This country
/ There are two things that speak well fo
Texas: its climate, and being grass ooun
try. Any man that will go to that STATE
and deprive himself Of society, and go in th'
stock business, for several years, can ge
rich, if be only attends TO his business
which a man will have to do anywhere, t,