The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-11-29
TEXAS.
Letter the Editors of the Fayetteville Observer dated
HUNTSVILLE, WALKER Co, TEXAS,

November 3, 1859. /
Gentlemen: have received quite number of
letters making inquiries to the prospects Of far
ming &C., in this State. AS true North Carroll
man. cherishing as | do, and ever will, the gener-
Gus soil of my birth, propose to make what con-
ceive to be plain statement of facts to those who
propose to emgratc from Carolina SOIL to that of the
"Lone Star State" In the first place would state
that there is greater variety of soil in this State,
than any of the twenty that | have in the
United States. Old Caney and Oyster Greek lands
stand at the head of the list in point of fertility,
producing from $500 to $500 lbs. of Cotton per
acre. Those lands are very high, and still advan-
cling. The Colorado, Upper Brazos, and Trinity
River bottoms, next in point of fertility, pro-
ducing from a bale to bale and half of Cotton
per acre. A great deal of this is subject to
flows, but at time when it is not considered inju-
rious to the crops The bottoms Of the tributaries
of the principal rivers, and the Black prairie, (hog
wallow stand next in point Of fertility, producing
with ordinary seasons a bale of cotton per acre
Git should be borne in mind that it takes 100 lbs.
of seed cotton to make bale) The bastard or
second bottoms of the rivers, and the gray prairie
lands, produce about 1000 to 1900 lbs. per acre.
The sandy soils uncertain in most of Texas, for
making a crop: if the season is regular it will pro-
duce wonderfully; should there be drought in
crop time (Which is a common occurrence in most
of Texas the crop is almost failure in the sandy
soil. AS to the quantity of corn that is raised per
acre, the reader may guess at as is OF secondary
importance, or at least so regarded here. Those
who have good land do not consider it good crop
unless they gather so to IS bushels per acre. AZ
ter the land is thoroughly prepared two ploughings
make the corn. A gentleman near this place, sta
ted to me few days ago, that he gathered 60 BUSH
els to an acre this year, which had but plough
ing, and no hoeing. There Is but very little wheat
or ootS raised in this Section of tho State I have
thus given the reader idea of the fertility of the
soil in that part of Texas where they make it their
business to raise cotton In Northern and North
western Texas, wheat will yield as much per acre
as any part of the United States; but stock raising
is the principal business in that part of the State,
and said to be the best paying business of any.
AS propose to be brief in this article, | will
proceed to picture that portion of Texas which
[ consider the garden spot, for raising cotton and
for actual and permanent settlers. 1t comprises
the following counties: Washington, Brazos,
Crimes Mont9 Liberty, Hardin, Tyler, Polk,
Walker, Madison, Trinity and part Of Leon and
Houston. For series of twenty five years the
sons have been more regular than i'll any other
part of Texas. This information [ get from old
Texans. Once you break ground beyond the Gulf
stream, you may pray for rain; but don't think
that your prayers will be heard 1t is true they
have rain, but there is regularity. East, and
due North Of the counties that | have mentioned,
the seasons-when | say seasons | mean rains
are regular than any portion West Of those
counties.
West, | will say, to make a crop would be I'M
certain; further North, the northers and north
westers are more sudden and severe, owing to the
large extent of prairie country. Once the norhers
strike large bodies of timber, they change into
what you Carolinians call March winds. East of
the counties that [ have mentioned, and all the
tn ha milf
to periodical tropical diseases, such yellow fever,
cholera &c. The counties that have pictured
out have plenty of good water, abundance Of tim
Der, such as short and long leaf pine, dogwoOd,
hickory, black oak, black walnut, gum, blackberry,
pecan, &c. the handsome of which rich
as you would have-and some poor, and look as
much like the sand-hills of old Cumberland as two
black-eye peas; but in these counties there is a
great deal of Prairie lands but not so much as
North, South and West. l notice quite a number
of families that was told left this county some
four or five years ago, and went up in the Waco
country, returning and settling in this
county. That speaks for itself. | was told by
gentleman West of Waco, that he had missed five
crops, in regular succession. What railroads
are building in this State commence on the Gulf
coast and they will pass through more or less of
the counties that [ have mentioned before they
penetrate the North, South or West. SO we will
ScI lHe Uelole lhooI OtLcI poItOH VI
Texas.
The society in these counties will compare ia
vOrably with the old States; we are now building
about the same kind of houses, using about the
same kind Of furniture, and we have mostly all the
luxurics of life that you have in the Carolinas.-
We get the mail from the East three times
week, bringing the leading journals and magazines
of the day.
have peeped at over fifty counties in North
Carolina AS for myself | prefer this country to
any that [ saw. Yet | would advise no one
to sell out and to this State until they come
and examine for themselves. Good farming lands
can be purchased through this section for from 3
to Is dollars per acre. The lands have doubled in
value through this country in four years the far
mers are doubling their forces every FIVE years.
This town is quite interesting, more 50 than
great many others in the adjoining counties, on
account Of the Penitentiary being located here,
which has now 1876 convicts. They use machine
ry to make osnaburgs and Jerseys, and consume
two thousand bales of cotton every year. So the
for their cotton.
The Austin Male College is situated in this place;
it stands upon an elevated plat of land Ill full view
of the town. 1t suffered great deal by The death
of its founder, the Rev. Daniel Baker, but has
nearly re@ained its previous prosperity, under the
supervision of the Rev. Robert W. Bailey, who is
a pleasant and courteous gentleman.
The Andrew Female College (Methodist) is also
located here. This institution stands very high in
the estimation of the natives They have some IS
students, and still increasing.
L had the pleasure of all introduction to Gen.