The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-21
: BUsIoT, July IT, Is39.
MOVEMENTS OF OCEAN STEAMERS
WESTERN TEXAS.
Communicated for the Journal Of Commerce.
CoMAL PARISH, CoMAL Co.,
TEXAS DIST .Inne 1870

Communicated for the Journal Of Commerce.
COMAL PARISH, CoMAL Co.,
TEXAS, 2lst June, 1859. T
According to promise, | send letter from this
far-of and fast growing section of the Union. The
population of this State in 1850 2l2 592 at this
date it is upwards of 600 900. They will elect Gen
foreign population Germans, who will turn
their attention to stock raising. 1t is the most
profitable business yet followed, in proportion to
the amount of capital invested. Stock cattle from
calves to three years old worth 81 per head
and four-year old beeves SIS. Large droves of the
latter are yearly driven conveyed to California
st. Louis, Chicago, and to your Empire City of
New York.
of any. The winters like your NOxember.-
Consequently YOU in winter, as in summer
large herds of fine cattle grazing over the praires
the luxuriant herbage afordng them ample means
OF subsistence: Horses do equally as well as
cattle. My caiveyard of 2S1 mares are looking
well; the average value at this time $50 per
head. Mules at three years old, good sizes, 500
per head. They sent to the Brazos river and
New Orleans for market. MY sheep are looking
unusually well; have three aocGs of about 200
each, attended by three Germans as shepherds.
whose salary amounts to $40 per month. They
average about19 to "a blood Merino, and are worth
about So per head. Shear wool is worth 81 per
head in your market yearly, if it is properly washed
and packed clear of burrs. Freight from here to
New Y ork one and half cents per pound. | do
not claim that Western Texas, where my ranch is
located, Is the best agricultural country, but do
claim it to be the best grazing country in the vide
~ortd (yOu know have travelled in three-quarters
OF the globe, and claim to be judge). | am locat-
ed on the Guadalupe river, latitude 80 dg. 25
min, longitude 90 deg. 80 mn. elevation 760 feet.
About l60 miles from Matagorda bay, nv shipping
point, "Lavacca," having weekly packets to New
Y ork. The enterprising citizens are building a
railroad to the city of San Antonio within 35 miles
ofmy ranch. Another road running to same desti-
nation from Galveston is progressing rapidly.
The land i'll this county is well watered and plen-
ty of fine timber, live and post oak cedar, elm and
pecan trees in abundance, furnish the rich pecan
nuts, upon which my thousand hogs luxuriate and
grow fat. They range sometimes ten miles, and get
quite wild. Have to drive with dogs, and Hoq
Hunt is exciting a horse race at EPSON Course
Even that pays-bacon being worth l21% cents per
pound in San Antonia. This county is hilly, plenty
of limestone rock. Its area is ,024 square miles;
value land per acre, improved, from 81 to S5
unmproved, from 81 to S4 per acre. No swamps,
marshes, or stagnant pools. 1t is high, drv, and
healthy country. Thermometer rarely goes below
As or above So degrees. The State is out of debt.
and has 81 900 900 in her treasury set aside for in
ternal improvements, interest upon which goes to
than 800 900 acres ofthe best land in North Amer
ca and l5, $3.50, ,776 acres besides improved and un
improved farm land, upon which they raise large
quantities of sugar, cotton, rice, wheat corn and
tobacco, with trifng taxes, only l21% cents on
500. Valuation land that YOU can fix without be-
ing qualifed) shows Texas to be the very best
State emigrate to. 1t is literally the land flow
ing with milk and honey. All one has to do is to
milk and gather the honey.
| am yours, truly,
W. W. LELAND,