Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-05-05
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Correspondence of the Keowee Courier.
CoRNERSvILLE, llopKINs Co.. Texas, !

CoRNERsvILLE, llopKINs Co, Texas, !
April LIST, 1860.
Dcor C0"ricr: You will, from this, learn
that am journcying wcstwards. In compa-
ny with II. d., late of Anderson District,
made thus far to-day. Lcaving the bcauti-
tul and romantic residence of our friend 81
NJ. l", we had quite pleasant ride Cover
the hills and far away" The day was one of
lovely springtimc, just such an one as is suited
t. make one glad and chcery. The grass and
prairie flowers are fast springing up beneath
our tread The trees, the monarchs of the
forests, and the lesser 3hrubbery are fast put
ting on their green mantle. The wild plum
bush loads the passing zcrhyr with fragrance
The d@gwood has robcd itself ini its most deli
cate, proud and charming garment. And
whlc the singing birds arc wa"blinS their most
enchanting notes and lays, we are admonishcd
ot the Omnipotcncc and goodness of Him who
rules and controls the destiny of man,
y " rhe orange tints that gild the grccncst bough
The streundct that from wales to valley 70,
The vine ON high, the willow branch below,
Mixed in one mighty scene of varied beauty glow" :"
In our journeyings for the last day or two,
we have made the counties of Upshur, Wood,
Titus, and Hopkins, the theatre of our pro-
miscuouS peranibulatons; and | am sorry that
cannot come to you with clearer history of
their antccedcnts-but we read, sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof" | find the
lands that have so far seen, generally to APP
pear poor sandy ridges, with a mixture of sell
from sand to stiff white clay covered with
black apd blue jack, wild plum aud winter
hucklcbcrry. Occasionally you will pass a
poStoak fiat, consdcird even in Texas,
the poorest land known. These lands havo
cold, stiff soil almost impcrvous to water,
holding the winter rains until too late to bring
them into successful cultivation in tho Spring.
You will then find the gladcs" to be sulnll
specimens OF praric-often rolling, and some
times with basin Enclosures, not allowing them
sufficient drainage for cultivation You will
find on them nnught but grass and water and
; their appearance rather captiv.tcs the eye
y than attracts the attention of the cutivator
of the soil Upon these vast fields of pastu
rage you will sec the thousands Of herds of
stock, horses cattle and sheep, giving to them
the appearance of life and vivacity. There is
a pine belt just below this, some 60 miles in
l2@sth b. . miles IN wiAtl, running nnrih
and south. In this vast region of pines you
will find the steam mills that supply the coun
try around and the prairie, far and near, with
the lumber that builds their houses, fences
&o,-somc hauling 200 miles 10 pay for
this lumber is brought in beef, flour and corn
The prarics being generally settled by Indi-
apans 1liinoi3ians and Mssouritns who arc
used to cold winds, but little wood, poor wa
ter, and black lands, and say that it is cheaper
>tu haul lumber thus Ear than to cut down tim
Der to clear lands
Hopkins county is considered n grain coun-
ty. / made some inquiry as to the produc
tions, not having occuhr demonstration that
she was fully entitled to the soubrquct, as
saw no corn, no wheat, no oats, no rye, nor
no sh'a'o, whereby | might have a trace, priln-
tive or antcccdent Of her cognomcn. And
:, Mr.. T, with whom we had un eAccllcnt
dinner, told us that he had raised Mrec LNSh-
els of tchcot per acre, while he sowcd but had
sown none of late years. We cnquircd of him.
how long had he been in the country He
/ replied, :" since the days of the " Regulators
aud Moderaters." We asked him where he
rot his supplies to live upon. He said at
Jefferson aud the Prairies We did not ask
him how lie paid for them, having in our early
1 introduction into the State, been told chat no
A person was duly recognized citizen of Texas
n ill they had no money, and could sleep till
suuup every morning. Sancho Panza has
I had, doubtless, in his day, many to Join him
in his prisons, from this quarter, if this be
true This then teaches us why so few mer-
chants III Texas nlakono fortunes. en- tod
that at one. place, where large amount of
trade IS now carried on, that Got one man IN
baSucss there now, was, four years ago.
Ouot say that they have failed, but the pre-
sumption is, that it is either quick place.to
make or breaE, and ! will say for them that
have not seen in this section of the world,
more evidence of economy, thrift and abun-
x dance OF this world goods, than in many 9TH
or sectious ! have visited. But L will say
s. that do find some doing well, as far as accu-
mualipg goods and enjoyment Of this life is