The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-04-10
For the Hillsboroush Recorder.
Walker County, Tsxas, March lstb. lssl

so many Of my friends in my old native coun-
~ to write them, that find upon looking
over the list OF their names that at present II
would occupy too much Of my time, and know.
ing that most Of them read the Recorder,
have concluded to write to you and ask you to
publish this, 50 that most Of them can hear
from me.
left Hillsborough on the last day of Oc-
tober. and travelled fourteen weeks, (Sun.
days excepted. making twelve hundred and
nifty miles 10 the most Indictment season of
the year. We had rain every week more or
less, and such roads as never wish to see
again. thought while in Alabama and Mis-
sissippi that the roads could not possibly be
any worse; but the day before crossed the
Mississippi river we had heavy fall of snow,
extending into Louisiana, and said there 10
have been the deepest ever seen in the State.
This made the roads almost impossible from
Texas river to Sicily Island. a distance Of
six miles. We we're two days making the
distance, and had eleven out of fourteen
horses to bogg; one we had to prize out OF
the mud with fence rails. This, and the
great scarcity Of feed through Louisiana, SO
reduced our teams that from there 20 our des.
tination we made but twelve or fifteen miles
per day. My white family, through all This
long aad trying trip, were blessed with er.
ceiient health. My wife and daughters, who
at home we're afraid to cross muddy branch.
have seen with their feet propped up on the
seat Of the carriage. ride for miles with the
water occasionally splashing through the car
riage six inches deep. and expecting at every
step TO see the horses swimming. yet all the
time as cheerful as IL by the fireside. Now
that we are here and oil we'll, and look back
and think how many days We have travelled
through the pouring rain. and tented al night
on tho vet ground. can hardly realize the
fact. had some sickness amongst nv me-
ereesg lost a boy with Pneumonia, and had
another 10 get his leg broken.
| must say was somewhat disappointed
10 the appearance Of this country. did not
expect to see hardly any poor land. but find
large quantities Of il barren sandy ridges
and post oak glrdes. yet on these hills and
glades to-day. the grass is ankle high. and
the stock which have wintered on cane in
the river and creek bottoms are coming out
and literally covering the whole. Here es-
erythiag is belled. from the horse down TO
the hog, aud from morning till night you can
hear but little else than the ringing Of bells.
The best lands that have seen yet are riv-
er bottom. When cleared and cultivated
they seldom fail TO bring bale Of cotton to
the acre. aud from FIFTY TO sixty bushels Of
corn. The soil. when once broken, is very
light. and easily cultivated. Before cleared
che growth 10 large. and stands very thick.
of the usual diversities that you see on river
lands in North Carolina. The cane on these
lands. in some places, is from fifteen 70
tweaty feet high. and so thick that you could
not thrust walking cane through il. The
next best lands are the prairie. or stif. black
laads. These are generally in small bodies,
say from twenty-five 10 one hundred aud
twenty-five acres together, without any
growth except mott Of post oaks here and
there, some few red haw bushes, and cactus
in any quantity. You have only TO fence
these lands. which 10 easily done, as there !.
plenty Of timber surrounding them. deaden
the lew post oaks and begin your blowing,
which requires good team. and different
pie~ from any have ever seen 10 North Car
olins. n taken 10 proper order. the sward
will run fifty feet without breaking. and az.
Ter rain upon il will pulverize and become
As light az an ash.bank; if too dry, IL is al.
most impossible 10 break them, and exceed.
ingly hard on man and beast. You can hard.
~ keep the pillow in the ground, il Is con.
SANITY Jumping and kicking like an unbroks
Mustang. This land produces equal TO the
bottom Iands, aud is said TO stand drought
better. The next lands in cultivation are
the sandy lands, and not so generally cult.
waited, as they require more rain, which. foI
the last Few years. has been very scarce.
have no hesitation in saying that. from my
observation the above described lands. with
very moderate season. will produce more
crops than man con possibly gather. BY a
little attention vegetables can be raised ~
great abundance, both for sumner and win
Ger use. We have both spring and well wa.
GER, some also have cistsrns. The latter
consider best, especially on the bleak land
as frequently 10 digging you get limestone
water, some Of which consider very unpal'
ateable, and 20 those unaeeustomed 70 the u.s.
of IL. very unwhoesome. cannot speak u
tso high praise Of the inhabitants. As far Al
Ihaye seen, hnd Car more intelligence an,
morality than ceald expect 10 new coun'
try. and have received much kindness ant
hospitality al their hands.
The Trinity river Is the best navigation
we have. bat by no means reliable. hoat'
have run regularly this winter form Calves
ION, and the nayigs,ion always good TO Liberty
about city miles below here. We have Raj
roads 10 progress. which will run through thi
county, aud one completed TO Nayasota. &C.
ty.6ye miles iron this place. When CON
pIeted. freighs will be greatly reduced. an,
both dry goods and groceries Will be muel
cheapened. The price Of dry goods and gro
eeries at present ranges very high, and o.
cash system adopted for the latter. we nav
no banks 10 the State except the pank o. ~
Sabine River. which. in the days o. me ne
public Of Texas. paid . large smosnt o. deo'
70 old states without any renewal; no pape
money in use bat Louisiana. and tina. 70
limited extent.
We have an abundance Of game, and al
though am exceedingly fond Of hunting.
l... .as kslled mr. Shof NJ a deer. Il OIte