Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-02-10
Correspondence of the Daily Republican,
Int resting Letter from Texas
SAN ANTONIO Texas
December 8. 1864.

Anlc EeS.AnH LeItcF from lcAaS
SAN ANTONIO Texas
December 8, 1864.
DEAR RspUnL1cAN--I arrived here few
days since, having been seventy days or
the route from Lynchburg Ute trip to
the east bank Of the Mississippi river was
accomplished without any difficulty, but
the crossing Of the river, and the subse-
quent danger on this sides id the, swamps
from Yankees. Jayhawkers and d ,sefters,
was attended with great peril.
/ had great difficulty in procuring con
veyance to Monroe La at which plaes !
took stage for Shreveport
At Shreveport there are large goAern-
ment shops manufacturing Cannon, Mus
kets Ordinance Stores. &c.
Great confidence was felt 10 General
Smith, add the ability Of our army, on this
kide, to resist the inyade,s Confedcra'e
money was the only currency in circula.
ion but | found after getting about one
hundred miles southwest Of Shreve pot.
hat specie was made the basis, and [ had
pay my expences either with So Gle or
Is market value 20 for !. in Confederate
ew issue. Stage fare in I xas is 10 cents
mile in specie, or two dollars in Confed-
rate money.
Thirty days since Confederate currency
as worth in Houston and in this city. 40
,r /. To~day it sold here Is for /. and
in great demand. It is thought it will
p worth for / before the LIST Of January.
Ali the business done here is in specie,
pd principally in Mexican dollars. It is
unsual sight to see planter unload his
Ptten. and reload with the proceeds in
exican silver dollars-5 900 of which
i'll weigh about SOC pounds. Goods are
Do per cent higher on an average than
icy were sold at before the war. For in
ance. Calicoes are worth as wholesale 40
Pnts Coffee, As cents Sugar 25 cents and
fovisions of all kinds are at exorbitant
Fiees Yet money eepeciey is abundant
hd everybody here seems to spend it as
lvishly as the people Of Virginia did Con
ederate money.
The hotels aid boarding houses are crow
ed-not vacant house in the city can be
ound and yet crowds Of strangers are. ar
living every day. The majority of them
re for igners from Mexico, England and
France, purchasing cotton and bringing in
goods in exchange.
The government is getting immense sup
plies for the army. and at very slight
host. Gen Smith .fEas Contracted for sup
plies, to be paid in cotton, delivered on
khe Rio Grande at the market prices 10
specie. The schedule price for cotton is
|25 cents per pound in Confederate money,
and a. the government has its own trans
portation, it makes a big t ing but Of the
transaction. -;7-s--- ---.'
It is estimated that the Confederate tax
in this city for 1865 will amount to over
six millions Of dollars. A merchant who
does business Of $40, 900 per month in
specie, has to pay $4,000 tax in Confed-
crate money, on his sales a!!ooaas the tax
on-specie being rated 20 for one, This,
you will observe is the cause of Confeder-
ate money looking up-the tax collector
being the best funding agent after ALL
The Agent Of the Treasury Department
on this side Of the Mississippi, has given
notice that after the lst Of J nuary he will
receive the tax on specie at the rate Of 5
for /. which | have no doubt will tend
greatly to strengthen the currency.
Large quantities Of Tobacco are coming
in, and good article of Virginia manufac
tured sells from. St 50 to 81 90. Texas
Tobacco in the leaf sells at so cents. &
should be understood quote specie prices
/ saw some tobacco, today that was manu-
featured in Kentucky, and was. shipped te
this place via New Orleans and Matemora:
Negro men command $500 to 5000, ane
women $500 to $500.