Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-04
For the Spectator.
NAvAsoTA, GRIMES Co., Texas, I
Navamhar II 1874

November III, 1866.
Mr.. EDITOR We left Galveston on the
morning of the lOth-(a bright beautiful morn
ing as lovely as MAY day)-by the G. & HI.
K. r., crossed what is known as the great
Texas Bridge connecting Galveston Island
with the main land We dashed on through a
low wet prairie, On which thousands of fine cat
tie were feeding, several of which were knocked
off the track by the engine and left struggling
in the deep mire which filed the ditch on each
side of the road. About TO- 3Om. A. M. we
reached Harrisburg-l0 miles below Houston,
where we took the, train for Richmond ON the
Brazos
The clouds were now boiling up in the west
and in a half hour had overspread the heavens,
and everything indicated storm.
Our train, (which consisted of or 5 freight
cars, | fiat with some canvass stretched over a
rough frame, and baggage and mail car COM
seat about Is or 20 persons, now got under
way at about the speed of Va. Stage coach.
We had not gone miles before the storm burst
upon us. The rain fell in torrents, the wind
blew hurricane, and altogether sounded, as il
all the furies had broken loose at once. The
speed Of our train was soon reduced to that OF
a OK cart and finally stopped still-right in the
middle of a wide prairie
Mr.. Editor, you cannot imagine our condition,
| and it is useless to attempt to describe it. But
there we were in a leaky old car, in the middle
ola vast prairie, In what Texanscalla Norther,
shlvering In our greatcoats and no chance to
get to fret was anything but pleasant
After considerable time we got under way
again, and about nightfall reached Richmond.
This is diapidated old town, which shows
signs of having seen better days-situated on
the west bank of the Brazos. The county is
low and unhealthy here, but the land is very
rich and productive
The cotton crop is not good this year, owing
to the great damage done by the worms. SUI
gar cane grows finely here and is cultivated to
a considerable extent
The soil here in many places is IS to 40 feet
deep. Many large farms are now only partially
under cultivation because OF the scarcity OF la
Dor. Many crops were planted and then left
to perish in the grass, because the freedmen re-
fused to work.
We next visited Houston-situated at the
head of the bayou, buffalo Bayou and once
the Capitol of the Republic of Texas The
city is regularly laid out, with wide streets and
has many fine buildings. Ithas about Is 600 in
habitants and is growing rapidly. All kinds Of
business seem to be hourishing here.
We stopped at the 'sold Capitol Hotel for
merly the Capitol Of the Republic" and the
spacious dining room of the hotel, was one of
the Senate Chamber, and adjoining it the Con
gress Hall now divided into smaller apartments.
| This Hotel is kept in excellent style by Capt.
S. NJ. Droke, formerly Of Richmond, Va, who
served with distinction on Gen. j. B. Magru-
der Staff during the war, and who has not
forgotten how to keep hotel after the good
old Virginia style-a thing not often met with
in Texas.
A short distance below Houston, on PENN
sula formed by the junction of Buffalo and Ce-
dar Bayous, and On the east side of the latter
| is the famous battle ground of San Jacinto,
dence of Texas by defeating and capturing Gen.
Santa Anna.
Navasota is fourishing little town on the
Texas Central r. r. about IS miles n w. OF
Houston, and miles East of the Brazos River,
in the county of Grimes. 1t is situated in a
low flat country, and to the eye Of Virginian
| presents the appearance OF a very unhealthy To-
caity but the citizens say it is just the contrary
There has been but very little Cholera here
this season, although it has been raging at a
fearful rate at Millican only 10 miles above this
place. The population is now about $500, and
rapidly increasing-from present appearances
let for all Of the cotton for many miles in the
interior; hundreds Of bales are coming in daily,
! and the streets are constantly filed with OK
teams of from 5 to s yoke to each wagon. This
is the point at which the railroad from Mar
shall will strike the Central Road, which will
draw still larger amount of trade.
| In our next We will try to give some account
of the interior of the country and the mode Of
raising cattle, horses, &c.
Money seems to be quite plenty-al specie
| There is surely enough currency here to pay the
Revenue sMAGNOLIA."
P S.-Teaching is fine business here, and
| | now know where Or young men of the
Episcopal faith, can get situations with salaries
of from $500 to $500 (Spece) per annunl-by
| applying to the Rev. Mr.. Tays, at Columbus
Colorado County, Texas. They must be good
classical scholars NJ.