Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-06
LETTER FROM Ex.sov. HARRIS,
rfiE suBJEcr or IsATioN--NVciI vAtC-
ABLE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO EMIoRkNTs.

| CoRDovA, MEXICO, March 2, l86d,-Ny
Dear Sir I'll am receiving by each Ameri-
can steamer an immense number of letters
from all parts Of the United States which
my whole time IT devoted, to it,, would not
be sufficient to answer. These letters show
the existence of a lively interest in the colo-
nization in Mexico and especially "a the
valley Of Cordova. Several Of the last
steamers have brought large numbers of
emigrauts from the United States., The
lands owned by the Government ID, this
valley have all been taken by the immigrants
recently arrived, and were not sufficient to
but there are great maGy large and vHlu,
able estates in the valley, and some Of item
adjoining the colony, which can be purchas-
ed Of private parties on accommodating
terms. We purchased yesterday, for some
friends recently arrived, an excellent hacieu-.
da Of 81 so acres, adjoining the lands Of the
colony at $500 per acre, one-third cash. and
the balance on credit of one and two
years without interest. There is q consider
) able amount Of sugar and coffee already,
growing upon this estate, and a fair propor1
ton Of land cleared and in cultivation, with
q number Of Mexican houses on the place.
In view Of these advantages, I think these
gentlemen have done better ID purchasing
this estate than they would have done TO
have purchased land from the Governmeut,.
as did, and begin in the woods with houses
to build, and farms to open, etc.
The Government has lands iu other and
desirable localities of the two classes, a. e.)
the public lands proper, which have never
passed from the hands of the Government,
and those that have passed into private hands
been reduced TO cultivation, and subsequent.
ly acquired by the Government. Lands Of
the first class are given to immigrants ia
limited quantities for actual aud immediate
settlement. Those Of the latter class are
sold to them in limited quantities for tho
same purpose, at very low rates, ond on a
credit. The lands upon which this colony
is planted in this district are of the better
class. They were sold to US at 81 per acre,
payable In FIVE equal annual installments,
with six per cent. interest.
find all immigrants arriving at Vera
Cruz, anxious to settle in this valley. II is
natural that they should, as II is a beautiful
rich, healthy and highly productive county,
well timbered, and watered by several bold.
clear, rushing mountain streams, and large
number Of most excellent free stone springs.
with large number of Americans already.
settled here. But those who settle In this
valley hereafter, will have to make their.
own arrangements with private parties for.
lands; and my advice to those who wish TO
do so, Is for ten or twenty families to unite,
send an agent with the authority and the,
means to purchase lands for them, or to
examine the lands owned by the Government
in other localities, and determine where the
colony is to settle, and make all necessary,
arrangements preparatory to the coming Of
the families. The purchaser of private ro.
perty is entitled to all the benefits of the
DEGREES for the encouragement Of colonies
ton.
The year Is divided here into the rainy
and the dry season. The former beginning
in May and ending Ia October. We gener.
ally have bright and beautiful mornings DUR
ing the rainy season, though about one, two.
three or four o'clock in the evening you may
calculate with certainty upon shower, Ii
not heavy rain. During the dry season,
we have occasional light showers, but not
often.
The best time for planting nearly a;i crops j
here, Is May, June aud July. Tobacco is
planted In September, October. November
and December. The best time for families
to move to this country is in the dry season,
and the earlier in that season the better. Il
gives time to prepare shelter before the rainy
season, and get ready for a crop. =.
Families moving here should bring with
them their bed clothing, and few Collins
axes. Farming implements can be procured
here with less trouble and as cheaply ar
they can be transported from that country,
Good Spanish mules and horses (not equal,
IN size and form to the American, yet yefy
hardy and serviceable,) can be bought here
al from fiity to one hu idred dollars inferiof,
~ from fifteen to ffty dollars; well broke
oxen, and as fine as | have ever seen any
where, at one hundred dollars a yoke. fn
the market at Cordova beef Is worth ten to
twelve cents libra, (which is little more
than the American pound) corn one dollar
per bushel; flour eight TO ten dollars hun,
dred; sugar twelve to twenty cents; coffee
the TO twelve cents; lard twenty-five 70
thirty-seven aud half cents; eggs thirty.
seven and half cents dozen. Fruits and
vegetables are always abundant aud very
low. Dry goods and hardware, of almost
every description, abundant at about double.
| what they would have cost In the United
States before the war.
| vegetation Is always green here, and
stock does very well through the whole year
without being fed, though the higher alti-
tudes generally produce better grass and less
brush, hence is better stock country.
This soil and climate affords better liv-,
ing and larger rewards to agricultural labor
than any that have ever seen, and presents
harvest equally rich TO the enterprise Of
the Industrious manufacturer or mechanic;
but the man who is not willing 10 work
should not come to Mexico
There Is an ample sufticiency of rood tim
Der here for building purposes. but very few
milis hence, lumber is worth from SIX To !.
eight dollors hundred feet. Most of tbs
Spanish houses are built of rough stone and
mortar, covered with tile. The Indians live
ID bamboo huts covered with long grssL r.
aont remember to have seen o brick hopss
IN Mexico, though brick are as easily made
here as elsewhere. The fences here sre
generally stone, or hedge The woods are
hiied with deer, squirrels pheasanfs, and, I
regret to add, wild cats aud panthers, and
Ool. White, Zone Of the surveyors,) tells me-
the monkeys eyineed a disposition to take,
his camp few evenings since. The wild
parrot Is seen In the forest every day. You
may assure the ladies that have, seen but
one snake, only two or thrye tareptpIas. and
no centipede IN all my travels through Mexi- >
co, and the flies and mosquitoes are not half
so abundant here as they are In the United
States; but i don't choose 10 say anything
about fieas.
We have TO- rely upon the patIve Indian
chiefly for labor, They are capable of max
ing exceller; lahorers, but they have great
aversion to work. We pay them so cents
day, they finding themselves, and WORK by
the task. Labor can be ,obiained more
cheaply 10 other portions es Eexico, and II
generally obtained here at lower rates, bus