The Daily clarion., 1867-01-31
Fer the Daily Clarion.
liter from Texas.

lands Of fstrangers-peOple with whose Ian
guage, manners, habits, forms of Govern
ment, etc, we are totally unaequainted ;
and the knowledge of diseases peculiar to
those countries, the perils of which we must
endure in becoming aoclimated, deter us at
once. The reluctance, too, at severing at
once and forever old ties and associations,
and the recolleetions Of happier days, makes
Us cling 10 home and its endearing memories
Texas, whose vast territory, equal almost
in extent to the whole of Europe, and
whose soil and climate are unsurpassed by
any under the sun, opens her arms to the
children Of her less fortunate sister States,
and bids them come. Her resources are
vast, and a. vet almost untouched The
want Of means of transportation from the
inteler, has kept the value of her lands at
a low figure. Farmers in the older States
sacrifice their lands, sell them at twelve and
fifteen dollars, and invest here in lands
equally as rich, at half the amount, thereby
realizing means TO begin operations another
year 1t is this speculation that is bringing
many persons 70 Texas, II win be readily
perceived that when the great network of
Railroads, which IS projected over the en-
tire State, IS completed, these lands being
made more accessible, must greatly enhance
IN value. The upper counties are noted for
their fertility 10 the production of wheat,
competing successfully in quality and
average yield before the war, With the Egypt
Of America-Illinois. If it were profitable
to grow wheat there, when the only exit to
market was by wagon to Shreveport, or
othe polnts on Red river, distance of from
one 10 i've hundred miles, it must be much
more 50, when the means of transportation
las oh I ina
viii soon be no want of white laborers
Judging from the large influx of emigrants
from foreign countries, representing all the
industrial branches, and destined to the in
terror to settle. The German settlements
are now turning out fabrics of cotton and
wool which viii compare favorably with the
manufactures of Lowelis. Ii is a novel and
interesting sight TO witness the arrival of a
maiestic old bark from Bremen or else
where in the Fader-land, as she glides sol
EMMY into the Bay, with her decks fairly
swarmiug with human beings, entirely diff
ferent in appearance. manners, costume and
customs from anything your correspondent
ever saw, except in biographies and picture
books, and speaking not a word of compre-
heusible language. The short striped
worsted petty-coat and wooden hood of the
women the round skull-cap and long cape
coat and omnipresent pipe of the men with
al sorts ofcoTded packages and square-brass-
bound Ch asts and boxes, and hair trunks all
combine to form a picture, as queer as it is
new, to me.
Parties who contemplate coming to Texas
viii find Richardson's Texas Almanac for
1867, a most valuable source of information
upon all points of interest, descriptions,
prices of lands. statistics of crops, rains,
stock raising, railroad items, &c. 1t is pub
lished here by w Richardson, price : in
currency. It contains an accurate map of
the State also
The prevalent opinion in Mississippi that
"greenbacks" are unknown in Texas, is in
correct, currency" is the circulating medi-
um in Galveston, although certain contracts
are in specie, that article being bought and
sold as elsewhere, and fluctuating with the
New York market. Anything can be bought
here with paper money if you have enough
of it, In the interior however, it is differ
ent, specie being the basis of all operations,
currency when taken at all, is at the ruling
discount.
This is certainly most delightful climate,
almost perpetual spring. The nOrthers Oe-
curing every now and then, SO far
as my experience goes, are not severe, or of
long duration, but are rather agreeable
changes. We have, however, had some
severe weather, and even snow, the first in
many years, but it lasted only a few days
The accounts you have of the northers,
droughts, &c, are probably exaggerated.
Ladies appeared on the streets Christmas
day in linen dresses, and even now sum
meT coat would not be uncomfortable. Veg
etables grow on the Island the year round /;
oranges, citrons, and figs are common in
most yards and gardens, and the Oleander
grows on the commons. Red fish, sleeps
head, crabs, oysters and every variety of
game are cheap and abundant. The summers
are even more delightful. The heat is tenn
Y a At dv hrPpZa mn in he
more elevated parts of the city, musquito
bars are never required. If it were not for
the occasional epidemics which occur here
as in most extreme Southern cities, and the
remote fear that the Island may some day
share the fate of Last Island, which, YOU
was inundated during a terrible
storm, think in 1889, whereby all the in
habitants periShed, Galveston would be
without equal as place of residence. The
city consists mostly of wooden buildings
scattered over large area of ground is
beautifully laid off, and presents a new,
clean and tidy appearance quite refreshing
TO behold. The streets run at right angles
and being perfectly level, smooth and hard
are all shell roads" The beach, thirty-six
miles long, affords the finest driving gro und
anywhere The present population is be-
tween fifteen and twenty thousand, an in
crease of seventy-tive per cent. since 1860
This number is being daily inere ased,
and so great is the demand for
room, that houses are got out and
framed at Boston. and shipped by schooner
ready to be put up. No wonder rents are
high. The people are energetic, and are alive
to their own interests, "you bet" A Rail-
road has been constructed on one of the
streets within a few weeks; and
the charter of the company gives them the
of extending the same down the
Island by steam, when it is supposed the
whole of the Island, some thirty miles. will
be speedily settled up, principally by daring
men, aud persons engaged in cultivating
orchards and vegetables for market Many
of the wealthy citizens too, who can leave
the city ut night and return to business in
the morning, will build residences along the
road. The most singular feature in the city.
TO me, Is the universal use of Goats for milch
cO1CS, as o Brien SAYS. The Island is almost
destitute of vegetation. except some small
trees which are assiduOusly cultivated in
yards. for the sake of their scant shade. and
few persons afford cows, feed being high
But the goats take care of themselves, some
how, and every family has one or more for
mixers. The cisterns are mostly above
ground--large iron bound tanks. they afford
but a scant supply of water; and when a
drought comes, there are persons who sell
water at p cents gallon or more. Notwith-
standing this, persons who have means. will
not build additional eisterns, trusting to
Providence, or relying upon their neighbors.
that in the midst of water we
should ever want for a drink: There are
many interesting "reminiscences Iconnected
with this ISland-the little settlement of
Lattte and his band, which was once here
the arrival of Santa Anna after the battle of
san Jaclnto, rs prisoner of war, from which
time, think Galveston dates her existence.
there being one shed here then. There are
many others which have not the space even
- hint at l will relate one however. which
believe Is not generally known After the
overthrow of Napoleon, many of the officers
OF the Old Guard, fearing from the terrible
example made of Marshal Ney, that they had
nothing TO expect from the allies but perse-
euuon and oppression, fled the country.
Some two hundred amongst whom We're the
brave Lallemand and Rizane came to Ameri-
ca, and Joseph sBonaparte being then in
Philadelphia fitted them out vessel with
W hieh they arrived at this Island in Januarv
Ioiu. With the assistance of some friendly
pirates they assembled the Trinity River. and
on Its banks, IN the heart of vast wilder
ness, established their camp-le champ dasiIs
lhey hoped Others would ioin them. and
when their colony should have heeome
strong no doubt they entertained ambitions
designs upon tins or some other portion Of