Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-01
Texas VS.. North Carolina.

North Carolina as the best State on thus
continent Why we have come to this con-
clusion we are not prepared to say. It may
be from love Of nativity, or for climate, or
from q life-rcsidence. However our feel
ings may be, the many reports re-
ceived from friends who leave the {" Old
North State for new climes, certainly go far
to make us love our mother more and more
We have been permitted to copy the fol-
lowing extract Of private letter from an
| intelligent gentleman, who appears to have
been anxious to see some Of the world
His experience will no doubt prove benef-
cial to many others
| g LEXINGTON, TEXAs, Feb. 9th, 1867.
| 4 seat myself, thinking you would be pleasedto
have few lines from these 9 diggens." | left VIII
mington January I'd, and landed in Galveston the
| 7th. I come Ga Augusta, Atlanta, Montgomery,
Mobile and New Orleans II cost me about 800
from Carthage to Galveston. It was pleasant
trip to Galveston, but anything else since.
| Il have been here about d month, and have
been travelling nearly all the time-haYe gone over
seven counties said to be the garden spot of Texas
I have found it very difficult and expensive to
lima that Texans take emigrants by the hand and
all that kind of thing; but ! have found, after
much experience that they take you first by the
purse and every one that gets q wipe at you
| seems determined to size your pile
''Texas hospitality extends as far as your money
goes, and nary step farther. have travelled in
all kinds Of ways here, high, low public, obscure
and impcnetrable and almost invariably, every
| I 10, Oft
regular tavern prices for miserable accommodate
| tons.
IS am pleased with nothing i'll this country ex-
cept the fertility of the soi-that Is fully equal tC
all you have ever heard about it. Most Of this
central Texas, is prairie country, and very lit,
tie rain falls here. 1 learn from old settlers
that the good crop years will not average more
than four out OF ten. some summers they have
10 rain at all then they do not make the seed
planted.
sThe lands Oh the Trinity, Brazos and Colorado
rivers are more certain-thoro they make moro OF
less every year. Last year being what they cal q
wet year, the river lands only made about hall i
bale to the acre, but the uplands averaged bale
This the prajrics may not DO again for three OF
| four years.
1.-The climate, contrary to my expectations is
very unplcasant-some days very mild and warm,
then again severely cold. have felt the cold as
| sensibly here az l ever did in North Carolina. Dis
cases of the lungs are very common, being caused
| by the sudden changes from warm to cold. had
thought that Yo1tbcr was Of short duration, but
I find that it frequently lasts from one to five
| days.
''Tle range hero is failing very fast-stock
becomes poor in winter, but live the year round
| without being fed. A gentleman in this county
(Burlcson) told that he had been here fourteen
years and never had to fatten his pOrl, but twice
| during the time. have seen the farmers driving
| their hogs from the woods to MARKETING
fat pork, too. Water is very scarce in this
| county. Ihaye travelled bout four hundred miles
| and think l only six running streams
| Only one of these sufficient to turn mill
They do all their grinding and saving here by
steam or horse power. Were it not for the irre3u,
Iarity Of the climate and seasons here, this would
| be one OF the finest countries in the world but
that will forever prevent it from being very de,
sirab!c place to live in.
| ''Theso people live rough, hard life. They are
destitute OF q multitude Of the comforts and con-
veniences of life. Timber is very scarce here
hence their buildings, many of them, very I'm
| comfortable. Every man here, even from he low
est ploughman to the highest professional charac,
| ter is " sharper" Hence, the poor ''emigrant'
is often ieeced of his little means before he turns
| round often. There is no established system o.
labor, prices or anything else here; consequently
"new conner " cannot make his calculations de-
fniteIy, but has to 60 it blind and trust to Prov
dence,-and from present appearances, it would
seem that Providence don't have very much to dc
with this country. In Brennan, they asked me
| $40 in gold to carry and my trunk As miles.
left my trunk and adopted the infantry mode Of
transportation. have walked over so miles since
| l have been IN the State.
| My Texas fever has abated very much-it is
down about zero now-the entire system is cool
curiosity gratifed, &C., &c. 1 can now adopt fully
| the sentiments of the song,
THE old North State forever
Just now can, to considerable extent sympa
thize with the 'Prodisal Son." and am almost
ready to say, Il will arise and CO." But it is "no
go :" now.
| in North Carolina than can here. A man can't
MAKE much money there, but then little there,
goes long ways
This country is well adapted to big footed ne
groes and mules. I can't see anything much that
a man can live for here, except it be to eat corn
bread and bacon, and drink black coffee This is
the common diet here, even with those who can
count their hundreds of cattle, sheep and ponies.
You rarely ever see any milk or butter here-too
| much trouble to milk COWS and make butter. A