Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-10-29
AUSTIN, TtxAs. Oct. 18th 1869

Editor Bristol NenS-DeAR SIR:-Iu
your pap r, of Sept. Gath, find the follow
Jog paragraph;
1.-The citizens and authorities of Knox
Vile have permi ted serveral car loads of
Texas cattle to b unloaded there for the
purpose Of resting and recruiting. We pr
diet they will yet legret thai step. Should
the thing be again attempted OF this point
it will meet with resistance"
infer from the concluding sentencrs,
(which pr sumo, are intended to express
your sentiments) that you have somewhat
imbibtd the id a, which has been so dill
gently scattered far and W de ny il terested
parties, that Texas cattle ca. ny with ihem
q fatal disease, VIII CHI they have acq cd
upon the prarics Of Texas, which becomes
developed in their transportation TO the
States North, and which is fearfully infec
tious or contagious, or both.
Allow me 10 state 4 single fact. This
disease, sometimes called Spanish fever, Is
unknoion in Texas OF the millions of cat
tie which roam at free pasture over QUO
broad praries, none show il, none develop
il, none take it from others, none die Of j..
The first time we lin Texas) ever heard Of
its existence, the news came TO us from
States North US, Missouri, Kansas and
Illinois: and I did not require very deep
research to ascertain the cause. Cattle in
Texas are easily and cheaply raised No
fencing of astures or meadows is necessa'
ry no 8, miner labor in raising, saving and
storing y or other forage for winter use
From t, it results, that Texas cattle can
lie taken from here 10 Missouri, Illinois,
Kentucky, indeed any Of the States, not
farther off than Ohio, aud sold for profit,
at price pound for pound from one.fourlh
20 one third greater tina 90 Id be realized
| from the stock ra's thle. Vry few
| Texans take their Gu 70 y, those States,
but sell them to Others. VII eager to real
iEe he largest possible p,Vht, hurry them
upon their journey, crowd them into R@i'
road care by hundreds where there Is only
room for fnies, rush them over Railroad
hundreds of miles without stoppage giddy
| and sick from TIE unlccustomed notion
bruised ored. manned by the crowding
from al, these aus, SO wit out appetite fol
food or water an III supplied with both and
~hen these causes produce their Datura
results and the cattle sicken and die, IL IL
too good an opportunity to be neglected }
those who are undersold in their own mar
kets, the hops of their gain being g ne
to cry out, "The Texas revrr The Span
ish disease and SO wi'ely has this falls -
hoo been pr g,ted. and with such per
sis ent diligence, that Legislatures have
gravely passed laws 10 eEclude from th'
borders Of their States, cattle, which on
their native plains, are proverbialy, ih'
heaithes in the woHdt
But enough on this subject. have lonl
had il 10 my mind 10 send you cOmmuni
cation, by way Of answer to many inqni
ries from old friends aud aqua ntances IL
Virginia, on Texas az q desirable c0nntrl
for u,h as wish 60 emigeatei bat hndinl
ar article in the Houston Teisgrph, embody
ing most Of what | would say, and bett
said than | should have done, | enclose tn
paper to you, that you may publish 81
much of the srticle, as your space AM
judgement will allow.
Iwill add this much In the course Of
life now protracted beyond three score,
have travelled much, aud have seen NOR
or less OF twenty three Of the States Of tn
Federal Union besides Texas, and have liv
ed upwards Of twelve years in Texvsi al
I,ay candidly and deli rerately, that kno'
no section 10 which would remove frol
Texas. love Virginia, aud notwithstand
inc the wretehed aud unlawful muli,atiO
which dismembered her Of her Western ter
tory. al al never cease 20 love the dea
old State; with intense affection | cheris
the resemblance Of Tszeweh aud the SUI
rounding counties, aad the many friend
there, In whose Kindness | rejolcet for m'
ny yeArs but dearly ~ love then, az
Ardently as desire once more TO look o
the old familiar spots and faces, even the
could have no power over my mind II d
question were about leaving Texas for al
other home.
Very respectfully your,
Geo. W. e.. BRowSE.