The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-12-22
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
Rapid Growth OF Texas---Cheap and
H1eh Lands---COtfon, Corn, Turkeys
and Early Vegetables---Glreenie and
Early and Often


Eiieh Lands---COt1on, Corn, Turkeys
Greenbael<a---GOId and BtIVer---VOte
Enrly and Often
CALVERT, TKxAs, Dee 9, 1859.
DRAK MAo:-Here 1 am, $50 miles
north Of Galveston, the present terminus
of the Texas Central Railroad, town only
twelve months old, containing about 5000
inhabitants, it is the busiest little place /
have seen this many day, the main street
for n least one mile is thickly lined with
stores, all busy. Cotton is coming in very
rapidly, and the streets are filled with large
wagons carrying four to ten bales of the
staple. Most of the wagons are drawn by
from four to six yoke of fine large oxen
Money seems very plenty here, and gold
and silver is jingled everywhere. A green
back is hardly known here, and . stranger
Is readily distinguished by his ignorance
and innocence in rendering the pay for
some article in one OF Uncle Sans prom
ises to pay. The growth of this little city
was so rapid that the buildings, although
presenting neat and comfortable appear
ance, are only rough finished-no plaster
ing. The only really elegantly fitted up
places are the places used for the disposal
of old rye or bad gin. At the present
writing my room is located over q bar
room; can distinctly hear the jingling
of the cut glass, with an occasional, 'here's
to you, and the raking of the silver into q
cigar box mind you the gold only goes
into the drawer,) that is, what the bar
keeper don't accidentally slip into his pock-
ct. The trade of this place IS immense,
in fact, all over the State business is lively.
Emgranis are pouring in very rapidly, ey-
cry train and steamer bringing their hund
rcd yrh he RaH try
the people are swarming, all bound for
the ''land that two Opossums can be found
up one PersimmOn tree
This is q great country, and am quite
in love with it. Coming up from Calves
ton 1 saw, what had often read and
heard about, a prairie on IRE. 1t was q
grand sight I can assure you. Speaking
Of fires reminds me of one that occurred
in Galveston on the morning of Dec. I'd.
A very destructive fire broke out about
O'Clock in the morning, the very worst
that ever visited Galveston. six large squares
IN the business part of the city were de
stroyed, about two hundred houses and q
losS of 81 900, 900. We saw the light at 2
o'clock in the morning out in the Gulf, and
at least fifty miles of. Some very fine
buildings were destroyed.
Galveston is quite city, contains about
$4,000 Inhabitants, and bids fair 10 be an
important commercial point, 1t is esiina-
ted that Texas will receive $25, 00O, 600 in
gold for her cotton crop alone this year.
You would be astOnished to walk through
the markets here; new lettuce, raddishes,
onions, turnips, cabbage, plenty, and AT
\ prices that would make the proprietUr of q
cheap boarding house laugh. As said
above, everything moves in droves enai-
| - In, he -,
droves, and TO day saw large drove of
turkeys driven through the street.-The and
fat and so cheap that the meanest man in
America could have no excuse for not baV-
ing one for his Christmas dinner, 70 cents
to 81 90 each, dirt cheap thought ], and il
| only took few moments for the buyers
TO gobble them up. Beef, too, is very
cheap, q nice roast that would cost you
81, so can be had here for twenty-five cts.
just think of it, two to four cents per
| pound, choice cuts and liver thrown in,
''how is that for high 2"
TIE election has Just passed, and quiet
enough, no disturbance, and the back cOun-
ties are all in. It only took four days to
vote, and it reminded me of the old saying
''VOte early and vote often" l believe
| that Hamilton the Conservative is elected
Governor. One thing that does look odd,
IS the manner or customs that the real
Texan adopts. In this country, without
joking. = gentleman is not fashionably
dressed unless he wears = wide trimmed
hat, a Mexican blanket, and two very large
revolyers. The people, notwithstanding,
are very civil, that is the white portion of
the community-Our newly enfranehised
| give you the lie very readily, and arc quite
ready TO fight of hand or steal your over
coat. Il is astonishing how rapidly they
are becoming educated up TO the standard,
in fact they pick everything they can gel
their hands on.
Well, Mac, have said Rore than in
tended when I hrst commenced, and mus
close. I will send You = paper occasion
ally that viii post you up on the affairs iH
this country better than can write them
With regards to all friends, l ana as ever,
Your old apprentice,
| OP NJ