Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-27
Letter from Texas.

AUSTIN City, Texas, Aug. 18th, 1870
Were l assured that my letters were as enter
tanning as they are frequent and truthful, my
pen wet with ink would not hang above tho un-
sulIied page Confused in thought from the
mass of incidents that surround me, have not
done justice yet to the space allotted me. My
statements are plain unvarnished
ln many portions of our State, there is In
dubitsblc and we'll attested evidence of rich
mineral wealth. land geological formations, which
REQUIRE only scientific research to develop
them. They cannot long remain bidder,
mystery. Our late Geologst had specimens OF
marble, exhibiting iineness and soldlty OF
grain, pure white and shaded, resembling
Italian, and susceptible OF fine polish.
Gypsum, grindstone, coal, &c, are found IN
quantity in north Texas. Gold, silver, copper
and iron have been discovered since the war IN
San Saba. and Menard counties, and specl'
mems can be- seen in the department.
What is commonly known as the Texas
Diamond" can be found plentifully along the
banks Of the Rio Colorado. 1t presents
brilauoy almost equal to tho diamond OF the
first water. 1t is very pure crystalzod quartz;
pretty and sparkling, and much sought alter
by new settlers.
Before proceeding further, would seriously
impress upon the minds OF all, that although
our State presents great attractions to those
who emigratc they should be prepared to make
proner use of their energies Although nature
has been bountilul to Texas, and though many
portious equal in beauty and fertility anything
that the imagination can picture, still to make
somo lovely localities suitable tor the hablta
ton OF ladies, labor and enterprise are absolute
" necessary In the remote sections OF our
State all the appliances of civilized life are re-
ouirch to be supplied by the hand of art, which,
OF course, will involve patient industry and la
Dor. But then your labor will not be thrown
away. So easily are lands acquired by the IN
dust,viow settler. that no man of sober habits,
and sound moral principles need labor long tor
other people, but soon acquire good nome.
1t must be conceded that the most lndepen
dent man is he who is free from debt, and who
owns the soil he cultivatcs. If he is intelligent
and Industrious he is sure to speedily OBTAIN
competency, as the soil here nobly responds to
the labor bestowed upon it.
In the settled portions OF this State you WILL
find moro than the average population G1 peo-
pie of refined education. This is attributed IN
many instances to persons coming here 10 CD n
sequence of reduced circumstances, who either
desire to better their condition IL lie, being
unable 10 hold their former station In lie among
the "urstocracy," or being too proud to labor
at home. have come amongst Us and are en-
ploying themselves 10 occupations for which
their talents 50 admirably fitted them; but
their mistaken ideas of the requirements OF
artificial state OF society liz their native State
prevented them from keeping in mind those
beautiful yet practical lines,
"Honor and shame from no condition rise
Act well your part, there all the honor lies
There can be no better illustration OF society in
Texas than the liberal provisions made for ed.
uca,ionaI purposes. Wise, humane end liberal
provisions have bccu made to advance the great
cause of education, and soon she will Iauk
among the best in her free school system.
The innumerab!e churches, dedic tied to the
worship OF the Almighty, OF almost every de
nomination: the Furnishing condition OF those
purifiers Of the heart, tho |. o. o. f. and
Masonic Orders; the Sons and Daughters OF
Temperance, the establishment in every village
OF Sunday Schools; the adoption OF wise and
wholesome system of jurisprudence, these facts
are themselves the best evidences | can bring
forward to illustrate the healthy state Of society
| in Texas.
have often as | walked the streets Of the
tenn plated tho terrible reality before me, and
with the speed of lightning fly over the i'm
mensc lines OF railroad traversing the continent,
making it vast net work OF iron bands; as
tread the decks OF your maj estic steamers that
ply the lakes and rivers, aud look out on the
pleasing panorama CT large popuI GUS cities, well
cultivated farms, towering manufactures, and
ref :ct that the power Of enterprise has wrought
all these wonderful results in those bleak north
ern ATTITUDES, where the Spring and Autumn
are swallowed up by the dark dreary winters,
where the husbandman is compelled to labor
| necessarily during the whole of their brief sum.
| mer to carry his family and stock through the
approaching winter, can but wish that some
power might be brought to bear on the
| broad fower-decked praires of my own Texas,
where Nature with lavish hand has scattered
| her choicest blessings Of climate, Of SOIL and OF
position. Lee but the stimulus of enterprise,
industry and genius which has transformed
| the whole East into one vast workshop, be felt
upon the natural advantages and resources oil
the great State of Texas and the time is no,
far distant when her splendid cities, her com
merce, her agricultural productions, her rail
roads, her schools, social relations and her peo
ple may challenge comparison with any cOun-
try in the world. Aides PAM.
The CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE.-The
CuIpeper county meeting recommended Friday,
the 3Oth of September as the day, and War.
renton the place for the Congressional Con-