Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-11-19
LETTER FROM TEXAS.

AUSTIN, leSas, NOV. !, 1871.
EDITORS CHRoNICLE: Since my
first few days spent in Texas, I
have been in receipt Of different
communications, from time to time,
asking my opinion Of this State. I
wish to drop few lines through the
memorable old time Chronicle, for
the benefit Of many Of the patrons
Of your paper, if you think it worth
the space. will say to these asking
fer the advantages this State has,
naturally, over that of Tennessee -
The lands cannot be any more pro
ductive than they are, nor can they
he any richer, one cannot desire q
country more level either. You can
have view, In almost any direction,
of from ten to twenty miles with not
a single farm or house to he seen.
The view Is perfectly delightful
now and then herd Of horses, or
cattle intersperscd with the ass, a
spontaneous growth, and as general
thing small. There is but little care
taken ofstock, only to brand or mark
them. As for the climate being par
ticularly adapted to certain growths,
| can say that it Is. Anything ever
saw raised 10y cultivation, can be
raised here with about half the troub
lie and labor that 1t takes to raise 1t
in Tennessee. | speak fiom what .
have seen, this being the third crop
have seen grow in Texas. Corn
will be gathered soon as the cotton
crop gets little Off of hand, and, as
II general thing, will yield from As to
so bushels per acre, worth rs cents
per bushel, at the farm. Cotton will
yield 500 pounds, and some 700 to the
acre. Wheat, oats, barley and rye
grow AZ well as one could wish, and
all kinds of vegetables grow fine; as
for sweet potatoes, they grow all the
time. was on farm in Caldwell
I'buhly laHt Neth, thN so" hNih vi
them that had been growing during
the spring and summer, for three
years, without cultivation of any i'm
portance. had always heard that
Texas way a dry country and subject
to drouths, but I find it not so, for the
last three years / never saw, in any
country, any more regularity in the
seasons, but to the contrary last July
year, and October, 1870, we had very
destructive overflows in all streams
In the Western portion of the State.
The frcshct that has just subsidized,
has greatly damaged the people on
the Colorado river and its tributaries,
destroying nearly all the crops Of the
valleys as well as carrying OFF the
principal mills and gins aud many
| lives OF individuals were lost. The
rises in the streams are decidedly
more rapid than any ever heard Of
/ They were so sudden this time that
those living in low lands were fire.
quently carried oil in the attempt to
escape. Eight miles South of this
place Is a small stream called Onion
creek, IL was fifteen feet higher this
fall than ever known by the oldest
citizens. Some families lost half OF
their children, some grown ladies'
were drowned. The San Marcas
river was seven feet higher than ever
knowu-doing great damage.
As for climate, If there Is any spo-
ken of equal to this l have not seen
any account OF 1t. The hottest day
in summer, you are rs pleasant as
you wish on the praric. lam at this
time sitting at a window, and nave
it up and no fire in the room. We
have not had any cool weather yet,
have had two slight northers every
thing green and fresh. Now all !
have to say TO those wishing to lind
n country 10 make n living in easy,
by moderate work and economy, is
/ 10 come to Texas, but best have
something to start on when you get
here, though you can start on loss
here than in any other country.
/ ind, In my travels, some individ-
uals sti!l looking foT . country IN