The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-26
T E X A S
The Summer Weather-Money Used by the Pec-
ple-Progress Of the state-Its Produc-
tions-cheap Lands-Emigration.

Although we are now nearly in the middle Of |
our hot season we are enjoying beautiful weather.
The thermometer has at no time this season
reached such high points as see by the papers
you New Workers are sweltering under, its highest
point in the shade being only ninety-one degrees,
and that for only few hours Of one day. But
the nights are what Texas eXcels every other
State in during the summer. They are delicously
pleasant and invigorating the thermometer often
sinks then to below sixty degrees, and amply re-
freshes a body for the next days toll.
Scarcely any other money than specie Is used
in this city, and, in fact, all the State. The
exceptions are few towns, such as Galveston and
Jefferson, the former being on the Gulf of Mexico
and the latteron Red river, above Shreveport, La
Food Of all kinds is plenty and at low prices.
give the specie rates for few arti-
cles Porter house steaks from fve to
seven cents per pound retail, and other kinds
of beef meat for from one and half to three and
three aud half cents per pound; sweet pota.
toes, fifty to sixty cents per bushel; Irish pota-
toes, 81 so per bushel; corn, seventy to eighty
five cents per bushe; fifty and seventy-fve pound
watermelons, fifteen to twenty-five cents each;
squashes, two to five cents each; peaches, twenty
five to fifty cents per bushel; pecan nuts 81 so to
50 per bushel lin New York they sell at ten and
fifteen cents per pound, and other articles in like
proportion. Texas is undoubtedly the cheapest
State In the Union in which to live.
Labor Ia in great demand and commands very
high prices at the present time. Ordinary farm
hands receive SIS to 500 and their board per
month, except during the cotton picking season,
when each one averages from 50 so to 50 so and
board per day. Skilled labor is proportionately
higher. In cities journeymen mechanics easily
earn from So 80 to IS per day. 1t is asserted
that in no State in the Union is labor 30 well paid
as in Texas, to say nothing of the small cost of
living and even keeping a family. There is no
place in the whole State where man who wishes
employment cannot readily obtain it, and at good
wages too; for tho cry from one end Of Texas to
the other is for more labor, more men and women
moro artisans and workers Of every class and con-
dition. Nor is it to laborers alone that the cry is
extended. Men with brains and manufacturers of
all kinds are needed badly, and o warm welcome
and every possible aid awaits all those casting
their lot in tho State. Texas possesses in it's
mountain springs the finest water power in tho
world for operating machinery, some of which are
even now being successfully used for various kinds
Of mills and manufactures.
MANUFACTURES.
There are in the State some twelve or fifteen
cotton and woollen manufactures, and the nun.
Der is constantly increasing while the older ones
are charging their capacity for production. Cot
ton yarn can be made in the State and sent North
for from three to five cents per pound cheaper
than it is made there. At Galveston Houston
Jefferson and many smaller towns there are ex.
tensive foundries and machine shops, but not near
enough to supply the great demand that is con-
stantly augmenting; in addition to which are
numerous manufactures of wagons, CARRIAGES
hro lturo1 irnp uanfo nd 4
(both freight and passenger).
Although this is the greatest cattle State,
through the inertness and lack Of capital of the
old inhabitants, oil the leather is tanned and pur.
chased from the Northern States as is also tho
case with ninety.nin hundredths Of the boots and
shoes that are worn. We should tan our own
leather and make our own shoes. We ought to
make our own hats, caps, clothing, blankets and
many other necessary articles, the raw material
OF which we possess In the very greatest abun-
dance. Factories, carding machines and shops
for working in wood, iron and leather are spring
ing up in oil parts ofthe State; beef packeries are
furnishing market for tens of thousands of head
Of cattle, they being bought on the prairies at
from ten to twelve dollars per head gross, while
in some parts of the State the packers are paying
from three to three anda half cents Currency
net for beeves weighing from 500 to $50 lbs. and
from three and half to three and three-uuarter
cents for those weighing more than $50 lbs
There Is room for over q hundred more packeries,
the stock of cattle being almost unlimited. Mills
(Which is exceedingly prolific all over the state)
are in very successful operation.
LAND.
Improved land, can be readily bought in every
county for from two to ten dollars and fifteen
dollars per acre, including houses, barns, ont
houses, negro cabins and all other improvements,
the price varying according to its location to q
railroad or market. Oftentimes the planter will
help the new conner to his utmost extent, seldom
asking for more than qnarter or third Of the
price of the land he sells cash down. Many peo-
pie have raised in one season the price of the land
they have purchased. | copy the following from
the Houston 7elegrdph:-"Mr. Lynch, of Cald-
well county, says-'When came to Texas in the
fall of 1866 had only $500 in currency. rented
land and made crop in 1867 with one hand be-
side myself. paid my rent and cleared that
year $3.50 in specie, besides having enough to
support my family for an entire year. The
next year, 1868, | bought place, paying for it
81 500. went on 1t and commenced operations
with one other hand. Twenty-Five acres were in
and / broke twenty-five more, all Of
which planted, realizing therefrom the next fall
seven bales OF cotton worth 1851, 900 bushels of
corn, which sold for fifty cents per busheI, and
400 bushels of potatoes, for which received 5000
Sc., increase greatly. believe that any man
willing to try it and work can come here and by
renting land the first year make enough to buy q
good farm the next. In 1869 had three hands.
planted nineteen acres in cotton, gathered four
Jeen hales, which averaged 52G pounds each, and
only made two-thirds crop, and also put thirty
i've acres in corn. The latter yielded me 400
bushels. My cotton sold for fifteen cents specie
md my surplus corn also sold for seventy-five
cents in specie, besides 200 bushels of potatoes
or the same price, and besides have abundance
Of other things, vegetables, &C., for home con-
SUMPTION"
The. above is but one of host of peoples tes-
timony.
IMMIGRATION.
It is estimated by competent Judges that over
loo, 600 immigrants have entered the State within
The last twelve months. During the month of
asst December alone ever 800 people came daily
INTO It, and every road was crowded with them,
slo0. 1t is supposed that the coming twelve
months will witness o still greater number. |
nave put the above number below the mark, as
think from what have seen and know that to put
the immigration at 10000 souls would be no
exaggeraton.
THE CROPs.