Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-05-31
Fer the Spectator.
DALLAS, DALLAS COUNTY, Texas, |
Nov 16tb 1870

May 10th, 1870.
Editor Spectator. -Leavipg Hallsvic on the
18th of March last, we found ourselves, after a
very fatiguing journey Of three days, safely
landed at this point, stopping over night at
Tyler and Prairieyile. The former being a
very lovely little town named in honor Of Ex-
President Tyler, and situated 10 one of the
most beautiful countries the eyes of man can
hope to gaze upon-it is the county seat Of
Smith county. Smith County has been very
great sufferer since the war at the bands Of a
merciless foe. In no other than Maj. -,
who Of his own will, TO use the power vested
in him by his Satanic Majesty, on account
believe, Of the fact that near the little village
of Tyler, the Confederates had stockade, in
which they penned all the yanks" of the
Trans Mississippi department during the war.
Coming from Tyler, we passed through love
ly section Of country known as Garden Va!-
ley" in smith county Land, | learned from
a gentleman living at Garden alley" al
though 70 miles from any Rail Road, sells for
from $40 to $50 per acre Coming then to
Vaurdaudt county, we again pass through a
foreign section OF country, and this county has
received the name Of the free State" from
her Radical sentiments during the late struggle.
We now reach Dallas. This is very pretty
little town situated upon the eastern bank OF
the vicinity not exceeding four miles in the
country, there is a good deal of improvement
going on. The citizens beginning to erect neat
and tasty cottages out upon the prairie, prln-
clpally OF concrete masonry, and In many sec
tions so far from timber that stretch the hui
man eye as far as it can reach, and you can on
" perceive a broad ocean Of land of the finest
in the world, and destined at no distant day to
become one OF the finest agricultural countries
on the North American continent; for all that
is wanting is emigration and the capital can be
more readily obtained from mother earth than
any other country. This county is one of eight
in number that includes, what is said to be the
finest section of the State and the garden Of
Eden of America it is known as the
black waxey" land it being Of very dark
limestone nature and producing we'll You can
raise, on an average, from % TO 40 bushels oil
corn per acre-from Is TO 40 of wheat and
from ] to u bales of cotton, and in many in
stances there are whole fields of cotton sown
broad cast, and even in this way they make J
bale to the acre.
There is considerable anxiety on the part Of
the people as regards Rail Reads They all
feel deeply interested, particularly 10 this coun-
ty as to the proposed route of the Kansas city,
Eort Scott and Gulf Rail Road, who have been
making the most strenuous efforts to get the
right Of way through the neutral lands Ii
they are granted this, they propose to con-
pIete the road to the Gulf il two years, and
Dallas claims to be the air line county, conse-
quently they claim this as the only practicable
route for the road There are many advanta-
ges possessed by this State over the other
Southern States the principal of which is the
fertility OF its soii-tE.e abundance of lands I'M
cutivated-the healthy climate and the cheap
ness of land, and combining all thiogs should
regard this as the best country for Virginians
to make money, since by strict economy and
perseverance in a few years, any energetic
young man can amass fortune of from S. to
$4,000. Land can be bought here at from ST
to So per acre, raw prairie and unimproved,
and owing to the scarcity Of timber There is a
very superior timber here for heJging-it is
the ''BoWdock,' and many Of the citizens have
made considerable fortunes since the war in
shipping the seed to the Northwestern States.
They brought readily believe $50 per bushel
Wages are very high here, farmers having to
pay for hands by the day from 81 to 81. 50, and
by the month from SIS to $25, and il is almost
impossible TO get it al any price. There is a
good deal of labor in the country, but it is prn-
cipally freedmen, and like other places they
will scarcely work for love nor money and whis-
key thrown in extra They have formed a col
ony and purchased about five hundred acres of
land near this place, and erected a town which
they call 'Freedman-town, - and believe have
adopted resolutions to come down on the farm
ers
The Circuit Court of this county, Judge Nor
ton, presiding has just closed No business of
Importance done except the trial of horse
thief, taken In this county few days ago, and
[ learn he has been held over for further trial.