Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-05-11
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
GANzALEs, Texas, April p, 1871


short time, and thinking that it would per.
haps interest some of your readers and
possibly benefit others to hear from the
Lone Star State,' have concluded to
drop you line.
l am sorry 1 cannot. furnish you with
anything romantic, but as there was no
Railroad collisions or Steamboat explo-
sions wherein l could find heroine or
show myself hero, [, of course. will have
to forego the pleasure of anything on that
score. /, however. had very pleasant
trip all the way from Greeneville, Tenn,
to this point, The run down the Missis-
sippi was especially pleasant stopped
off one day in the Crescent City business
there is exceedingly dull at this time ow-
ing principally to the great decline in cot
ton. At New Orleans, [ took passage on
the steam ship Hutchinson, of the Morgan
Line for Galveston. The scenery as we
steamed down the river to the Gulf, was
enchanting. The fine sugar plantations,
with their elegant mansions, surrounded
by beautiful groves of the Orange and
the rich Magnolia, were passed in quick
succession; all on board seemed delighted
with the balmy breaths that come floating
in from landward, and were in fine spirits
and good humor until we passed from fresh
to salt water. from the Mississippi into the
| Gulf of Mexico. Then faces soon began
to lengthen and grow pale the white caps
dashed, roared and surged against the
sides of our noble ship, until the majority
of the passengers had to retire to their
state-rooms, and in a few hours sea-sick-
ness ragged with perfect fury; oh, how
your humble servant wanted to ''take his
hat and 90 ashore
We arrived in Galveston on Saturday
at 8 P. NJ, having been forty hours max
ing the trip from New Orleans. As there
were no trains out until Monday. we had
chance of seeing little of Galveston,
and / am sorry to say that every kind Of
vice and dissipation seemed to have free
license in that city, even on the Lords
day; drinking saloons. billiard halls and
ten-pin alleys are thrown open for the ac-
commodation of customers. Aside from
this, Galveston is very genteel city the
streets are wide and nicely laid off, houses
are generally made on the plan of new and
improved architecture.
At A. NJ, we left Galveston for Col
umbus, a distance [ think of 40 miles.
The Railroad lay through prairie nearly
the whole distance. | have read from diff
erent newspapers, and heard from private
sources, as thought, fabulous accounts of
stock raising In Texas, but [ saw enough
in that days travel to convince me that
all [ had even heard on the subject was
l,, n do OF 10
Road as far as the eye could reach over
that vast prairie, could be seen thousands
of cattle feeding on the luXurient grass.
and am told that this was only sample
of what could be seen in all portions of
this great State. One man alone, owns
pasture which is 40 miles in circumter-
ence, and contains 4S, 900 head of cattle,
and 5000 head of horses. This is, guess,
the 'bigest cow-tdH," that ever appeared
in your columns, but it is vouched for by
men of undoubted varacity. This GER
tainly is the land of fine cattle and fair
women.
We arrived in Columbus, the terminus
of the Galveston & San Antonia Railroad,
at ) p. NJ. Columbus is fourishing town
of some 1900 inhabitants business is
very lively, it being the nearest Railroad
point for large and wealthy portion of
Texas. After partaking of good sub
stantial supper at the Colorado House, we
were slowed away in an obscure corner of
the Stage Coach, and after twenty-four
hours drive landed in this beautiful little
town, where we have determined to rest
our weary bones for at least one week.
Ganzales is situated on the Gaudoloup,
one mile below the mouth of the San Mar
Gus river The last census gave it 1000
inhabitants. 1t has two fourishing schools
two churches, two hotels, an oil factory.
about dozen mercantile establishments.
and two printing Offices. A daily line of
coaches connect it with Columbus, Austin,
and San Antonia it is the center of fine
farming region; lands on the river are un-
surpassed by any others in the State the
climate is pleasant and healthy; as for So
ciety, it is just as good as it is in any of
the older States. The people are just as
intelligent and refined, thay have as fine
schools, as good churches, as good preach
ing. as large and attentive congregations.
in fine. they are morally and religlously
equal to if not little ahead of US Ten
nesseans. Now, I pray you, do not take
offense at this bold assertion; do not say
it to the disparagement of good old East
Tennessee, but [ say it in justice to poor
misrepresented Texas.
The great draw back to interior portions
of this State is want of Railroads. Freights
are transported to and from Columbus,
Port Lavaca, and Indianola into the in
terror, on horse and OK wagons, at a very
heavy cost. There are several charters
granted and routes for Railroads are be-
ing surveyed throughout the State, and it
is to be hoped that the people are convinc-
ed that to fully deveIope the resources. of
the State they will have to encourage and
facilitate the building of Railroads. One
hundred thousand head of beeves and
stock cattle have been driven through this
town, on their way to Kansas. within the
thirty-six days past. Thirty thousand
we're driven from this County, (Ganzales)
alone. last Spring. If this great draw on
the stock of this State continues, stock
raising in the future will be more profta-
bic than in the past.
In conclusion, would say to all your
readers who contemplate making Texas
their future home, to visit Ganzales and
adjoining counties, for l am sure that
there are as pleasant and healthy locations
in their boundries. as there arc in the
State. do not say this from any selfish
motive. | have no interest, whatever in
any portion of the State; L am merely
travelling through | come to this con-
clusion from what have seen and from
what have learned by diligent inquiry.