The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-07

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The nis..s xsa.s sess sesAe seush.
Bfehes, Its Kailelsds. 49, In Pre-
1 tres =
lssrysponaenlsle Of .coarier-Jostnji.
.sEeRT NoRTH, fExAs, March Is
Texas, of late years, being the recipi-
ent of a wonderful tide Of immigration,
such perhaps, g no other section of our
whole country has ever received widl-
in the same length of time, and now
attracting such general attention, your
correspondent gravitated hither for q
short sojourn, with headquarters in the
pleasant little town Of
t.s FORT w01sTlI, ETi
Situated on the old tite of the Tilted
/ States fort, located and so 7ramed jim
honor of Gen. Worth, by kentudkt's
lamented son, Albert sydney Johnston.
Its elevation above the surrounding
country rendefs it pleasant and admits
of an extended view ofa picturesque
and beautiful rich valley and rolling
prairie country, the monotony, of the
prairie relieved by groves here and there
and lines of forest timber skirt the nu-
mer0us crystal streaDls that abound in
this region. just here the Clear fork
and the West fasis14 q the Trinity river
make their junction. Oflate the town
wears quite cosmopolitan air, as it is
full of men apparently of all national
tiles from many of the Eastern and
quite all of the North western and Pa
cific States and Territories in quest of
beef cattle, and many others in quest of
lands, and others in the Interest of COM
ing railroads. l..
KENTUCKIAxS So iiTff
and Missourians are numerous in this
and adjoining counties, and constitute
the larger proportion Of their popula-
ton, and wherever I find them they
are as hospitable, .clever, and whole
sOuled as they can be. If Uncle Sam
Haycratt, of Elizabethtown, Ky, could
visit these people, he would see an il
lustration and feel living realization
of that hOspitable, generous, and UNI
selfish people which he believes only
lived in his boyheod days-counter-
parts of the Hardns, the Rowans, the
Thomases, and others who comprised
that little pioneer settlement from Old
Virginia.
RAILROADS.
are the order of the day here, and Le-
coming animated. The Present Iegis-
lature though, having accomplished
but little as yet, have at any rate legis-
lated away ali objections heretofore
made to the State laws, as against nom
resident interest and control. The Cen
tral roads now running 10 "COsse," 2lS
miles north of Galveston, and, though
heretofore constructing at snaiPs pace,
will build almost as much more the
current year. The International, but
recently organized, have 500 men at
work, have laid 90 miles of track, and
have so miles more graded. The Waco
Tap road will be finished this summer,
and by November next the Kansas road
will be completed to Red river, and
most rapid construction is expected of
the Chattanooga and New Orleans, the
Southern Pacific, Transcontinental and
others, as late accounts of them favora-
bly, promise adequate capital and thor
ough organization.
NORTHERs
or the north winds, in Texas, many re-
gard as serious objection, but ought
not, however, rs rarely one is so severe
as to prevent any outdoor work being
done, and being so. dry and pure as
never, or rarely ever, to communicate
bad colds AS they brace up animal
life, beneficially act upon the soil and
admit of the slaughter and curing of
meats, they are, therefore, a benefit and
desirable. This winter is remarked as
the severest known here for many
years, yet, because of the dry atmO-
sphere and absence of sluSh and mud,
usual in kentucky, l have not at all
experienced it as severe.
SOCIETY
.s not at all of that character which
twenty years ago put the State in had
repute, but is everywhere creditably
good and orderly; as much so as in the
old States, to the contrary of what a
political faction. here makes public,
merely to advance mercenary and sell
fish aims. There is a universal dispO-
sition manifest toimprove-build better
school, church and dwelling houses
and but Tor the scarcity of lumber, un-
usual progress would be made. as here
money is abundant, aud people able
and willing to pay high price for it.
1t is most inviting field for those of
the necessary capital, and familiar with
proper conduct of sawmills. L have
made general tour over almost every
portion of I
THE STATE,
except the southwestern part, and find
it being rapidly settled and developed
and progress" the watchword. From
actual and close observation and gen.
eral information from others, ] feel
confident i'm saying that it well merits
the attention of capitalists, and de-
serves being seen by all in the old
States who contemplate q change of
residence. 1t possesses the natural ad
vantage of an extended line of seaboard
W hich affords home market with all
the outer world for all of her produc-
tions, and which in a few years, with
anything like judiciOus and favorable
State legislation, will grow to be i'm
mense. Her vast territory comprises
an extensive and heavily-timbered re-
gion, ranging from Red river along the
Arkansas and Louisiana lines to the
Gulf, of an average depth west of f25
miles, where it strikes the prairie re-
gion, which is generally beautifully
undulating and as rich as lands can be,
comprising the black sticky, black
san iy, gray, red, chocolate and mahOg-
any, and extends from the timber re-
gion west for at least 400 miles, and
from tie north boundary to the Gulf
and Rio Grande river, which embraces
the Staked Plains, a grand prairie, of
generally rich land. Contrary, howev-
er, to prevalent opinion of being
barren, sterile desert, all the prairie
region is generally well watered, except
the Staked Plains, and set with groves
oftimber, and which almost universally
prevail along the margin of all water
courses, and to the need of this country
far more abundant than exists in the
Northwestern States, and, having q
genial, varied climate, is favorable to
the growth of all kinds of grain, fruits,
nuts, vegetables, and, in short, all pro-
| ductiOns of the Southern, Eastern and
Northern States, aud besides, affords a
vast range of most nutritious native
grasses, upon which all kinds of stock
can subsist the year round, without the
trouble and expense of providing forage
| for other than only such as are worked.
| This district also embraces the
TABLE LANDS
/ of Northwestern Texas, which, being
approached at a distance, present the
! appearance of being as regularly and
handsomely terraced asa neat artificial
| work of the kind sometimes seen on