Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-08-03
TEXAS TIMBER.

The forests and belts Of timber
interpreted with the prairics Of
Middle ard Western Texas present
a great variety of lumber adapted
for fuel and ship-building and rail
road purposes. Nearly all the oaks
so common to our section growlux
nriantly in Texas. In addition to
these tho live oak is found in abun
dance in the coast counties, much
of it within the reach OF tide-water
navigation. Vast forests pine on
the Sabine, Angelina aud Nucccs
.yivers will yield almost ineSbaust.
ible supplies of tar, pitch and tur.
pentinc for the commerce of the
world. Directly on tho line of the
Texas Pacific Railroad, the post oak
and cross timber lands are of fire.
quent occurrence. These woods are
close grained, tough, and durable.
and specially useful for cross-ties
and for heavy trestlc-work, &c
Hickory, cypress, ash poplar, beech.
cottonwood, and the swamp willow
grow spontaneously, affording an
ample supply for fuel.
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
Onr trip was full ofincident. The
meeting with Governor Throckmor-
bon was pleasant surprise As
director of the Texas and Pacific he
was most useful He knows the
State rs "the seailan knows the
sea" and is rare popular favoritc
His sketches of past history--his
anecdotes of Houston and Rusk-
his Indian legends--his magnetic
humor--made him rare addition
TO our little party. Throckmorton,
like all the rest, fought in the Con-
federate service, after having bold
ly resisted secession as State Sen
ator. Like Gen. Houston, he be-
lieved nothing but disaster would
crown the rebellion. Houston re-
fused TO the end to take tho Confed-
crate oath, for which he was dopos
ed from the Office of Governor Of
Texas, tho last office he held L
fonnd his name talisman every
whore. Every reference to him in
my speeches touched the hearts of
my audience. He died at Hunts.
vile, Texas. July 25, 1868, aged 20, /
bat not till he had warned his
friends against the madness of re.
bellion. Had he not been wise and
prudent beyond most men, there
woald have been civil war in Tex
as, as there were thousands Of Tn.
ionists ready to rise for the old flag;
but his connse.s restrained what |
would have been an unspeakablc |
calamity. Throckmorton was sent
by President Davis into the Indian
country to form a treaty with the
red men. and earned the soubriquet
of HLcatherskin" from his suit of
buckskin, presented TO him by the
tar-famed Elias Rector, of Arkansas,
ono of the old time Indian traders.
He remained with them for several
months, down TO the collapse of the
Confederacy. His descriptions of
their life would fill a volume with
romantic adventures. One incidcntE
he relates with peculiar gusto.
Three friendly Indians, brave and
his two young wives, who had been
active in restoring some white cap
tives, called TO see ssLeatherskin"
at his home in Collin county. The
chief was particularly struck with
his likeness in one Of the Governors
fall-length mirrors, and insisted up
on taking his hat as memcnto,
while the females were as urgent
TO be dressed like the ladies Of the
family, even to hoops and bustles.
They were gratified, aud bore their
new burdens with commendabls
gravity.
POLITICS.
Everybody talks politics 10 Tex 1
i. Ypn can no more avoid the air
han political discussions. Il found
hat / was quito well ifnot favor |
lbly known, and generally had a
aIdte aTicr this fashion u re-
member fcn well whee you edited I
he Union al Washington and the =
At PHILADELPHIA. and