Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-14
Letter from exas.
Climate, Soil and Mineral Wealth.
CORRESPONDENTS OF HE spr.I

FORT SILL, INDIAN TER, Sept. 90, 1872.
In my last gave you hint of my proposed
| trip to Western Texas and promised you my
| jottngs by the way side.
Going west from Houston we enter country
| lying south of the Galveston and San An
tonia railroad, admirably adapted 10 the
growth of sugar, cotton and all the
profitable vegetable productions of this
| fertile state, and on the north of the road, a
soil equally good but covered with growth of
the various timber found in the coast line coun-
ties. Crossing the BrazOs, and leaving its vast
breadth of rich alluvial bottom, we found our
selves upon the high, rolling healthful prairies,
which mark that region as the finest on the
| American continent for the growth of that most
profitable of all crops, the sea island cotton
Some experiments for the past three years
prove beyond doubt, that it is superior to any
other for the growth of that particular product.
The agricultural capabilities of these i'm
mense tracts are undeveloped until we APP
proach Fort Bend, johnson and Gonzalois plan
tations, when an exemplification of its great
fertility may be seen in the sugar, cotton, corn,
rice, potatoes, etc., ETC., grown upon precisely
similar soil. Hitherto those broad pasture
fields have spontaneously furnished the luxuri-
ant grasses which supply the market of large
proportion Of Texas and West louisiana in
GLIDING New Orleans, with their best beef.
Now, however, the herds are being driven to the
western portion of the state by the rapid agri-
cultural development which follows Just upon
the heels of the iron horse, and soon in all this
region will the tasteful residence of the thrifty
planter take the place of sturdy cattle pens,
and hillocks of golden grain supplaut the bull
lock who long roamed lord of his prairie home.
This portion of the state is largely settled by
the negroes, who till the land upon the share of
crop raised. The plan tations, sugar, rice and
cotton, in this part of the state are very large,
in many instances as many as 10000 acres being
in cultivation on one plantation. Allow me
just here to explain the reasons why this is
better so. When farmers in the north attempt
to apply their own experience to the south they
are reckoning on false basis. Both cotton and
sugar can be more successfully raised on large
plantations than on small farms. The agricul-
tural products Of the north and west are brought
from the field in merchantable condition. On
the other hand, both cotton and sugar have to
pass through a communicating process be-
fore they are in a marketable shape The cotton
gin and sugar house are essential to the growers
of these two great staples, and these require
considerable money to erect and maintain them
1t would be a waste of capital 10 erect these on
every small farm. Even if the plantations of
the south were subdivided, the owners would be
dependent upon the original proprietor for the
machinery to put their crops in merchantable
condition.
The present agricultural system Of the south,
springing from the urgent necessities of the
capitalist and aborer, is perhaps the most perfect
that could be devised for the successful produc'
ton OF cotton and sugar on large scale AT
least eighty per cent Of the plantations in the
south, and especially in Texas, are now worked
on the share system The laborers are equal
partners with the landlord. The one furnishes
the bone and sinew to till the soil; the other.
the capital and bruins to utilize the labor.
This partnership is based upon community
of interest. The negroes are free from taxation.
yet they are directly interested in the wears
profits. The planter, while unable to dispose of
his land, can yet reap fair income from it
through the labor of the negroes. The terms
are either half crops to the aborers, they fur
nishing themselves with food and clothing; or