New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-16
LETTER. FRoM TEXAs.

Colorado COunfy-COIHmbus Described
Buying Cotton with GOld-Banks OF th'
COloradO-Stock Region of Texas
Prices and Fertility of Prairie Lands
Settlers Needed-RailrOad Extension q
San Antonio.
rsnecfal correspondence of the Republican,
COLUMBUS, CoLoRADo COUNTY, Texas, }
October II, 1872. 5
Thinking that letter from this portion
of Texas would interest some Of your read
ers, | take pleasure in writing it. left
Hearne, Texas, few days ago to visit this
portion of the State. Taking the Galveston
Houston and San Antonio railroad at Har
risburg, travelled some eighty-three miles
before reaching this places This road is a
very good one, and it passes through some
of the finest country / have ever seen. II
is an old settled place of about 1000 inhabi'
tants situated on the Colorado river, some
$50 miles from it's mouth, which is a beauti-
ful, clear stream, and large enough Tor
steamboat navigation. The town is built on
one of the most lovely sites ever seen, the
place being shaded by hundreds of giant
live oak trees, which forcibly brings to
mind the beautiful Teche country of Louis
lana. This place has trade of 100 miles
around.
After witnessing the dullness along the
line of the Texas Central railroad, it glad
dens the heart to behold the hustle and
amount Of business done here. Nearly
every bale of cotton brought here is paid
for in gold, and the competition among
buyers is very great. Some buyers are
here from New Orleans and Galveston. The
number of bales already shipped from here
this season will reach very high figures, and
the business has not fairly commenced. A
large amount of GOODS Of all kinds is sold
here. In fact, it is the Eveliest place we
have struck in Texas 1t has also the neces-
sary outfit of q well regulated town, such
as churches, schools, Masonic and Odd Eel
Low g lodges, newspaper, courthouse, tele-
graph Office, etc.
The Colorado river has on each side lands
that will compare with any in the world for
and all susceptible of Guilt
walton. The timber along its banks, and
for several miles back, is composed of cot
pecan and live oak, the latter
throwing their nuts to the ground in great
making great feasting ground
for hogs. All the Colorado river lands need
is for them to be settled up by an enter
prising class of people, which would soon
Justify line of boats to ply in it's waters,
thus creating an important stream and
profitable trade with various places. Back
cror, Az ,;va,, ,r,,ooe +I,o I,roo r r;oL
prairies, the great stock region of Texas.
Any oRe admiring prairie lands to cultivate
,an be suited in this section, as there are no
better up lands anywhere; bale of cotton
)r thirty-five bushels of corn to the acre is
IN ordinary yield for most Of them. From
4 to SIS is the price of land in this county,
according to location and improvements.
We think this county can boast over most
portions Of the State, as there has not been
B failure in the cropsEby drought or worms
or the last fourteen years. Two overhows
~ freshets is the only damage experienced
Slong the river bottoms, which threw the
planters back a great deal. Even these
reshets could be avoided by system of
eVeeiDg, which noidoubt will be adopted as
Don as the bottoms become more settled.
The health of this section is very good, |
with other sections of the State. |
The physicians tell us that they do not get |
nough to do to give them good exercise.
Altogether, this part of Texas, like other
artions Of the State, is a great country;
ut it needs settlers-good, honest, indus
rious settlers. There is mighty room for
Improvement, There have been and still
re in circulation printed circulars and
amphlets in regard to certain portions of
he State, describing the beauties, re-
ources, advantages, etc. Those intending
} emigrate to this State should not be led
y these exaggerated reports. They are
reparei and circulated by land
oeculators, who style themselves "emi-
rant societies." So much untruthfulness
nd so many false statements have misled
Iany people, causing a general hatred to
le whole State, that every one should come
nd see for himself before making q final
ove. The few words of praise that 1 have
ritten of this county are simply correct,
aving no interest in giving false account.
The politics of this section are easy. The
otter portion Of the whites and blacks
EN- to be b perfect harmony, few Office
ekers alone causing some differences.
There is some talk of extending the Gal
,ston, Houston and San Antonio railroad
the latter place, some I25 miles from
ire. In such an event it will be one of the
ost important roads in the State penetrat-
& through very rich country, and the
arrest point to Mexico. D.
The Equal Rights, published at Monroe,
VIC,