The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1872-02-22
wanderer ON His TravCIs---NO. 5.

To the Editor of the Democratic Statesman.
AS l predicted, the morning broke
darkly, and with heavy masses of
black clouds scudding under the force
of Northey, bat being due at Wei
born station, on the Central, l had no
option but to start, and taking the
road to Bryan via Hearne, which
runs nearly parallel with the Railroad,
1 left good warm room at the hotel
to encounter the blast. In about an
hour the Norther ceased and the rain
descended in copious showers. My
blankets were very useful, and kept
me nearly dry. Had ! taken the
precaution, when l started, to put up
my side curtains, l should have been
tolerably comfortable. When ar
rived at the
TOWN OF HEARNE
it was pouring down in torrents-so l
did not stop. The town has moved
almost entirely around the Depot of
the International, some three fourths
of mile from where it was originally.
A very fine building fora
UNION EATING HOUSE
has been erected by the International,
where, 1 informed, the passen-
gers on both the International and
Central get their meals, which are
said 10 be decided improvement Oh
what used to be furnished at Calvert.
Not having a chance to try, can't
say if this be so, but do know that
there was great margin for improve
ment.
Nest Of the road goes through q
poor country, and not in view Of
many settlements, and in fact, the
weather being cold, rainy and gloomy,
L did not feel that the ride was very
enjoyable. As bad, however, as the
days trip was, it might have been
worse if l had not luckily reached
Bryan, just in time to house myself
and animals from severe Norther,
and still heavier rain than l encoun>
tered in the morning. But Mrs. Shaw,
the proprietress of the hotel, soon pro.
vided me the creature comforts, in the
shape of good, hot dinner of sub
stantials, and a comfortable room
with rousing fire soon restored me
to my usual equanimity, and l looked
through the window and thought it
might rain, and the Norther might
blow, who cares?-not l.
BRYAN
is already, and permanently improv-
ing. The shanty stores, built on the
advent of the Railroad, are disappear
ing, and in their place good brick
buildings are being erected. Good
schools and churches, comfortable and
ornamental cottages, are scattered
around; and everywhere you see the
signs of thrift. The bad cotton crop,
of course has, had its effect on trade
here as we'll as elsewhere yet there
are signs of solid Improvement, which
show that the future of Bryan is on
ward. The citizens are orderly, enter
prisipg and energetic. Being the
county seat no doubt'helps it. 1t has
a fine two-story brick court house and
the Agricultural College has been
located some FIVE miles below. l met
one of the contractors, Mr.. Macmillan,
who told me he Yves going to work i'm
mediately.
Ten years since, the land in this
neighborhood could have been bought
for one dollar per acre; not SO now.
From ten dollars, to one hundred dol
lars is the price demanded, according
to the size of the tract, and the dis
lance from the road. Yet old fogcys
say Railroads don't benefit the cOun-
try !! If every cent that the Cen
trial owed the State had been donated,
instead Of loaned, the increase Of
value of lands would have repaid the
county before this.
was surprised when l awoke in
the morning, to find the sun shining
brightly. l started for Welborn Sta,
ton, or rather, 1 should say, for Min
ter Springs, mile below.
1 could not help observing what q
fearful havoc the demands of the Cen
trail have made on the timber, and if
it goes on at the rate I am told they
are using fuel, 5000 cords monthly,
they will soon have to seek some other
mode Of making steam than wood
fires.
The past and present generations
have been destroying the timber the
next generation will have to plant, and
plant very extensively, or fuel will in
certain localities become too scarce. A
word to the wise should be sufficient.
1t seems to me thatmany n proprietor,
at small expense, at present, could
leave substantial benefits to his chill,
dren, if he would commence now, and
plant groves Of quick growing trees.
Finishing my business at Minter, [
started for BurIeson county, coming
back to Bryan and taking the route
by Nosely's Ferry, found the Little
BRACES just crossable, some parties
had been detained for two days wait
to get across as it was it came over
the seat of my buggy, not being able
to swim, I accepted the services of a
young man to drive the h"~0v Owe