The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-04-12
Letter from North Texas.
PREcKINRlpGE, March 10, 1872.

Editor Post .-Thinking q few items
from these parts might not fail TO be OF
interest to those of your readers who
may have an inclination TO try the reali-
ties Of Texas, will state what | think
Of the advantages and disadvantages OF
this great prairie country.
have never yet seen person Of so
dull n temperament as not TO become en-
thused on emerging into these great ma
tional meadows, with their innumera-
bic herds OF cattle, horses and sleep,
their smiling fields OF waving grain;
their thrcad-likc !inGs Of timber, denot-
ing the courses OF streams; sud the
hundreds of quiet homes visible for
miles across the open prairies. One Of
the first objections noticeable with TEN
nesseeanS in this section ia, the want of
timber, many farmers having to haul
their fencing material from six to ten
miles: some others, Of course, have tim
hers more cOnyenienC. But in the course
ofa few years the Bois Il Arc hedge
will render all this question obsolete. II
is now being cultivated on nearly cv-
cry farm in all this country, and in four
years time it becomes an etlec,ual bar
rier; and once II fence, always fence.
There arc numerous creeks of run
ming water in this region Of country,
though they have been known to al
most or entirely dry up during a long
continued drouth in early fall. On all
these creeks are small though never
failing springs Of the best Of water.
Water may also be found near the sur
face.
The climate Of the Texas prairics is
peculiar. and, upon tho whole, delight
ru the exception being the 'nonhcrs'
of winter, which are decidedly the re-
verse. These occur from November TO
Larch. They give no premonition OF
their advent, except, looking nOrthward
a few hours before, dark low cloud
will be observed. Keeping the atten-
ton fzed in this direction, one will in
due time see evidences of the approach
In. storm, Dust, loose blades Of grass
aud other light materials are taken up,
marking the exact line Of wind. When
he finds hi'uSc,! cuvcoped in II. man
ins,inclivelj' buttons his coat and draws
his blanket around him. The cattlo
'urn tail to It. and regardless OF homo
or friends. make their fastest time foc
the nearest timber in south course,
and shelter there till the "biow' is over
generally about twenty-four hours.
These "northcrs" effect very sudden
changes in the atmosphere. For in
stance, during this winter / observed
that the thermometer at 9 p. N. ndicat.
ed sc degrees T., and next morning at
sunrise, without any rain to modify
the temperature, It indicated IL degrees
below freezing. These sudden changes
are not uu'rcCuent. though they don't
appear 10 effect the hoalthfUiness of the
climate much. This Is g healthy re.
gion; but It must be acknowledged
that, though not afflicted with malignant
diseases. fever and aguc prevail to some
extent nearly every fall over almost
the entire country, particularly Of very
wet seasons; this, however, Is not re-
9arded as sickness with great many.
We sometimes hear Of "lal rains,' tho
"rainy scasoUs," &c. These expressions
mean nothing. Leaves have their time
to fail, and flowers TO wither 0t the
north. winds BREATH" but rain has no
time to fall in Texas, or rather, 1t has
nj! tine9, Just as it does in East Tenne,-
see or in any other State.
a word OF the Indians: Outside OF
what is called "1hc Upper Cross Tim
bers," the redskins nre masters Of the
situation. People living in the Upper
Cross TimOcrs, and for few miles
cnst, are often annoy ed and depre-
dated upon by them, and have been
since the settlement of that section.
There are numerous railroads being
butt rapid,y, which are to pass through
North Texas. some Of which are al
ready improving the commercial laciIi-
ties of this section. During the pres
cnt year tho Texas Central and the
Missouri aud Kansas Roads will be
completed 20 TrestCn, on Red River.
where they form 4 junction, and thus
we have railroad communication from
the Gulf TO tie North.
a great deal OF msGpprehersion seems
TO cx,; N various quarters as to the
state of society in this country. Texas,
away from home. is like a man with
doubtful traits: his evil deeds are pro-
claimed with exaggeration, but his vir.
tues seldom mentioned. There is not
more lGw.abiding people on the globe.
DIXIE.
A LADY in Bangor, Maine, recently