The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-18
wanasrer 81 nI. rrarsl..

road, tnerc Is nothing TO be seen that at-
tracts the eye or viii afford a paragraph, ex-
cept the building for toe agricultural col
lege, Of which made mention in my last.
1illican has settled down into a mere sta
ton Of the Central. Most Of the buildings
Of this once thriving town were removed
when the road progressed upward, and
what are left are dilapidated. Considerable
cotton Is shipped from this point, and sup
pose a toleFable local business is done, but
its glory hath departed.
Taking the road to Anderson, the county
seat Of Anderson county. crossing the Nav
considerable part of the bottom covered
with water, and through a country not at
all inviting to the traveller, until you near
Anderson, when you see some large and ap-
parcntly well fitted up farms. Before the
railroad era, Anderson was most thriving
place and prosperous, but most of the bust
has taken itself to Eavasota. ten miles from
Anderson.
This county-Grmes-wa named after
old Father Jessie Grimes, one of the earliest
settlers Of Texas, n who served his peo-
pie faithfully in the old Congress Of Texas,
as well as in the State Legislature. A
quarter Of century since, when I first
formed his acquaintance, his soubriQuet was
the Watch Dog of the Treasury, - for he was
sure to kin any sought for appropriation
that he opposed.
Grimes county is one of the best agri-
cultural counties Of Middle Texas: this. year,
however, crops, owing to the continued
ram, have been very sorry. The soil may
be described as rich river bottom, black
''hog wallow' and gray sandy, and all arc
productive.
A very good brick court house, now be-
ing thoroughly repaired, with three or four
respectable church buildings, and the old
Episcopal College building, which is occu-
pied as a school, gives evidence of the
former prosperity Of the place.
In the neighboTing counties of Walker,
Polk and Montgomery, the crops have been
nearly an entire failure-neither corn or
cotton-and much distress will be OK
| perienced before the next crop can be made.
Some 1900 negroes from these counties
went to Robertson, Falls and McLennan to
pick cotton, for which they were paid one
dollar per hundred and board very good
wages-too much, indeed, for the present
price of cotton.
At Anderson met cx-Lieutenant Cover
nor d. G. Dickson, we'll known to our citi-
zens as DR.. Dickson. The Doctor has re-
sided many years in this county, has fine
farm near Anderson, and is, in connection
with his son, merchandising. He looks very
we'll, is quite grey, but though he still feels
an interest in the welfare of his State, has
no inclination to enter again into public
life
| Finishing my business in Anderson,
turned homeward, reaching Navasota just
before night, and found a good stopping
place at Freeman's Hotel, from where am
| inditing this. You will next hear from me
most likely from Belleville.
WANDERER.
Editors Democratic MISUNDERSTANDING
Navasota in drizzly rain, and vending my
way to the ferry on the Brazos, below the
mouth Of the Navasota 1 struck the old
town OF Washington, a place memorable in
the carly annals Of Texas-once q thriving
place, but now almost deserted. Here
sessions Of Congress were held, and the
President and members of the Cabinet
lived. Here, too, in 1848 and 1s49, was
said to be the head of navigation and the
centre Of commerce. The river was up,
and had remained so for two or three years,
steamboats, piled to this place, fine buildings
were erected for stores and warehouses,
churches were built, and the place was
4
If 1t had great future Old Texans warned
the people that in 1912 they had crossed the
Brazos at this point without wetting their
feet, but the warning was not needed. Alas,
in year or two, the river ceased to be nav
igable; the boats, l believe, with one ex-
ception, were stranded on the shoals
and sands, and now all trace of most of the
business houses have disappeared-the
churches are dilapidated, the old school
house carries the white flag, suppose as a
! sign that it has surrendered and half a
dozen people on the street is all that tells
the traveller that this is the once busy town
of ''Wsshington on the Brazos."
As soon as the Americans got control OF
affairs in Texas, the name of washing
ton, - in memory of the father of the
country which they had left, was given to
this place, showing that although they had
voluntarily expatiated themselves from
their native country, he who was First in
war and first in peace, was still first in tteil
hearts
was sorry to see that many of the
fine farms on the road to BRENNAN
had q forlorn appearance, the fences
dilapidated, the houses and out-buildings
in many places greatly out of repair and
looking generally as if they were entirely
| guiltless of paint or white wash.
Although have repeatedly passed through
BRENNAN on the railroad, had not really
been in the town for the last two years, and
1 was most agreeably surprised to see the
improvement Of tho place; fine large
brick buildings some Of them would dc
credit to a city of much greater pretensions.
The new Mcintyre Hotel, the banking
house of Giddings g. Giddings, also the
new building of Bassett 6 Bassctt, bankers,
arc all tasty and elegant structures The
town was quite full and things seemed lively.
The white people OF Washington county
are much chagrIned at the result of theil
county election. Again have the Radicals
been successful, and although there has beer
a change in some of the officers of the coun
ty, yet not much more is expected from the
new ones than they got from the old set
The Germans generally acted with tho
Radicals, and hence their success.
I am not a man of much curiosity, but IL
my journey have travelled over three o.
the principal roads in the county, and
would like to know what has become of the
road tax; certainly, worse roads never met
and yet am told that the money is gonl
from the county treasury. It would not bl
a bad thing II Judge Mcfarland, at the mex
session of the district court, would ask til,
grand jury to inquire into this matter.
The Legislature ought to compel tn
county court to put milo posts on ever,
county road, and also compel them t
put sign boards at every cross road.
spent ono night at the hospitable man
sion of Col. Chauncey Shepard, formerl,
Senator from Washington county, in anti
6sllifm times, and well known to our citi
zens. The Colonel and his interesting fam
lily know how to make guest feel at home
It was with regret that could not sta.
with him the next day
Times are indeed changed, when Wash
ington county, one Of the wealthiest in tn
State, and whore all the elegances Of If
were to be found, and which was represeDte'
in the Congress Of the old Republic and il
the Legislature Of the State By such men q
Lipscomb, Scurry, Chauncey and Jane
shepard, Flewellyn and hosSs Of other nc
81 bright intellect. should cosos down I
nToff f1ofnnc and 49,. f.~