The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-06
LETTER FROM TEXAs.
DEKALB, TEXAS, May 28rd,

DEkALB, TEXAS, May 23rd, 70.
EDIroRs HERALD About three weeks ago
| wrote you a letter from this point, in which
| gave you a few general items of our county
since which time I've been informed that a
great many of your country men contemplate
emigrating to our State this fail, and L know
that very few of them know but little about
the land they wish to emigrate to, but ex-
pect TO sell ont what they have at home, pro-
vide themselves with good wagons and teams,
a I'd come TO Texas, expecting 10 find a land
flowing with "milk and honey" So soon as
they come into the State upon any of its
borders, and wishing none OF them to be dis
appointed, unless it is agreeably, and that
they may have a correct idea Of Northern
Texas, write you this hoping you may give
t space in your paper and let your readers
have the advantage of it. | suppose health is
paramount to all other questions, unless it is
"money making SO IN answer that first
No country is blcst with better health than
Northern rexas, with the exception of the
large river bottoms during the summer and
fall months, when those localities are infected
with malaria in its most COL ceutrated form,
making it an almost impossIbIlity for white
man to live there during those seasons. Most
of our farming land in this County are on the
rivers, though the white man controls and the
negro Goes the work. and most OF the former
class move from the river during the si,&ly
season, and the latter class seems to enjoy
section,
FRu1T.-Fruits of'all kinds that are common
in our country do we'll here, apples, peaches,
grapes and strawberries grow almost TO per
lection here, and rarely If ever, fail to pro
duce fine crop. In fact this is the most
natural frnit SECTION that Eve ever seen.
LAND.-The quality of land isivariable, some
hills, some bottoms and some prairie, SO that
all can be pleased. Our county, Bowie, has
but little Prairia, being uplands and bottoms,
the, latter only needing to be 'tickled with
hoe" to laugh with Doubtful harvest,
We are also blessed with an abundance of
timber, mostly post-oak and pine, and in some
sections fine white oak ana walnut Our pin
cries are not eXceIled by those of North Caro-
lima or Georgia. Land can be bought for
from y to ten dollars per acre, except in tie
imIned vicinity of the towns and sities.
River are the richest and most productive
lands IN the world. I'll give you the names
of them as some of your emigraIits may have
no map and go by name: Red River, Lamar,
Fannin. Graysen and Cook. In either county
any man or lady cannot help being pleased,
provided they have given up all Partially for
their native home and 'ous folks buck Wonder.
Ii they wish prairie they have it, and should
they prefer timber they can get it, but viii
have to pay more for it after going west of
Red River county.
GRAINs.-Corn grows finely in any OF those
counties, with an ordinary season and work
generally produces from 8 to 70 bushels per
acre. Wheat from to 20 bushels, and could
be greatly increased by the management your
farmers give it.
GRAZING A large number of cattle are
fattened for market upon our grass, which is
fine during the Spring and Summer months,
aud furnishes sufficient food for the cattle
during the winter season. Sheep Las attract
ed but little a.te4tiol as set, though think it
amid Ina Ttia 6h q npAtitAhlA hns
MARKET-Our principal markell Jefferson,
distance sixty-fve miles, though great many
of our farmers ship to New Orleans aud st.
Louis, but as yet, they have failed to beat JEFF
ferson prices in selling, though they can beat
them in buying.
FARM LARoR.-Good farm laporers can
readily obtain from Is to tw enty gold dollars
per month, but very few are to be hired by
the month most of them preferriDg to board
and clothe themselves and render the lab,.r Tor
one half produced.
Our churches are few and far between in
this county, but those counties west of US are
better supplied with them and also with
school houses. We have public school law,
but as yet, it is poorly executed, but when cur
population increases sutAcieaily 10 Induce
good teachers TO come among us we will have
sufficient funds to pay them We hold out
great inducements to the capitalist who wish
es either to invest in real estate or loan his
uOhtJy CltiSl vi NDlCil no JSh
Texas has no usury law and AIRY per cent
the parties mGy 1s3{se UPON ls cohectable.
Money generally commands from 20 to % per
cent per annufl and the lender can be secured
BY mortgage oh property at about one third
81 cash value,
The people are social and Kind, and disposed
to encourage immigration, and the occupation
of land made vacant by the war, and on the
market by the reverses of the war and fortune,
&c, &C., aud know will traa. all new corners
kiadlY. Save rpet-baggers, for whom we
have q natural antipathy, but those who wish
TO make an hhonest living, need have no fears.
Politics are seldom spoken OF by the yeo,,
manry and freedom of the ballot IS lndui geo
in here freely by all parties regardless OF race,
color or previous condition" hut there Is dls'
| tinction of''seX" A word to parties contem-
| plating ENGRAVING here If two or more
| families cannot each afford to visit our State,
let them send a representative maG TO report
the condition of things generally, and could a
! small colony settle in the came nelghoorhood
| they will ind il great convenience tor tue
/ pres emit purposes until they form acquaiut'
ances, and also for school purposes ws t.cn will
be great here, for,st present we have to send OF
miles 10 school, and a colony might be strong
enough to support good school within itself
| think I've given you few correct ideas as
| to Texas end nope TO giTe you more when
/ have a convenient season. Tell all those eay.
| ing your county to subscribe for the HERALD
| for at lasst two years for beginning, as | am
sure they will want it, IN fact find it indispen-
| SABLE, Tenn ESSEEAS,