The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-24

BLANCo IExAs, July Is 1873.
E71on Democratic slatenaa- Feeling
somewhat interested IN the welfare Of this
portion Of our great STATE, and seldom see
ing anything published concerning it. beg
leave to drop you a few lines concerning
our county, hoping that the citizens Of this
vicinity. as well as many Of the readers Of
your paper elsewhere may be benefited
thereby. In regard to a healthy locality, the
country round about Blanco is not excelled
by any other portion Of the State, notwith-
standing some eonsumptiyes die shortly
after arriving here, and the surviving friends
Of such ones condemn the country in conse-
quence, but when we remember that the de-
ceased had been afflicted for years, until their
very vitals had been destroyed, we are COM
PEELED to believe that such remaining friends
as find fault with, or attribute the death Of
their friends to coming to this locality, do
so without cause, from the fact that many
individuals, afflicted with various diseases
that human flesh is heir to, have been
greatly benefited by settling here, the ma
jority improving from the beginning; and
even cOnsumptives have almost entirely re-
covered, when not being too far gone before
coming. Many individuals coming to this
place find fault before they have any Just
reason for so doing. For instance, as is
frequently the case, party arrives from
some one of the older States, and not find
ing every advantage they expected to find,
become dissatisfied at once, and without
further investigation return to the land from
whence they started, or to some other place,
telling very unfavorable stories of the
country, when really, they know little or
nothing about it. and by the pitiful stories
of such individuals, doubt not that there
are numbers of emigrants persuaded to
stay away from this portion of Texas, who
doubtless would make the best of citizens,
but instead of coming to see for themselves,
as all should do, emigarate to other places,
when, perhaps, they are compelled to labor
under more disadvantages than they would
had they come here. For person to de-
eide at first sight whether or not he or she
will be satisfied to remain in country, es-
pecially mountainous one, is simply impOs-
sible, as the following will plainly show I;
About two years since, party of immigrants
arrived here from one of the Western States,
and a more disappointed set of men and
women were scarcely to be met with, but by
the advice of citizens, and for various
other reasons, the majority were persuaded
to remain, for at least one year,
which they did, and to-day doubt as to
one of them being persuaded to leave, or
that, taking everything into consideration,
there is any better country than the Blanco
Valley.
Another, and one of the greatest impede
ments to the settling of our valley is the
terrible stories so often circulated about
Indians paying us visits, stealing live stock,
numbering families, etc, all of which, since
have lived here, has proved to be false.
True, horses and cattle have been stolen TO
some extent, but it is believed by many
that the thieves, in majority of instances,
are not Indians, but Mexicans, with a white
man now and then to lead the way; while,
as to the danger of being killed, would
simply say that if had no thoughts of dy-
ing until murdered by an Indian while lv-
ing in the valley of the Blanco, would ex-
pect to ive-well to ripe old age, to say
the least of it.
Heretofore our farmers have been COM
PEELED to labor under many disadvantages,
which, in the course of a few weeks, or
months at most, will, to a great extent be
remedied. At present we have but one
mill, but before the close of the present
year we expect to be able to boast of three,
there being two in course of construction,
which, when completed, will provide a
home market for all the grain our planters
feel disposed to raise, besides being the
means of preparing their cotton for mar
ket either at home or abroad. Another
great blessing of which we are the happy
recipients, is an abundance of good water,
which, in many localities, would be con-
sidered fortune itself. In many instances
this water may be obtained without any
expense whatever, flowing from never-ceas-
ing springs; while, where springs are not
convenient the same qualitySof water as
flows from them, may be obtained by dig
cling at a depth of from twenty to thirty
! feet.
In conclusion 1 would say that all who
contemplate emigrating to a new country,
and desire healthy locality, cheap, fertile
lands, a kind people to live among, and
last, but not least, a stock range that will
be open and free for all time to come, viii
do well to pay Blanco visit before set
Ting elsewhere. New CONFER.