The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-04-09
DON'T GO WEST"
ATHENS, HEARDMoNT Co., Texas,
March 22d, 1878. {

March 22d, 1878. I
Editor Ab6e,dUe Press and Banner:
The above heads an article ii
the Press and Banner of Februar.
10Th, 1878, copied from the A'7de1'
son hstelligelccr and endorsed by
the Press and Banner.
The article reads:
"During the past four or five
years a great many people have
left Anderson county and gone
West-the greater number to Tex
as. A goodly number are return
ing, completely disgusted. They
report that riches are just as deer
down in the ground out there as ii
South Carolina, and that a dollar
to double itself, requires just az
much nursing. Here is the evi
with many of our young men
They seek something easy, a way
of making money without labor
It can't be done. :'By the sweat O
thy brow was the Deity's fiat. L
can not be reversed"
I do not seek to induce any one
to come to Texas, although there
are a good many in South Caro-
lima and Georgia too, that I would
be gratified to meet here; bus ii
this, if they do not act Of theil
own volition, let them not by my
counsel or influence. I can say O.
Texas, I find it good country fo1
the industrious. It's lands are pro
|.ductive.and remunerate labor very
we'll. It'll planting, farming ane
grazing country; consequently
when a man can locate permanent
ly, and get a small stock of cattle
and hogs around him, with mode
rate labor he can live and do well
and property will grow for him, as
it were, imperceptibly. Thus it is
that 'sriches'' are dug from "deeI
in the earth,' and thus too, ga dol
lar" is nursed into "double ITSELF
These things can be done here with
less toll and more facility, than in
any other section with which I have
formed an acquaintance.
But this is not a country fol
those who seek sinecures, or en-
ployment in the shade. We are
already crowded with that class
not "learned men begging bust
ness" but men wishing subsistence
without, or at least with light labor
However, no one finds it necessary
to ''beg for leave to toll" They
who offer such service find ready
and profitable employment. Freed:
men have been tried and found
wanting, and willing freemen are
in great request. Mechanics fine
labor at high rates, but owing tc
sparseness of population, they dc
moi: get full labor to perform, en-
cept in towns and villages.
But no one should come to Texas
who has not prepared his mind fol
the privations incident to a new
and but partially settled country
Good lands with good improve
ments, in good neighborhoods, at
fording good society, &C., may b'
found; but where the goods al
come together, lands are dear, an(
not often for sale. and of range o
natural pasture, there is none
Consequently, such alccation is no
adapted to the man Of limited
means, and the man of wealth ha
no inducement to remove.
But why do many come and re
turn "completely disgusted?" Il
some instances, and perhaps NOR
or less so in all instances. the.
come unprepared in mind for tn
f great change of condition and Gil
cumstances they necessarily NEE
upon their arrival. Your most in
telligent find things to be learne
in the "far West.'' Inever felt a
much like a fool in my life, nor di
I ever have the evidence OF m
ignorance made as manifest to m
own senses, as I did upon stoppin!
in Texas. Our people in the mas:
are not such as you would teri
intelligent; they are not we'll yer:
ed in the "manners and customs c
nations,' either at home or abroad
or in "matters and things in ger
eral,' but they are kind and hosp!
table to the stranger, and clever t
:. their neighbor, ever ready to assis
or accommodate. They regard tn
new conner, not as a victim, or sui
ject for prey, but as one who
green from the States," havin
cash to pay for what he wants, all
therefore benefit to the vicinit