The Van Buren press., 1873-05-13
Letter frem Western Texas,
FoRr WORTH. TEXAs, April %, 20.

] I-DI OK or I'M Z hA-9H
/ came into the great State Of Texas, on the
/ uth Of this month. Have visited several
places that have notoriety abroad; such as
| Red River City, Denison, Sherman and Fort
Worth | asl, the privilege of communicat-
ing, through the medium of the Pass, my
notions of the country am visiting, to my
| friends in Van Buren, and Crawford county
| After crossing Red River at Colbert's ferry
/ the first town arrived at was Red River City
on the NJ Il. Il L. Railroad. IL is about fouI
miles south OF Red river. There are a few
new box houses, a great many tents, and the
Railroad company is putting up large depot
and two or three warehouses. saloons and
restaurants seem TO have taken tie place, a.
seen no other Kinds OF business houses. The
| place has remarkably new appearance, and
/ like most other very prccocious productions
/ does not seem to have very long life before
/ it.
/ DenisOn is three miles farther south on the
same Railroad. This is a new worlds wonder
and to all denzens Of the "phenominen, is
! the continuous theme ofpraise and extoation
city of five months old, which can with
some show of reason claim 4 or 5000 inhabi-
tants. is certainly a novelty in the South
/ West. Contrary to my expectations, found
/ Denson rapidly and permanently improving
Some large brickond stone blocks going up
I that would be an ornament to any Western
city. An kinds ofbuslness seems to be doing
well Every one you meet, is in high spirits,
getting on finely, and wants all his friends
and acquGutanccs to come and do likewise.
Denison is not going down as many have
supposed, since the completion Of railroad
connection. | cannot doubt but that the Spir-
it and determination Of the parties interested
in the success Of the city, will make it the
metropolis OF Northern Texas. | met several
Van Burcnitcs. who are in business there-all
appeared well satisfied and to be doing we'll.
sherman is the County Seat of Grayson
county, is situated near the center of the
County. in a fine agricultural and grazing
district. The site is low, level and on the
tough. black waNY land. 1t has the appear
auce Of being a sickly place. and the extent
Of two grave yards would seem to be an eyi-
dence OF this statement. sherman claims
COCO inhabitants. 1t may have 5000. All
kinds OF business is oycr-done a great many
new buildings have been erected lately, but
Of very inferior character, mostly small,
rough box houses which rented very high
two weeks ago, but are now pacardcd, ito
let" Real estate owners have made COM
mon, but nevertheless great. error of putting
the price Of lots at an unreasonable high
figure. They ask now more than is likely to
be realized for theGunc property in the next
five years. Van Buren, has also contributed
her quota to the population of Sherman. Me
chanics and latorers are lcaying this place rs
they are all places that have yet visited in
the state.
Afler stay Of four days in sherman,
started to this place, Fort Worth, 80 miles
South West OF sherman. passed over some
ofthe finest prairie land, in the West, covered
with tens Of thousands Of cattle, horses and
mules, the great source Of wealth in Texas.
The grass is about four inches high and the
prairies dressed thus present a picture ofsub-
Unity TO the eve, that cannot be equalled by
any other natural scenery. In Denton coun-
sy stopped at Pilot Point and DeHton. The
first named place is in the North East corner
of the CoHnty, on Il high rolling praerie.
black sandy land. The country about is
densely settled hy thrifty, well-to do farmers,
who have large tarmes, good peach orchards
barns and the best farn-houScs | hare seen
for many day. The houses in Pilot Point
are mostly frame houses, ofncary uniform
size and appearance painted white and set
back from the streets in green grassy yards.
The town has about 1900 inhabitants, two
churches and large two story school house,
and was told that they had 800 pupils in
school a month ago when the small pox broke
out and dispersed them.
In coming from Pilot Point to Denton, =
distance offs miles, | came through the Cross
Tmbers, a portion of the country that re.
minded me very forcibly Of Craw ford county,
Arkansas, in the nature of the soil, rocks and
the growth Of timber. Dentsn is the County
Seat Of Denton county, 1t is pleasantly sit
uated on the west side of the timber on the
prairie, is an old town just now awakng from
a dormant state. The prospect of the COM
pleton Of the Trans-COntinental Railroad to
this point, the coming summer, has caused
some stir and hustle in business circles, new
houses are going up and some new comers ar
rive daily. From Denton to Fort Worth the
road'passes over a high dry prairie, with no.
thing of interest on the way, but few tent
saloons, whore the weary traveller might
quench his thirst or inllame it as he may de-
sire.
will write an account Of Fort Worth and
Torrant county in few days. MARK.