The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-12-19
Letter from Texas.
VAN ALsTYNE, Texas, Dec. 4th, Y

VAN ALsTYNE, TEXAS, Dec 4th, 70.
To the Editors ofthe Columbia Herald:
left St. Louis Nov. 29th $3.50 .. NJ, for
Texas. by way Of the NJ. K & 7. R. r. We
passed several stations on this road before we
reached the Missouri river; the country on
either side presenting a dive sitied appeal
ance-hills of moderate elev alton thiDly cover
ed with small timbsr and narrow valleys bes
tween, suburban valleys and fertile bottom
lands greet the eye of the passing traveller
After reaching the Missouri the country pre-
sents very different appearance. On tie
right is this famous river, with it's bosom as
smo 9th as the undisturhed lake, yet as turbid
as the Mississippi. Fine bottom lands covered
by dark forests are converted into productive
fielGs, and bounded by the white rugged cliffs
of this great river please the eye of the pass
ing traveller On the left the ia of the un-
try is generally hid by the towering bluffs of
this river which project almost above the cars
at times the railroad here being a'ong the
base of the southern bluff. | did not see
single steamboat running this great river and
very few anchored at the towns. Railroads
have certainly taken the place of steambla
to great extent.
After leaving the Missouri, we passed over
some beautiful prairie country and reached
Sedalla $3.50 p. m, where we halted twenty
minutes for supper. We passed over some
fine country during the night in Missouri and
Kansas aud arrived at Veuita in the borders OF
the Cherokee nation about the dawning of day
There we ate breakfast ard proceeded on our
way through the Indian country. | mast con-
fess that my curiosity was excited as We cross
ed this country, as it had always been repre-
sented to me as a rich and beautiful region,
hence desired to pass over it in day time;
and my desire was now being gratiied. The
following objects interested me whilst passing
over the northern part of this country:
beautiful sandy prairie region viii b generally
appeared to be bounded on one hand by a
smoky ridg- OF moderate height, covered by
short timber; and on the other by a ridge
whose short and scattered in the tar off dis
lance trees appeared like sentinels guarding
the borders of the prairie. Floeks ct Prairie
chickens, and occasionally herd of cattle and
Ihdian ponies, mounds small huts of dirt in
ruins near the railway and occasionally one or
more ca0F ms in the distance with small patches
of corn near by, gave increase of interest to
the scene. Haying Travelled over large ex
tent of prairie country we reached the Arkan-
sas river. Here saw fine bottom lands, heavily
timbered and covered with green grass, upon
which some tat cattle were grazing. If this
Arkansas river country IS ever opened for sets
Element to the white man it will be desirable
country in which to live. The same may be
said of the Canadian river country over which
we crossed near the centre of the nation. The
diversified appearance of the southern part of
this country attracted MY affection. At one
time you are crossing prairie region, made
up of praires of varied dimensions from d few
acres in area to those of much greater extent
and interspersed by small bodies Of timber.
Again you are passing over a wooded country
o. fine creek bottom, or uplands, sometimes
slightly undulating, then broken into
ridges and hills of moderate elevation. These
hills and ridges too frequently display upon
the surface much yellow rock, which is used
in this country for building purposes. l no
ticed that some of the creek bottoms were
very heavily timbered and covered with cane
and grass. atfording rich pasturage for stock.
Some sharp ridges, few yards in height and
diameter, upon whose surface scarcely any
thing is visible but limestone rock, attracted
my attention on the righk and looking to the
left OF tie track saw a ridge t.rey bare of
timber with depressions occasionally upon its
surface. At the base of these ridges in this
region ich valleys with or without timber are
frequently seen. Scarcely a mile Lresents a
similar appearance in this portion of the nation.
1t is the most romantic country ! ever saw.
This great country Is almost entirely undevel-
oped, settlements are few and far between an d
those composed of Indians, and whites some Of
whom have married Indians and others have
squatted upon these lands With their families
The mass of the population are not calculated
to develop the resources of any country. 1t
will never be developed unless owned by in
telligent white men" We crossed Red River,
which forms here the boundary line between
the Nation and Texas, about FIVE clock in the
evening, having travelled by rail nearly the en-
tire day in the Nation. Yours, &C.,