Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-04-10
VIRGINIA, DALLAS Co., TEXAS.
March 28th, 1873.

~"'Nh eS'St AOsos
EoIToKs HERALD AND TRIBUNE.
DEAR SiRs Il took the train at Lime.
stone Depot, on Tuesday morning the 18th
inst, for tAe Lone Star. I come b. way
of Grand Junction to. New Orleans, where
| arrived at noon on the goth, and re-
manned until the next morning. l met
with my friend A, j. Aiken, of tho firm
Of Aiken & Watt, and brother Of Mr..
Robert Aiken, and Mrs. Fannie Mathes,
of Jonesboro. II, made the time | spent
there very pleasant by taking me around
through the most business part of the
city. The streets were very clean and
we'll paved, and the citizens are enjoying
excellent health. Strawberries, Tomatoes,
Cabbages' and vegetables of every kind
in abundance. 1t is great commercial
city. l suppose there We're at least one
hundred steamers of various nations at
the wharf. l crossed the river next
morning and took the train for Brashier
city passed through some fine sugar
farms crossed a swamp where I say n
number of Alligators some of them close
to the track, | amused myself by stand.
ing on the platform of the car and shoot
ing at them we got on board the ship
Josephine, a magnificent steamer, at
twelve an a half o'clock p. NJ, the day
was beautiful and calm, at ~ o'clock was
out of sight of land !. landed safely at
Galveston next morning at 8 o'clock. NV
trip across the Gulf was the most pleasant
OF my journey, no sickness or accident
occurred. Took the train for Dallas. at
y o'clock p. M, had to stop over at Hem
stead from 8 o'clock p. m, until II o'clock
p. M. next night, arrived Mt Dallas, at
nool OF the oath. The distance from
Limestone Depot to New Orleans s63
miles, and from said city to Galveston
ESQ miles and from thence to the city of
Dallas 3l5 miles; making the whole dis.
lance from my Depot 1888 miles. Ny
travelling expenses were $7O,S3. The
country for over 100 miles this side of
Galveston is one continuous prairie, with
a few small patches of scrubby timber
vast herds of cattle and horses were graz
ing upon tho nutritious grass. am
satisfied that not more than one acre in A
thousand from Galveston to Dallas is cult
waited, outside of the towns, YOU will Of
ten see nothing but small shanties, with
not as much as a garden in cultivation.
What | have seen Of this county, is more
densely populated, the buildings are bet
ter and a large part of the land under
cultivation, Oats we're sown in February
and corn planted the 6rst oc this month.
When l arrived here, corn was almost
large enough to pillow. But on TIE night
after my arrival a norther visited the State
and killed all the peaches and corn that
was up and considerably injured the
wheat crop. Ice was one inch thick and
the citizens say it was the coolest spell
that has been for the last six weeks.
Soma Of the farmers are now engaged in
rcplanting their corn. l will now close
BY saying that in my next letter, l will
give my observations and opinion in re-
gard to the soil, productions, advantages,
and disadvantages, of the Lone Star. All
who wish to read my letters to tho Herald
and Tribune, will please subscribe and
pay for the paper, L will try and write
every week while | am here.
Respectfully,
VIM. SMITH.