The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-03-07
AnIn1eresting Lettar Fran, Texas.

An interesting hettSE rNLAs AeAdSs
10 the Editors of The Columbia Herald:
Surprising that "a few at least " OF your
many readers would gladly receive some in
formation from the " Lone Star" State,
and capital, not only from her sister States
of the Union, but from all civilized nations
upon the globe; and being native Of your
est in my friends and. .couHtrymen, I will
write to you, hoping that you will give it
space in your valuable paper, II you think
it will be beneficial to its readers.
Our county, Bowie, named for the gallant
gentleman bearing that name, and the in
yentOr of the celebrated knife, well known
to us all, and more especially to us Of "war-
fame :" is situated between latitude 33o and
$40 north, and is bound on the north by Red
River, east by the the Arkansas line, south
by the Sulphur river and west by Red River
county. The county is divided into parts
known as "uplauds' and bottoius} the latter
lying Immediately along the above named
rivers, extending one'tO three miles from its
banks, and / believe that can truthfully
say, it is the richest and, "caterjs pGribus,"
the most productive country in the world.
The cotton crops are always good, II not
s.better," both i'll quantity and quality; gen.
orally averaging from q to IA bales cotton per
acre with about a the labor that is required
10 produce the same in your country. These
lands produce from 20 to 90 bushels of corn
per acre, with what your farmers would call
mo cultivation - the farmers here some
times break their land with one horse to q
small turning piOw, che average depth be-
ing about inches, and at other times mere
" laying OFF the rows and planting, ana
then follow once or twice and then the
crop Is made. Our uplands are not so pro-
ductive for the "kiug" or corn, hut are fine
for fruits of all kinds and wishing my ma
tive State ali honors that may be given her
as fruit growing country, and being unwil-
ling to detract anything from her fsP-falned
name for her salubrity, prOductivenesS and
being the paradise of EARTH" yet l must
saw that | have found TO my great surprise,
which was agreeable, apples and peaches
here superior IN flavor TO the Tennessee ap-
10la npaPh and Sh0u1O fTu1t
ing colonies settle on ogr Yplands 6nd plant
largely OF all Xmas OF fruit ii would not be
long Before beforew we would have one OF the
wealthiest counties in the State, but as yet,
our farmers are ''crazy" upon the cotton
question. / might ask, when will our
Southern farmers learn consistency? Here
we have some, and perhaps they are all
over the South, who plant almost entirely
of cotton; scarcely cultivating enough corn
to bread them, and When the cotton is sold
they have TO buy corn and bacon; the for
mer is now only worth 10 the --'' 80 m,
two gold doli@,Ss per bushel, and the latter
aoout IS cents per pound gold.
you may almost price and take" the gen
eral price is from so cents to $1,000 per acre,
owing to Improvement and location. Texas
is being penetrated on all sides by railroads,
which will give US direct communication
with the world, which thing she has anx-
iouSly awaited. When we get our railroad
the capitalists will be attracted here and, no
doubt, that ere long Texas will be classed
among the first State for mineral, for we
enterprise, our mineral will soon be equal
to any state of the Union.
Our State is strictly Democratic, with the
exception of the governor, who is radical,
though his term expires in April, A. d. 1874,
at which time we will bid farewell to radj-
cal rule, for we are sure of a Democratic
Governor, Senate and Legislature, "od infat-
taB,." The cost of provisions here scares off
many, who would otherwise be pleased
with our country. Surely II is great tax
upon the enigTant, who has expended his
cash to reach the Land of Flowers -
the first year without going in deb4 he is
perfectly safe; as he gets to sell his provisions
as high, if not higher than he gave.
l would advise those contemplating NOV
ing to Texas, to visit us, examine the coun-
ty thoroughly, and if farming be his bust
bring his family. Labor is scarce and COM
mands good wages, either by the wear or
month; our farmers gen orally furnish every
thing essential for farming for one-half pro-
duced, the laDorer boarding himself and la
boring for the other one-half. Should the
season admit it, our farmers will soon begin
to plant corn, which must be planted soon
to insure good crops. The present winter
has been the coolest for several years, which,
with the great scarcity OF corn, has killed
about one-hSlf OF our hogs and good per
cent. OF corn.
We have no fine stock of any kind among
us, all being cOntented with the common
runts; hog that Will weigh from $50 lbs. to
300 ms. net, is considered good but the ma
jority, ! am sure, fall considerably under
these figures.
/ think when the Cairo d Fulton Rail
road is completed ii will begin q new era in
stock raising, as there are several who are
getting tired OF the present stock, but cam
not stand the charges for transportation at
present, "TENNEssEAN."