The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-04
FRoM RELroN ro MAn1.1N-

l started in a cold rain for Marlin, crossing
the. former great scare of travellers, the
Leona river, on a fine iron bridge, which the
enterprise of few citizens of Bell county
built some twelve months since, much to
the convenience of the neighborhood-
travellers generally, for it was no uncommon
thing for this boisterous stream to interrupt
communication for a week or ten days.
Following the road which leads to Waco,
for eight OF nine miles, was agreeably sur
prised to find the whole country almost one
unbroken line of fence, with evident prepa-
ration for still inclosing more land.
After passing DuggeJ's some mile or so,
took the right hand road to Elm creek,
where found several new settlements made
since last went overthe road. From there
to little jim Jackson's, some ten miles fur
tner, was glad to be taken in and well
cared for, for man and beasts were bot
tired. From thence, next morning, to Mar
| lin, distance of about sixteen miles, which,
from the state of the roads, occupied me some
six hours. was not sorry to meet the hos
pitable greeting of my old friend, q. Bart
lett. Coming over the space between Bel
ton and Marlin at a slow gait, was able to
take more critical view of the lands, and
have no hesitation in saying that this is one
of the most desirable portions of the State.
Lands are easy of cultivation, very rich
indeed, and have produced this year over a
bale of cotton to the acre, and from thirty
to fifty bushels of corn, and as for sweet
potatoes, the farmers can't or won't emu
merate the bushels for fear that people
won't believe them, and their lands are adj
mirably adapted to the growth of wheat,
millet and oats; of the two latter, large
yields have been gathered. 1 don't know
more desirable region than these uplands of
Falls county. Lands with these advantages
could not forever remain to be appreciated
by the few. Twelve months since, believe
that most, if not all Of them could have
been purchased for two dollars per acre,
now they are held at from five to eight
dollars.
Some years since Gen. Shields told me, in
conversation, that lie thought the creek bot
toms-Deer creek, Pond creek, etc.-were
fully equal to any lands in the State, while
the uplands were good enough for any body
to cultivate. Interspersed as these lands are
with mots of timber and exposed to the
full blast of our summer breezes, with no
malarious influences, the settler, whether he
be from the extreme North. Europe, or some
other portion of the Sunny South, is sure,
with only little care, to enjoy as good
health as he would in any part of the
world. When you come to the bottom
lands of Falls county, feel that cannot
do them full justice. How deep the soil is
has never yet been tested, nor do l believe
the full measure of their fertility has yet
been ascertained, for 1 have seen land at
the falls which has been in steady cultivation
since 1884, and cannot see ary diminution
in the size of the corn stalk OF the heighth
of the cotton, or in the number of bolls on
the stock. Some years since the brother of
the writer in public lecture delivered in
England and afterwards extensively circu-
lated through the Union, asserted that
Texas had ten millions Of acres capable of
producing a bale Of cotton to the acre, this
was much criticized at the time, but
firmly believe that in fact it is under
the truth, and let parties travel extensively
over the State and they will soon be con-
vinced of the truth of the statement.
Falls county, although amongst the small
est of the counties in the State, contributes
largely to swell the above figures. The
writer corresponding with some parties in
the northwest, who are in treaty for lands
on speculation, made issue of the above Ie-
mark and the reply from one of the parties
is Characteristic. ..About that ten millions
cotton to the acre, could you not take off
a million or so9 then even would you have
more cotton land than is wantedw The fact
is, the vastness of the area of the best quail
ty Of Texas lands within her borders can
not be conceived by parties out of this
State or even by those within it, who have
not travelled extensively over the broad do
main. We have the lands and the climate,
all we want is the muscle. That is
coming too, if we are to judge
by the number Of wagons 1 have eneoun.
tered on the road. Since left Austin / am
sure have met at least one hundred wag-
! ons vending their way westward, and
think that it viii average five children to
the wagon, counting from the ruddy baby
in arms to youths Of fifteen years. like
the looks of the partles-heslthy, clean, and
all seem to feel determined to make theil
homes with us, and with cheerful heart:
and willing hands tickle old mother earth
till she laughs out living for them. From
this sort has the great West and Northwest
been made to TEEN Gin spite Of It's rugged
climate) with the fatness of the land, and
beer peopled with race inheriting ths
0iBl that has made us a nation the wonder
of the world. Here in Texas, with tho
most splendid and equiblc climate, Will
lands fabulously productive, no winten
! compelling the yeoman to toll hard for five
J months to feed the necessary cattle ths
other seven, it requires no seer-likc qualitie.
to prophesy the honest and industrious toll
ers and tillers of the soil a complete inde
pendence-a competency for their children
and fortunes for the third generation.
Politics are dull here, owing to the ques
ton Of the division Of the county. II j.
: / h~r. 70 - II =.
already one Of the smallest counties In the
State, and dissatisfied parties are ready tc
divide the territory for some imaginary ben.
/ eft which the county seat would confer OF
/, their lands, forgetting the expenses and
trouble, too, in erecting court house, jails,
J ETC. and paying the salaries and fees Of
county officials; fofgetful, too, OF careless
Of the fact that the division Of the pres
ent county would make one county entirely
under the control Of the negroes, who would
be largely in excess Of the white. With the
example Of Waller county, created b. the
last Legislature, II Is to BE hoped that our
next viii never infIict SO terrible a curse as
to create q county which, from the nature
Of things would banish the white man who
controls al the wealth and the civilization
and place him forever under the govern
mcnf Of ignorance and vice-ignorance Of
the negroes or the vice of the carpet-bagger
and scallaWag whites.
have spun this letter too lengthy al
ready, but Squire NewcOmb ard his hench-
man Gillespie, the Whilom pa. on, 10Th sent
handbllls announcing they would address
the citizens Of Falls this week. They did
not come. The squire. It Is reported. got
disgusted. and the parson found bung out
q cask On the road, ncar Belton, and IA
his endezvor 70 save the wasting of 3 good
thing, got badly crippled.
am Of Tor the I0Eer part Of Falls and
thence 10 Robertson. WAxDEnER.