The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-07-16
COMMISSIONER.
TEXAS CORRESPONDENCE.

An acquaintance has handed us the
following letter received from friend
in Texas which containing informa-
tion in regard to country Of which
comparatively little is known here we
publish, emitting some portions which
might not be of general interest,
PRIVILEGE CREEK, BANDERA Cry, !
TEXAS, June Sd, 1878. I
There is plenty Of land open for
pre-emtion in this county, both praire
and timber. A friend of mine has
just settled on a 100 acre lot of prime
land (about two miles from my place.
we'll timbered, with what we call here
"post oak" 1t is fine, rich, black
loamy soil, but he has to go to the
creek, about 800 yards, for water.
There is water to be found almost any
place here by digging from 20 to 80
feet, Addjoing his lot there is some
fine land open for settlement, both
timber and prairie. The prairie land
runs along the creek it is light soil,
very fair farming land, but the tim
bered land is much preferable. The
drawback is the want of water on the
spot without digging for it.
There are several other good loca-
tions about, but this county is as yet
very sparsely settled, and man with
family likes to have neighbors. If
you were here, you could pick out a
dozen good places; some with water
and some without. Now, to give you
an idea of what you are leaving, and
to what you are coming, must sup
pose your case Say at your present
employment you can save 5000 a
year. Well / think if you we're start
ed here, with your house built, you
ought to make $500 the first year,
over and above expenses; the second
year you ought to double this, and
then it will be your own fault if you
do not go ahead. If you had $50 to
start with you ought to do we'll: if
you have only quarter of it, you can
succeed, but it is mighty hard work.
You must make up your mind to live
on corn bread, coffee and meat for
the first year; $50 will buy enough
to last you twelve months; after that
you will have your own corn, meat
vegetables, milk, &C., and all you
will want to buy will be coffee and
other little necessaries, such as soap,
candles &c, &c.
You can build a log house, if you
work at it yourself, for about $40 in
few days; frame house will cost
you about $50. l would advise you
to make the log house first, as money
is an object to you, and afterwards
you can build either stone or frame
one, and the old log house comes in
as corn-crib.
The principal disadvantage of this
place is the want of society, but this
state of things will be improving every
day. But the life here is so extreme
ly rude and primitive that it some
how jars on one accustomed to the
little home comforts Of the old coun-
try. 1 have felt this more than any
thing else, and from this l judge it
must be very hard for a woman.
One dollar day is the average wages
paid here for common labor; there
are three saw mills in the county
where you might get work and better
pay, but my advice to you is, if you
should come and pre.empt land, stay
and work your own land if you have
only the means to live till you make
a crop; five acres Of your own land |
fenced in and plowed will be worth |
more to you, and give greater zest to
your labor than any money you can
earn by working for another.
Ifyou come in the fall, you can
easily get your house up, and at least
ten acres fenced by February; intime
to plant, and then in following Au.
gust you would 1 expect, be ON your
feet with fair start.
/ consider 81 day here is worth
SO in a city or town. 1 enclose an