The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-27
Aletter from Texas.

G. A. E.
ALetter from Texas.
FoRr WORTH, Oct. 18th, rs.
Editor Grange Adrance.
As an old citizen of Red Wing, who
has removed to Texas, address myself
to you. I promised many Of my old
and dear friends that 1 would write to
them when ! got here, and have already
written to a number. But as I have
not time to redeem my promise by writ
ing to all individually, allow me to use
your paper as the medium through
which they may hear from me and my
family, and those who came here with
me: namely, Mr.. Kimmel and family.
We got here on the 9Th of October,
having stopped three days in Dallas.
While there we bought teams and came
hither, IS miles,in our own conveyances.
We had pleasant trip through, met
with no bad luck on the road, and have
been and are now all we'll.
To speak of the country and its ad-
vantages or disadvantages is not now
my purpose. If should attempt to do
so I should fail in many respects, as
have not been here long enough to in
form myself correctly. When l stay
here sufficient time to be able to speak
from observation, will say something
about these things. As yet I can only
tell you that the face Of the coun-
try is beautiful, abouuding in splendid
scenery, and possessing greater varie-
ty Of soil than have seen in any other
State have ever been in. We have a
black, waxy land which is called the
strongest, but it is the hardest to work
then there is black sandy loan, red san
dy loan, red clay and chocolate colored
clay. None Of it turns over as nicely
as Minnesota soil, but they raise good
wheat, oats and barley. The farmers
here say that it is not so good for corn.
lis claimed that stock-raising, es-
pecially sheep and neat cattle, is profit
able, and I saw as fine apples, which
were raised within sixteen miles Of here,
as l ever saw in Red Wing. Sweet po-
tatoes grow finely, aud Early Rose do
well, but will not keep the year round.
I am told that this soil is not so good
for cabbages and parsnips as other
countries generally.*
immigrants are coming here from all
parts of the Union. On the train that
brought us from Hannibal to Dallas,
there were 300, mostly men, from near
ly all the different States, and the train
next morning brought eleven hundred,
most Of them looking for homes in Tex
as. l find a good many here from diff
ferent parts Of Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin. The country is filling up rapidly,
and all who come seem satisfied.
As for US we feel like strangers in a
strange land, but hope to get over this
as soon as we have had time to make &C.
quaintances amongst our new neighbors.
We would like to have many of our
old Minnesota and Wisconsin neighbors
here, and we expect to have them in
time, but shall not advise any to come
without first coming to look at the coun-
try for themselves, for they might no,
like it.
was requested to state what it cost
me to move hither. As nearly as
could keep the account it cost me 1920.
I had 400 lbs. of freight. We trav-
eled at emigrant rates from Hannibal,
but rode in f'rst-class cars.
But, for fear shall tax your patience,
1 will close by asking you to forward
my paper to Fort Worth, Tarrant coun-
~ JOHN 'BRowssos.
Is it not frequently the case that cab
bage lettuce, parsnips ana, perhaps. some
other vegetables do not thrive in new
ground hut. after the soil has been cult
v'ted few years it produces them luxrr-
iantly? We know this to lhave been the
case in some parts Of indiana and Illinois,