The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-07-01
(For the Chisf)
LETTER FROM TEXAS.

Sol MILLER ESQ. EDnoR KANSAS CHIRF-Dedr Sir
The serious problem forced upon people for the last
year. to- hotc much destruction would from the To-
Gust plague last to be substantially solved by
the general admission that your crops Of 1875 in the
Eastern tier" will be general not entire failure
am sure need not or any OF your readers
in the section scouged that have watched the strug
gle between hope and despair with socitude almost
real If fellow sufferer with you; for the best
friends have EARTH and honestly think some of the
best people earth make their homes in the Eastern
tier"
Since this serious result has become apparent, and in
deed before have had many letters of enquiry regarding
Texas and experience in It. Some of these have
swered and would respond to ALL If felt equal to the
task. Without any view desire Of influencing the
movements shaping the course Of any one will with
your permission submit to readers brief Of OBJ
servatons in Texas which desire shall be taken
general response such enquiries have failed
swer in correspondence.
Texas embraces an Empire within herself and holds in
her ample bounds and facilities calculated to
meet the demands Of almost every industry known to
mankind On the east extending from Red River to the
Gulf embracing scope Of about 100 by 400 miles, Is
vast forest of pine cypress oak and pecan timber so
dense and tall that Of sunshine seldom reaches the
earth. This part Of the State is gently rolling and in
parts Of the northeast would be called rough he high
er hills called mountains but to who has
real mountains they would cause smile Most Of this
regou farmer would call poor enough to starve
wolf Much of it however produces cotton, some of it
fair corn and nearly all excellent melons sweet potatoes
and many descriptions Of small fruits including peaches
The hill lands either almost pure sand or red soil
thicky interspersed with iron ore and the abrupt
cropping out with sand stone. think, however, any
who ever lived in Kansas would say that Eastern
Texas is a splendid country to emigrate FROM But my
observations have been mostly confined to the prairie
farming region of Northern Texas and will conne my
limited time to brief glance at this part of Texas The
city Of Denison, where the NJ K. I. Railroad first
strikes the State marvel Of growth and energy 1t Is
scarcely three years Old and already boasts Of popula
ton running into the thousands hcavy business and
Of the best improvements in the State The Central
Railroad almost south from Denison 432 miles to
Houston. The first 100 miles passing through Sherman
Mckinney Dallas etc. is think, universally conceded
be the very heart of the agricultural part Of the State
In general appearance very much resembles the level
part of Donipban County say the neghborhOOd of Phil
lips grove; the only observable difference being probably
little timber here, but better Most of this
ton Is known the blaGk lands" and is, beyond all
question rich any the continent Much Of it bps
been in cultivation for twenty years
and assured by those vhoown it, hat not the slight
change has been noted This section underiad by
species of white rock very soft and much resembling the
used in your State much from the Big Blue and
Kansas Rivers short exposure the air, however.
dissolves ii into powder which would take for air
slaked lime which, mixed with the black soil which
overlays it, makes almost great would the
mixing Of lanpblack and -four. One popularity about
this substance n that when thus saked and decompOs
cd 1t produces small grain and even corn fully as we'll
apparently, as the best black soil.
As before stated this black land Is as good or better
than can be the globe 1t is Of indefinite depth
but deep and rich enough for any Of mans purposes
With good seasons it will yield IS bushels Of wheat fifty
sixty Of corn seventy FIVE Of oats and bale or bale
and half Of cotton to the Usless grain crops are
found profitable than cotton In the future the State
Of Texas WILL at time be the cotton centre Of the
world Her capacity equal to the wants Of the whole
human in this staple The DID, sandy States Of the
East must give way in time to that country that
duce three pounds to their to the acre 1t Is crop
that fails entirely always sells readily for the gold
and next to gold the nearest to legal tender throughout
chrstendom It's production in Texas is not confined to
the ch black lands alone but ii will yield bOuntifuy
almost anywhere In the State.
Leaving out the vic mites Of the towns along the Cen
tral Railroad believe the well improved farms are gen
orally held st from 100 to s25 LOO per within mile
Of the road OF course many farms could not be had for
that price but the other hand just good unm
proved be bought sl0oo less Within belt Of
twenty miles each side the best Of this land be had
from 900 $500 and large bodies for less Vast
quantities of 1t are for SALE unimprovedI any price,
from 80 cents t00 per acre-much Of good and some
the best In buying any Of it, my advice would be- BE
you what you boy and look well to the title"
The country have referred has great deal Of fine
water large springs and lasting ones never falling
creehs rot be expected to equal the Mis-
sour Valley for water have found many splendid
failing springs but really cool one. Our soil
heats great depth and the water shed being general
the surface the fountains must Of partake
Of the bed over which II runs.
For family use eistern water would consider far the
best Csterns mnch used and easily made and the