The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-08-26
Wanderer on his Travels-st. Louis
Railroads.


count of the damage from the floods in In
diana, Ohio aud Illinois. / assure you that
it is horrible to look at the devastation
Three weeks since, when passed over the
same route, the crops looked splendid the
promise of an abundant harvest was every
where evident, but all this is vanished.
Miles of corn and other cereals have been
swept away by the rise and overflow of
| White River and its tributary creeks, and
when you reach the Wabash, for Ion dis
tance as far as the eye can reach, the corn
has entirely disappeared, perhaps here and
| there few tops are to be seen to indicate
to the passer-by that the land was once in
cultivation, while the air is oppressvely
loaded with the stencil of the decay1ng veg
citation. 1t Is true that the waters are slow
ly retiring, but there will be scarcely yes
tige of fence left, aud no chance of being
able to use this large body of land for year
or two. 1t is currently estimated that at
least 2, 600, 900 bushels of the grain crop, in
these two valleys, have been destroyed,
while travellers report still greater de-
struction of property in the Sceota Valley,
in Ohio.
Iobserve that great many papers, North,
South and West, are commenting very Sc
verely on the Texas State Penitentiary, not
only the report of the commissioners, but on
some report made to the War Department
| by Capt. Emory, of the army. 1t is not
| pleasant, while speaking of Texas, to have
fellow in the cars inquiring of you if they
treat convicts in Texas worse than the
beasts of the field; whether they are kind
to immigrants, and all that sort of talk.
1t Is hard to say whether the reports are
true or not, or If true, how much of 1t is to
be attributed to criminal negligence of the
lessees IN not removing what was being
done 10y the subordinates. OF course one
don't expect convicts to be managed as you
would q flock of lambs, but State cruelty is
not admissible, fat people are not generally
cross, illnatured or cruel in their tastes and
habits, and anyone looking at the smiling
face and rotund body of Major Dewey would
feel assured that, though he might be able
to use ''cuss words" frequently, he could
not by nature be able to exercise acts of
deliberate cruelty on any specimen of hu-
manity, however, low ami debased. How
ever, let us hope that active measure will
be taken to redress these wrongs Our code
is too Draconian, il l might use the word.
1t sends TO the penitentlary for too light
crimes. Better resort to the public whip
ping post for miner offenses. 1t is evident
that "Philanthropic Englandn finds it nee
| essary for some kind of olfenses to resort
again TO this mode OF punishment, aud l
don't see why we should not. We are iIl-
ing the penitentiary with hundreds, OF con-
viets for very slight offenses. Stealing the
value of twenty-five cents from resi-
denee is, believe, penitentiary offenses.
Better erect work houses in every county,
for small crimes, such as this and a hun
dred others; few lashes will not be amiss.
When | was last here I wrote yeu de
scription of the new building of the Cham
Der OF Commerce, Just then started. 1t is
now completed 50 far as to be ready to re
ceive the roof, sId it is really splendid
binding large. roony--and perfect IN all
its details, il viii take rank with the noted
! public buildings of the United States, and
It is certainly an enduring monument 10 the
good taste and enterprise of the merchants
Of 81. Louis.
Texas wheat is quoted at one dollar and
sixty-ive cents, aud in demand. The st.
Louis merchants are anxious TO secure the
trade Of Texas, and they are doing heavy
Business with the nsrth and eastern portion.
- low down Is Dallas, and now that they
are getting consignments OF wheat from
Texas, each yies With the other to get ths
best price, and no doubt the shipper is hap
py. Il is to be hoped that this business,
now for the first time managed, viii be con
tisued yearly and increase greatly to I'll,
manifest advantage of both sectors. The
4 country always tributary 10 st. Louis had
bad crop of wheat this year, and hence vii
; get better prices than otherwise.
Z Last year At the fair was holding littl'
= eEoWd On ~rexas and her resources, anS
! mentioned that Ne could raise in Texas a
, much wheat As IS now raised in the CnlteS
: states. One old fellow. q little under IA.
influence OF something stronger than water
interrupted me By wanting to know If
would not leave out . little OF old Missouri.
z Or being told politely that would not ieayl
5 s.Doa't get excited, old friend, saidL ~,
5 h4ve got the land, all We want IS the mus
? Gle; come down and lend yours 10 the 81
> ierf; It is better 70 raise grain aud cat j