The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-08-03
HAMPTON, HAMILTON Co Texas,
July 10, 1876.
Mr.. EDITOR :

Mr.. EDITOR:
As q constant reader of your excellent
oaper, I venture to give your readers
brief account of o late journey in Texas,
nresuning it may interest them, or at
last those who may intend visiting
this State, and who, like myself, may
have to travel without a guide.
leaving the Davidson hotel, an ex-
raIlent house in Galveston, by the A.
y. train, You can 60 two hundred and
thirty. eight miles, to Waco, by 8 P. NJ,
changing cars at Houston, Hearne sta
tion. and Bremond. The road from
Galveston to Houston, fifty miles, runs
through a low, level country, very
sparselv settled. but with good grazing
for stock. From Houston to Hemp
stead, fifty miles, is high rolling prai-
1ie. with but little timber, few settlers,
and poor land. At Hampstead We
strike the Brazos bottom lands, and
find an improved soil and numerous
farms. One hundred miles beyond
Hempstead we reach BremOnd, change
cars, and go thirtY-eight miles, to
Waco, through the prettiest looking
country ever saw, but thinly settled
near the road.
1 was not favorably impressed by the
celebrated BRACES bottoms. / saw there
but little really good corn and cotton,
ind the country generally had an I'M
healthy appearance, being densely
bushed with lew and stunted tsInber.
Waco is situated on high. well
drained land, ON the west bank of the
BRACES river, and is a handsome city,
with about tea Thousand inhabitants.
Here we st0ppe,t one day and night at
the Waco hotel, first-rate house. This
sest enabled me to see and enjoy the
really interesting sights of this live
western city. A splendid wire suspen-
sion bridge spans the river. The Bla-
2Os was up, aud held SO much red clay
IN solution, that it looked, rs it flowed
slowly by, with a scarcely perceptible
motion, like broad belt of veTmiliOn
It seemed impossible to sustain life IN
50 thick q mass of red mud, and /
learned that at such stages of the water
fish died in the river.
Leaving Waco, in O crowded stage,
for the west, we anticipated disagree
able ride, but il proved a most delight
tul one, Two lady passengers joined
us in a pleasant conversation, tire jolt
ing of the stage was almost unnoticed,
and the picturesque and constantly
varying scenery along the road COM
brned to make the day one of the hap
Piest in onr experience. Coming right
srOlR the lowIands Of the gulf coast, it
was . novel sight to witness the small
streams with pebble covered beds, and
seeky banks, rising frequently into
perpendicular cliffs from twenty to fifty
ieet high, out Of which, at almost every
crossing, gushed springs Of clear, cool
water, At noon the stage stopped ON
the bank of the middle Bosque, at the
most complete spring house [ ever saw
The rock had been excavRted by hand,
making an oval arch about fifteen feet
vide and twelye feet high. on each side
q which staircase had been cut IN
tae rock, with rocky walls, leading
Gown to the spring, where we found .
quantity of fresh milk and butter. Our
lady travellers produced q well filed
basket Of substantial food, and one OF
the gentlemen going 10 the house re-
turned at once with the proprietor Of
'ao place, bearing goblets, cups and
plates, and arranging these, with our
lunch and the cool milk and butter, on
"a me rocky table, we enjoyed most de-
lClo1s meal Fifty cents was the only
charge by the proprietor for the entire
party, This pleasant spot il twenty
miles from Waco, and is surrounded by
good land and abundant crops,
hesumlng our journey, we soon en-
'efed Q high uninhahited country, and
could see In the distance long range
q mountains, covered with growth Of
10y, serubhy timber, Of various kinds,
WITH here and there bare spots, reveal
tlg The white and gray rock Of which
Ssese mountains are chiefly formed.
travelling several miles through this
rugged region, we entered the Leon
Salley, some fiva Oh six miles from
uatesville, the county seat Of Coryell
county, Here Is the prsttiest country
ever saw. The timber is abundant
sla Of immense size. forming many
eea,ntlful groves. The land ID rolling,
wltn perfect natural drainage. the crops
NJ heavy, and tbs country JIG rather
HIHa Il q "A