The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29
Texas Letter.
la GRANGE, Fayette Co., Texas
March 10th. 1876.

Editor Grange Adrance: my
last letter of Feb. 25th, have been on
the wing and really have not had time
to write, but I will pen you few lines
now. Leaving Schulersburg, We travel
northwest to La Grange, distance eigh-
teen miles. The country is as fine a
one to look at as need be, and really is
a fine country, being settled principally
by Germans who came into this section
many years ago, and under their man
agement it has become one of the finest
localities in the State. They are
thrifty, industrious class of people
and have really done more to advance
the best interests Of this State than all
the uative-born Americans, Tit won't
do to call US Yankees, you know, put to-
gether. counted in one drove two hun
dred head of cattle, and as grass is now
> growing very fast, notice an improve
ment in stock since passed over this
route sometime ago.
There is prehaps one-eighth Of the
land on this route under cultivation.
Possibly less than that. I made some
inquiries and find that lands here unculti-
waited are worth fifteen dollars per acre.
There is timber scattered here and there,
enough for fire wood and fencing, but it
is Of scrubby variety, post oak princi-
pally, and in Minnesota would be con.
sidered most outrageously poor. con-
slider it so here, but I am not educated
yet up to point where I can see beau
ties that do not exist. Speaking Of cul-
tivation, reminds me that our peculiar
mode Of doing it, would make Il Goodhue
Co. farmer laugh. We pillow the ground
about two inches deep; blowing is not
the proper word for it, we scratch it
about that depth and then raise one
half of crop and thsnk fortune that
We 1--we in the finest country and the
best soil in the world.
And if you Yankees come down here
with your Moline plows, your cultiva-
-;ors, aud your improved machinery and
aew tangled notions generally, and in
Innate that the soil ought to be plowed
six or eight inches deep to raise Il good
crop, we tell you that it cannot be done;
Notwithstanding the fact that few Of us
nave ever seen the experiment tried, yet
we know it cannot be done, for have we
not the most reliable proof that our
yreat-gran'l-father did not use the
Moline plow? On the contrary, he
Used a wooden one and plowed fright
smart too, we reckon;" but without at
tempting to cultivate all the soil between
5chulersburg and La Grange, we finally
arrive at the latter town and tind it Il
very snug, pretty place with voting
population of about five hundred. This
8 the county seat Of Fayette county
md the business part Of the town is on
';onr sides of the public square, in the
center Of which stands the court house.
We were told that prior to the late
,npleasantness this was thriving bus.
ness point, and if we may judge by ap-
,earance it has not got entirely over it
ret. 1t is a pleasant location and has
-,ood society, as society goes in this
country. We would not advise host
# northern mechanics or laborers to
migrate to this point, however, rs their
hances of starving out for want Of
something to do would be first-rate, with
2ut doubt. One thing is very notice
!ble everywhere in this country, Ell, the