The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-01-06
DALLAS, Texas,
December 23d, lS75.I


DALLAS, Texas,
December 23d, lS75,(
j. N. McCutchcon, ESD;
DEAR Sm;-I have delayed until
now writing you to see more Of North
western Texas, | know Of no better
way Ofgiyiug you an idea Of the COun
try than to give n brief history Of q
tour from Dallas, rather south Of vest,
to Brow n county and back. Left Dial
last on the 18Th instant; went through
the southern portion Of Tarrant coun.
~. We found in this county great
tracts Of prairie lands lying en- route,
with an occasional creek (now dry,)
and a scrubby growth Of timber lining
their banks. About 30 miles from
Dallas We come to the cross timbers.
extending from Red river to near Aus
tin. This timber is scrubby post. oak,
out OF which adjoining prairies are
fenced. These lands are u black, sandy
soil. principally, and very productive.
Farms numerous, well fenced, and ev-
cryLhing wears a prosperous look. Ar
ter passing the cross timbcIs, (which
arc from 10 to Is miles wide,) we
come to N extensive prairie, with now
and then Il settlement; fine lands for
farms, and, to all appearance, produc
tive. These prajrjrs extend to the
borders Of Hood county, on the Brazos
liver. We found it difficult to get
stock water over the country | have
Just described, but saw hundreds OF
horses and cattle on the prairics, and
Of course they got water somewhere,
We reached BrazOs river after a ride
Of 10 miles, and were surprised to find
so fine a stream. Water very clear;
graycIly boltom--the most home like
stream we've seen in Texas. We now
enter Hood county. Granbury is the
county site. with n population Of Gboul
500 inhabitants, and is rather an inter
csling to wn for such a county. Lcav.
ing Granbury, we find q lonely Coun-
try, LhiCkIy set with many varieties OF
| scrubby timber for about 80 miles, but
such timber rs is scarcely fit to build Il
hen coop. This county is very noun
famous and badly brokcn-as much 50
as any you ever saw--and presents the
most gloomy appearance imaginable.
1t is rendered douDly so from the
scarcity Of settlers and when you do
reach Il house you see but lutte appear
aucc Of II comfortable home, Hood
county is too poor to be settled soon.
1t is too poor, except in the creek bot.
toms, for settlement; and the creeks
are not numerous. 1t may do for
stock, but Il poor county for agricnl
ture, except III the creek valleys, Set
tiers have houses Of the most triiling
kind Il good many without doors. and
no windows at all, yet many Of them
seem Contcnted,
From Hood we 20 to Erath county,
which is, like Hood, mountainous and
lonely, with good valleys and poor
hills, or mountains. StGplenvi!le, the
county site, is a nice town. Same
quality Of soil and timber prevails on
to ward Comancho county. These
counties are new, and are thinly set
lied. and il is A great relief TO come TO
IA house of some respectable show.
After reaching Comaucbe county. we.
went to the northwestern portion, on
Leon river, and found on this dry
stream a fine body ofIand, and the set
tiers tOlcrably well fixed up for living,
or might be. Some Of the houses had
for dOor-shuttcrs buffalo hides, Co.
manchc town is & fine town, with plcn
" Of stores, Il banking house, and
surprise you to see such n town
30 far out in the wilderness. Nearly
MI this county is !imbcNd.
Our route now lies through Ilamil.
ton, BOsQue and johnson counties.
Hamilton is not quite 50 broken as
Hood and Erath. Bosoue is better
watcred, has some rich valleys, but Il
very rough county, with high hills and
poor prairics, and, | think, is a better
county than Hood. Johnson is a fine
county has some fine towns and rich
pruiries, and Il well ixed.up county for
farming. From johnson county to
Dallas is n very rich body of land, and
will do well to live in except wet wealth.
er. We returned the 23d inst, making
a trip Of 300 miles in eight days. TO
sum up, | think the Central Railroad
ans through all of Texas fit for a set
tier or farmer, and there IS one serious
objection to all Of it | have scen-that
is, it has but little water, and less