Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-05-13
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
WACO, Texas,
April 9th, 1876.


Dear Friend Zitte-Since my last
letter to you, L have received several
copies of your excellent paper, and it
comes to me as an old and valued friend,
but contrary to the usual custom, instead
of showing upon lis face the marks OF
age. and evidences of decay, 1t comes
filled with all the vigor and energy OF
mature manhood; with bright and
smiling face, brimful of intellectual pro-
gression, which shows that YOU have
Kept full up to the advancements of this
the Centennial year. Yours is literally
a newspaper, aud compares most favor
ably with papers of much greater pre-
tensions and aspirations, it has full
store of both local and general news.
Since writing to you before, | have
looked some little at the country, and
find it all, and more than | could have
hoped. The Prairies here are different
to those of the Western States, in that
these are high, rolling lands, admirably
adapted to farming purposes, and sub
ject to high degree of improvement
into handsome country residences, be-
cause of the beautiful elevations fer
building sites. The whole Prairie coun-
try is a succession Of gradual rising and
falling lands, with an occasional point
which possesses the dignity OF q bill,
from which can be seen miles and miles
of rich farming land, dotted over with
the homes of the sturdy farmer, and
fields of vclvety green, interspersed with
cultivated fields, presenting handsome
view.
This country, like all others, was first
settled up along the water courses and
timbered sections and until few
years past, the people conceived the
idea that the Prairie lands were not well
adapted to the cultivation OF the cereals,
and especially not of cotton. But ex-
perience has taught them that not Only
all kinds of grain, but even cotton,grow
abundantly and are produced to re-
markable degree of perfection. These
high, rolling Pralries have deep, rich,
black and brown soil, easily cultivated,
and will produce from % to 40 bushels
of wheat, from 40 to GO of corn, and of
oats and barley from 80 to 80 and
sweet potatoes from 800 to 400 bushels.
Such yields are not common, and only
because the land is not properly cult
waited.
AS far as | have seen, there are very
few good farmers, but when they have
not that to stimulate them to the degree
of frugalty, for which the Pennsylva-
MA farmer is so conspicuous. In the
first place there is little or no winter to
prepare for, and their stock can feed
upon the range of grass throughout the
worst of winter. In the next place
there is no fear of snow and the biting
frosts of the northern winters, and all
they need for protection is shelter
from rain and wind, consequently they
do not generally build them large and
warm houses. AS rule, when people
require but little from surrounding cir
cumstances, to supply their wants. they
become careless as to the future, and
are disposed to become slothful. There
is now, however, a class of farmers COM
ing in from the Western and North
western States, who retain their native
energy and thrift, and are greatly i'm
proving the system of husbandry-and
there is not greater field for it any
where. Cotton is the least profitable
crop there is raised here, aud yet there
are many, very many farmers who will
adhere to it from year to year, at the
same time acknowledge they are not
making anything at it, and they con-
tinue to plant the cotton, because their
fathers did, or they were accustomed to
it in the cotton States. The price OF
cotton is too low to make it profitable.
These same people will tell you that
they can raise with favorable season
from 80 to IS bushels of oats to the
acre, make the crop in four or five
months, get from 81 to 40 cents bush
ell for it, and yet, have not energy
enough to get out of the groove III
which they have been running. The
migration to this State is immense,
from all sections, but the extent of the
territory is so great, that when they get
scattered over the country, their pres
ence is scarcely noticed. Land has ad
vanced very much, in the last five years,
especially that adjacent to the improv-
ing towns, and railroads Within two
miles of this city, the best open land
could have been bought at from two to
FIVE dollars per acre, and improved
from SIX 10 ten dollars; now the same
will bring from fifteen to fofty-fye.
Farther in the interior, however, the
best farming lands in the world, can be
had yet, at from two to five dollars.
1t is Only matter of surprise to me,
that migrants seeking homes, do not
come to Texas, instead of going to the
Western States, which excel in nothing
except in long and fearful winters.