The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-01
COUNTRY LIFE nv TEXAS.
The County seat Of "Oid Rebel t'onzaic."-
Reminders OF the Texan Nevoiutien.

GONZALES, Texas, Feb. 22.-This is the
county seat Of "Old rebel Gonzales" within
eight Of the town arc still to DO seen the ruins
OF the old fort where the trst engagement was
fought In the Texan revoluiion-that uprising
which eliminated In the Stato's independence
as a separate republic. Here, too, were located
some OF the strongest advocates uf accession be-
fore the war % the rebellion, many OF them, and
some of the most rabld, being men OF New Eng
land birth and education. The county contrib
uted large force OF young men to the COnfed-
crate army, whose exploits In the cavalry service
are the boast Of those who live to toll the tales
OF the disastrous conflict.
The county is one Of the healthlest and best
AGRICULTURAL districts In tho state. Through II
runs tho Guadalupe river, a stream too shallow
for navigation for any considerable distance
above ITS mouth, but with a rapid current Mt
many points, which would be worth much for
state is considered among the test In the world,
aud yet with all tue natural advantages there IL
not a nrst-class nOuring mill within the Texan
borders. The growing OF small grains In lexas
IL stll in its infancy. hut II Ia far more pro1ta
bio on an average than tho cultivation Of any
other indigenous product. rho amount Of cot
ton shinpcd from the state the present season
Is over 10000 bales greater than that OF last wear,
and IL is estimated that not more than two
thirds OF the crop has gone. The prices In this
section AT present are extremely low, not over
3 10 cents a pound. Even at these figures
s,e,' enomeIS rs, n'.'s - che acre Labor is
p.id on farms from $40 to tl5 month, w..
board. There are thousands OF acres OF unde-
veloped agricultural lands in this county which
can be bought cheaper than the same class OF
lands In any other section Of the state. The
pecan nut, which readily sells for from t2.5O to
$3.50 bushel, grows In abundance. The ng,
too, Is a natural product, nearly every person
with plot Of ground having some Of the trees,
yet not pound OF the fruit Is cured for the
market. Two and three crops are produced n
year, and the irnit (Which is fed to tho hogs and
chickens is OF 1ne quality. The grape is another
natural product, numerous yIreties being
grown In large quantities, but ike the ng, mono
are shipped to market.
The election was very quiet. The conserva-
tive majority In tue State will reach nearly no.
600 and that for the new Constitution nigh Co.
600. Not lar from half the c vlored voters voted
with their old masters, and by the time another
election q 1T hand the promotion will doubtless
be still larger. The Hon Everett Lewis, candi-
date for District Judge, deliver, d a significant
speech before the election, advocating most
cOnsiderate and generous dealing with the ne
gro. This was not demagogism. There was no
necessity for 1t, the district being largely con-
seryatNe. MIR. Lewis was elected by larger
majority by several thousand than any other
candidate In the district.
The district court adjourned here last week
OF "A large amount Of business. Since the car
pet-bag Constitution has been Ia force 1t has
been almost impossible to convict criminals, on
account OF the loose way In which jurors are Sc
lected. case In point was related TO me, which
occurred AT arecent term OF court In Caldwell
county. A charge of cattle stealing having been
tried, and the jury having gone out, the court
found itself unable TO proceed with the next
case on the docket (Which was one Of a similar
character) because the accused was on the Jury
that had Just retired A better state OF Things is
anticipatej under the new magma charter. when
we look at the number OF cases on the docket OF
the court IL is easy to see wny there are lawyers
enough here to make al men rogues. On the
other band, there are not doctors enough to Kill
them. There are only three resident physicians,
and they have to engage In speculation aud trade
to live. WANDERRa.