Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-03
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
WACO, McLennan Co., Texas.
Nav l7th. 1876.

May 1Itn, 1910.
Dear Friend Ziltle-Harvest has COM
menced with the farmers here, aud re-
ports from all sections of this county
Indicate very favorable yield, and
much beyond their expectations. hear
the Grangers speak of having twenty
five and twenty weight bushels OF wheat
to the acre, aud l am quite sure those
figures do no: look like short crop.
The number of Reapers taken out from
the city iii the lastfew weeks, would war
rant the conclusion that there Is a large
cpop to be gathered The farmers are
making rapid progress in tie employ
ment of improved machinery for the
cultivation and gathering OF their crops,
which is one of the healthy signs OF the
working of the Grange organization,
which is rapidly growing into favor and
influence. / have taken some pains TO
inquire into the organization III this
State, (as | propose to be Granger, as
we'll as Esculapian,) and find it made up
of the best element of the country, and
its effects are rapidly being felt IN the
agricultural and social system Of the
country.
The Firemen of the city OF Waco
had an anniversary celebration on Tues
dav the 9th inst, which was credta-
BILE affair, and would have done honor
10 city of greater aspirations than
this They have handsome engine
house, which they lately erected for the
keeping of their handsome steam fire
engine. "The Belle of Waco" and the
apparatus of the "Rescue" Hook and
Ladder Company. Both eogine and
apparatus are first class, and of the most
modern design. Their hail is nicely
furnished with all the conveniences OF
our modern Fire departments, having
sleeping room, reading room, library,
Sc, and on the above occasion was
most handsomely decorated with tes-
toons of evergreens, and wreathed with
flowers. There were visiting fire COM
panies from Galveston, Houston, Cal
vert, Bryan, and Hampstead, all finely
uniformed, and each company bearing
banners suggestive OF their calling. No
ticeable among the banners was one
with a life size likeness Of Stonewall
Jackson, and was called the Stonewall
Fire Company, of Houston, think.
They were the recipients of especial no
tice and applause from the crowds that
thronged the sidewalks during the pa
rade. The procession, of some hye
hundred firemen, Engine, Hose truck,
Hook and Ladder apparatus, moved
through the principal streets,and thence
to the fair grounds, about one mile
from the city. After arriving upon the
ground, the orator of the day, General
Tom Harrison delivered short, but
enthusiastic speech, which done honor
to the man and occasion, and was char
acteristic of himself, who is noble rep
resentation of the true Southern gentle.
man, of sterling qualities of head and
heart. There were several bands OF
music present to enliven the occasion,
and a colored band from Galveston,
seemed to carry off the palm for good
music. There were two canopied cars
in the procession, looking as though
they were constructed of evergreens and
flowers, in which were fairy like little
girls, each perched as it were upon
cluster of beautiful flowers; and the En-
CINE and Hook and Ladder apparatus
were each loaded with flowers and
vines, artistically arranged by the hands
of the fair ladies of Waco, and they
looked more like moving boquets than
fire machines. After dinner, which was
a sumptuous affair, variety of sports
were enjoyed by the throng, snch as
horse racing, foot races, and the allen
ticiup dance. After spe nding the day
on the fair ground, the Waco Firemen
cave their visiting friends grand ball
at night, at the cspacious McLeiiand
Hotel, when the convivlalities were