The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-02-05
"Let Ihore be .Llght.-

10 the Editor OF the Dallas Herald
Allow me, IN behalf of myself and
many friends, through your columns,
to thank 80 me unknown friend for
copies of your paper of the 10th and
l7th of January.
When we tell you that there is a gen
eral restessness and disposition
amongst this people to seek new
homes west of the Mississippi river,
and how eagerly we are all seeking
and devourlnG every item we can lay
our hands upon bearing upon Texas
andyour city, of which we have heard
interest, you may be better prepared to
estimate our appreciation of the uneX.
pected visit of the HERALD. We con-
clude. from the perusal of its columns
of editorial and advertising matter,
that you have n live, growing aud
promising city. The articles OF " Dali
las" and "Self interest,"" which ap-
pear in the copies before us, strike our
people with peculiar force, in which
are urged the 'importance OF the circu-
lation, by your citizens, in some
acceptable printed form, among
the people Of other States and
countries of such information
of your country and yourselves
as is sought on every hand. In vain
have we searched the book stores and
news stands for some pamphlet or doe
ument that would afford us q fair de-
gree of information about Texas, and
such as would enable us to determine
upon visit of inspection at least, say
nothing of removal of ourselves and
families, as thousands are doing from
these Eastern shores to the Western
country. li +. ...I. t..u .'..
This city, and indeed all these old
States, are crowded with people and
until but little hope is lett
for others than those who are able to
risk and lose without bankruptcy or
distress. There is widespread feeling
and deep yearning among the great
masses totry new homes, aud where
there is a certainty of escape from the
long and severe winters and prospect
of cheaper homes, cheaper living,
cheaper taxes and more constant, re-
liable and remunerative employments,
and where the poor but industrious
can, by their labor and economy, ac-
quire homes of their own. The
great question, however with these
is where they shall go, with
the largest promise ofsuch advantages.
We generally understand that the eli
mate OF the South is, of course, milder,
but we have an idea--and no doubt
true in a great degree-that few locali-
ties are healthy; that the lands east of
The Mississippi river generally have
been exhausted by the negro and the
mule; that the State governments are
still In an unsettled condition; that
schools are scantily provided and lily
aud the country altogether
not sufficiently inviting to attract inn
migration. We do not know how these |
opinions apply to Texas the truth is,
we Know SO little about your country
hat we are at a loss for conclusions, so |
please excuse us ii we are wrong in our |
and nothing will more
crafty us than to get light and such as
shall guide us. Yes, thousands of us
thousands of anxious and earnest in
luirers. Strange as it may seem to
YOU and your readers, great majority
If our people here have an idea that
Texas Is an uninhabitable wilderness,
With such exceptions as the counties
itlIated Immediately around the large
titles, like Galveston, Austin and
Dallas. We take it for granted that
he settlements at any considerable
lstance from these are protected
" the Texas Rangers from the depre-
ations of Indians aud Mexicans.
his, however, involves so much risk
nd expense that it deters many OF us
rom the venture of new homes in
eXas. Many have impressions that
ne flies, mosquitoes and vermin are
lmost uncomfortable. Ifsuch accounts
we have OF your "northersr be true.
e fear nothing would be gained by
'uthern latitude west of the Missis-
ppi. If II be true that the drowths
re OF such frequent occurrence as to
lreaten "short rationsn two out of
We years, and that no water Is to be 4
al Tor many months often either for
IAN or beast we confess to some re-
ctance In determining upon Texns as
If future homes. LII
we profess to some degree of intel
gence, and are generally fairly posted vi
,,out matters, things and places. Our 4
hool boys even can talk to you most
telllgently aud sflippantly OF Kansas,
ebraska and Idaho, for daily oppor-
mites are given us and our children
learn of gthese far western 1StateslIA
rough the newspapers, panipblets y
I'd circulars circulated among and
reed upon US VII by the people Of those