The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-31
FROM TEXAS.
Wac0---Its Industries ana
Trade. Austin. the
State Capital.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, March nth, -,

NgssRs EDITORS: In my last think S'atG'
that did not like the lands in Iarrant county
about IT. Worth, but have been told by 5cycra
gentlemen who are undoubtedly well pootei
that there are many lands in that county whicl
ara very excellent-aS good as can be fount
anywhere.
find that our Illinois prairie standard vii
not work here; that lands which to a sucker
appear very poor, If not worthless, are really fer
tile and will produce good crops. This Is tAt
opinion of many good judges OF soil and mei
who would not, If they could, attempt to deceive
me. We'll, SO mote it be- One must live ard
learn; aud, astonishing as il may be, there are
several things don't know yet.
As this state is some four or five times The size
Of ours, you can't expect me to write it all up N
thirty days; so will only make few dots
here aud there, and this time dash away at Waco
and McCennan county.
Waco has population Of abou. 5000, ard is
peculiar in this; 1t seems much like quiet
peaceful New England village, combined with
the activity and briskncss of a western town
neither one nor The ether but happy mixture
Of both.
The business portion OF the town is mainly
built Of brick, in good, substantial manner, and
the dwellings, some of which are very fine, are
mostly neat, tasteful and home like-iA these
particulars eXcclhng those 0! any other town o!
the size have ever visited. But there arc no
sidewalks except in front Of the principal busl-
ness houses, and not always there would sup
pose that men, women and children must Of ne
cessity be provided with both fair and foul
weather boots and shoes, or else the stores, &c,
suspend business when they have wet weather.
Ottawa is represented by D. c. O'Kane, genial
and pleasant as ever, and looking better as to
health than have seen him before in years.
Mooney, in person and store looking so much as
he and it did in Ottawa, that | almost fancicd |
was there Ebert, absolutely growing corpu-
ent;-Rigdcn, and others Nearly every state
in the Union IS represented, as well as many
Of the European statcS-the German element
among the foreigners.
The people as whole, so far as have met
them, are genial, pleasant, social and ready to
extend cordial welcome to all honest, dcserv.
ing people who come here from any point, no
matter where, but most heartily despising pre-
tenders aud hypocrites as they do the ID.
Just now there is very little trade, they say;
but when the cotton crop comes INTO market
The streets are fairly crowded with teams ard all
kind of business IS active. One merchant told
me that at such times trade would commence us
soon as the shutters were down in the morning
lnd continue brisk Al! that day aud evening,
35,,Sl bales of cotton were shipped last year.
Did not get exact figures as 70 amount Of grain
handled, but good judges estimated it at 100000
bushels OF oats, 10000 bushels OF wheat, to say
io,hing Of cattle, hides, sc.
AS the cotton would bring the producers
money, it will be seen that the total trade of
Waco must he large, indeed, for a town Of that
lie.
Waco is not at present manufacturing city,
,ut has two Touring mills, two foundrics and
machine shops, three planning mills, a distillery
VIII soon be completed, and large cotton and
soocn mill was erected by Duncan, Strawn IL
,age of the mill which the citizens hope will
Don start again under favorable auspices.
The banking facilities are ample, there being
hree banks, having an aggregate capital OF
80, O00.00.
There are twelve churches, which include the
most approved and popular varieties; and edu.
alton can be had on the Catholic, Presbyterian
" Methodist plan and style, each having colleges
n universities in successful operation. And, in
edition to these, there is large public school,
md another will soon bc added for the use OF the
culud pussous,' OF whom there are consdera-
lie numbers here.
\ beautiful opera house, with market under
lcath, was recently burncd; but the citizens,
With commcndabe zeal, at once constructed
temporary market at Il coat Of about $500, and
AVE contracted for the rebuilding of the opera
iousc ia better style than before the building TO
DC completed within 20 DAYS.
The Odd Fellows and Masons have each line
buildings and halls, which would do credit to
my town OF this siZc ia the Union.
II is understood that a cotton compress will
&c erected the present season. The railroad is
icing extended northerly, and an additional one
o Palestine IN an castcrly direction, much need.
ID, Is being talked OF, bat nothing more than
argc part of the "wiGd work" Is as yet com.
o!cted Judging from what saw OF the enter
prise OF the people ii Is fair to presume that this
will be successfully carried out within
reasonable time
The Waco Erom',,el, daily and weekly, i tie
leading paper. Was told there was another but
lid not see IT,
| was unable 90 find meteorological statistics
Those which had Jccn accumulated Cor many
years by Dr. Sears had unfortunately been
burned not long ago,
was more fortunate IL tie matte. Of mortua-
ry statistics, aS the city requires monthly re.
ports, and the facts given below are Official,
copied by the writer from the records:
go. : i5,Rc- C't s6me ortlc a,,,sf, NJ y,,,-a
~" t.'. ~. ~ u-7IAs,.
Mar 2 sdsI" syn, lPaea%%oHia, consumption
May. . ; "a, 60 :, 49, uoiwo alike
yuy. emos. % " icoasuuption
Aug. " a. : .vbooplnc cough, sdisrth'a
sept. 70 , - =, . diseases % owe!s, eons'n
Nov. . minutes deiretiye pneu mona consumption
a., o IGsv 4, sc,o,,