Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-04
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/ All classes of people and all social grades
are represented. From the marble palace!
of the upper ten thousand to the mis-
cradle novels of the Mexican quarter is q
change indeed. Some of the poorest hut.
in this quarter-homes they can scarcely
be called-are built by driving pairs O
stakes into the ground, as for stake and
withe fence, and filling in with corn stalks
laid horizontally. The walls are thus
formed A roof of straw completes the
structure. The inhabitants are as low and
wretched as their dwellings.
The opinion is prevalent with us that
life and property are not safe there, that
a stranger can scarcely walk the streets
without offering target for the revolvers
and repeating rifles of the natives. Moth
ing could be farther from the truth.
True murders are frequently committed,
but it is mainly owing 10 his indiscretion
if man is killed. There are a large
number of saloons, gambling dens and
houses of ill fame. They are natural out
growth of a frontier city, and even centers
of civilization have not succeeded in van
ishing them from their midst. No white -
man has any business to visit them if he
does he takes his life in his hands, and is
pretty certain to be relieved of the charge.
The people in general, are hospitable,
courteous and warm hearted. A stranger
is cordially welcomed and is made to feel
at home with readiness and heartiness
which is surprising and grateful to one
from our colder and more conservative
northern society In business they are as
honest and square as men in general. l
take the people whom l met 10 be fair
sample by which to judge those of the same
class whom l did not sec.
Now u moral about Texas in general,
and first of all as to its size. We are very
likely to misapprehend relative areas.
People are apt to think of Massachusetts
as much larger than Vermont, when in
fact it is smaller, and of New York as be-
ing nearly as large as Texas when the
latter is about as large rs all the New Eng
land and Middle states together. Texas
is diversified with hill and plain; some
portions are not as well watered as could
be desired but as agriculture and tree
planting increase the rainfall increases.
Its productions embrace nearly every
crop which is cultivated on the continent,
from the grasses and vegetables of north
ern regions to the fruits of the tropics.
The grains and vegetables adapted to
northen climates are planted and sown in
February; that month and the two follow
ing correspond to May, June and July in
New England. Cotton and the crops pecu-
liar to Il warm climate are planted later.
But though Texas offers good facilities
for agriculture, the great industry for years
to come must and will be stock -raising, to
which the state is peculiarly adapted and
for which it offers facilities nowhere ex
celed.
The climate is very healthful and the
range of temperature wide. In the low
lands and near the Gulf frost is rarely
known. In the winter ice at rare intervals
has been known to form half an inch in
thickness In the mountainous districts
the cold is greater and snow falls. 1t is a
singular fact that animals do not suffer
from the heat as they do in Vermont.
Work is mostly done with oxen and
mules.
Our advice to those who are about to 90
to Texas seeking employment, is, DOnI!
In no place is labor better rewarded than |
in New England. Texas is no place for a
man without money. No laboring man
from the north can compete with the Mex
leans, who can live on next to nothing,
can do without any of the refnements and
almost without any of the decencies of life.
cnlarv mhich IUou11 Goon ~ NJov;,o.
would mean starvation to man from Yer
mont.
There are good investments for capital,
and land can be bought for a song, almost.
There is money in stock-herding, but it
requires capital; so too does farming.
There are plenty of northern men, intel
igent, wel-educated, who would gladly
come north if they could pay their passage.
1t is no place to go and wait for some
hing to turn up, unless it be for your toes
10 turn up to the sky. If you have any
hing to do at home, boys, do it; if not,
find it as near home as possible.
A good many New England men are
here; in fact they are everywhere-o
cannot run away from New England by
travelling. She has furnished fair share
perhaps Il large share-of enterprise
md ability for the younger states, and has
lone much towards helping 10 build them
up, and yet there is place for her sons
md daughters, too, but they must 90 with
definite purpose in view, and with de-
termination enough to accomplish it, and
not like Micawber, emigrate, hoping that
something will turn uD."
Coming home the route was by way of
st. Louis, indianapolis, Buffalo, Albany, and
Springfield, Mass, although some advised
he same route returning as in going, on the :
core of health, that the swamps and
woods might he avoided, thus illustrating
he proverb quoted at the beginning. $
In subsequent article | may say some