The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-12-13


HousToS, Texas, Dec. 6, 1877.
Editor Herald:
Three weeks ago to-day ! left the
Switzerland of Ameriea-East Tennes-
sce-for this Stale In the Southwest,
Everything was pleasant until We
crossed the Mississippi at Memphis,
when We met the tide Of emigration
from hIe Northwest for Texas. When
We reached Little Rock We had five
cars full OF cmigranis: at Dallas one
more car was added, all hOuId for the
Southwest portion of the STATE.
The tide Of emigration from the
North, West and Tennessee, Is i'm
mense. They are pouring IN at the rate
of 100000 per year. Ii is estimated
that the number this year will reach
500, 900. Just think OF il; 100000 peo-
pie pouring iuto this State every year.
Wherefore all thisI When 4 left
home for Texas II was with my mind
filed with prejudice, and feeling that
any man VINO left a home In the Great
Northwest was certainly q very foolish
20 leave IL for a home In Texas!
There all the comforts Of life abound
in great abundance; soil ~upcNccpted,
and facilities for accumulation sery
numerous. We believed that there wa,
no other portion of our country thai
could offer anything near the advanta-
yes Of the great west.
| have been in this State three weeks
aud have travelled over 2,500 miles, Wis
ting such points as Dallas, Marshall,
Waco, Austin and Houston. Noting
as ] passed along, (for my travel wac
in the day time the attractive and un.
attractive features of the country.
My verdict now IL, that Il more beau.
tiful country is not to be found any
where IN the United States. There are
prairies he.e as beautiful and rich ~
the grand prairie of Illinois.
This State has everything 80 far o,
water and soil are concerned 10 attract,
That any of the Western States have,
with tie great advantages Of milde'
clima.c. SO far as educational and So
cial church privileges ere concerned
the We { is far in the advance, but Prom
the character of the larger class Of emil
gratis In JO@se here from the North,
Texas ia n few years viii equal any.
| trarcLpl aCIOS prairie larger
than the entire State of Illinois.
There is territory enough here Il
contain a population of 1000, COO PEG
pie, and then nOt be as dcnsely p0pull-
Ted a. France. The State is as large Il.
all New England, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Hi
nois. 1t is an empire in itself. Now
| am moi astOnished at the farmers OF
the North seeking a home in this cOun-
try. But with all the attractions of thu
State J am ast0ni>hed at TenneSscan,
| coming here. 1t will cost $3.50 to S25J
to come here from East Tennessee ant
buy provisions until Il crop is raised. j
the same amount of money WAS eXpen'
Died in first-CiaSs farming implements
and good barns, and the same labor pul
forth that is required here, ther,
would be 40 necessity for seeking
new home among strangers, As Il
! climate, East Tennessee will compare
favorable with any portion ofTcXas. Il
you colne here yOY must UOrk. DO The
same at home and there will be no neet
| of coming here. 1t has been very cole
here for :4e past few days-ice frOze Z.
inch thick.
Next week ] go to San Antonio
thence back to Houston, and down II
| Galveston, where | expect to tax,
steamer for New Orleans; will rGmail
there two or three days, then "hGlne
ward bOund.' j. B. +.