The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-12-13
San Antonio, Texas, Nov. .s.

EDITORS BULLETIN IA we leave this
city tomorrow morning, after a stay of two
days, thought short sketch Of this place
might not be entirely out of place.
San Antonio is situated at the present
terminus of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San
Antonio Railroad, distance Of two hun
bred and twelve miles west of Houston and
aud is called the the terminus of the Sunset
Route. The country between Houston and
this place is generally level, though low and
fiat when you first leave Houston and fit
only for grazing lands, bat we soon came to
higher ground and about thirty miles from
Houston on the Brazos river, at a town
called Richmond, is the finest farming land
l ever saw, and produces fine crops o: sugar
cane corn, cotton and vegetables Plenty of
stock is also raised We have seen thous-
ands Of cattle, and wonder how the prairies
can support so many, as the grazing is not
az good as I expected to see. We have
travelled west from the Brazos, and find the
country more thickly settled, the land higher
end dryer, which continues until within one
hundred miles If here. We then enter the
German settlements, which last to San An
tinio. About here the country well i'm
proved considering the scarcity Of timber,
undulating enough to drain well and raising
as fine crops of corn and potatoes as L have
ever seen, the cotton crop having Oeen de-
stroyed by worm. These Germans are great
stock raisers, and are in prosperous condi-
- Tl1s Il ho oil -, IL
having been settled at an early day by the
Spaniard, and is the largest inland town in
the State. 1t is situated on a beautiful
stream called San Antonio river, but Is no
larger than our Spring creek, but is so clear
that You can see fish at depth of six feet
The last census Of this place gave it popu-
lation of nineteen thousand, but is much
| larger now, being about equally divided
between Americans, Germans and Hexicans,
Ehe immigration Is mostly American, who
are buying out the Mexicans, and they will
soon be largely in the majority. The houses
are nearly all built of limestone, which IL
quarried about tn &C miles out Of town.
There are very few frame or brick buildings
and all built by the Mexicans are low and
hat-roofed, some using rough and some
smooth-faced stone. There are new build
, ings going up all over the city, being much
better and prettier than the old ones. No
! city in the South can boast OF prctticr houses
than San Antonio The people are wealthy
and owe no debts, business being carried on
nearer cash system than anywhere l know.
Real estate is high, and also rents, but land
a distance Of ten or fifteen miles is cheap
and Is being rapidly taken up and titled.
There Is more sheep in this country than
any part Of the South, and fortunes are BE-
/ ing made out of it. This is the fourth wool
market in the United, States, and heard OF
one man selling crop for ssventy-ive
thousand dollars. Nearly every body, even
women, are engaged in this business, and are
successful, but / think much sand is fabulous
and even If half said is true, il is the finest
business that can be engaged IN. Thec.rtIe
and pony raising il also said 20 be vorv rro-
Gtab,e Two men are g Eer.lIy oruers, and
employ Msxican- To hsri Ter th,.n. -
manner of business seems go q, douIi-hihs
AMI there is a good opsninz for caFit1..si-
for trade comes % this point from o,-r one
hundred miles This - a military post and
army sGpplic, IRE sent forwarG 10 the from
tier. met Messrs B. A. Enloe and Alex
, Caldwell. IF jackson, Tenn, Who are here