The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-21
T EXAS,
A General View OF the state.
received

, Me7sRs; EDITORS; In my previous letters |
la!tcnlpted 10 describe some G: The cities visit.
cd giving what believed to be facts as to popu-
latlon, health, social condition, schools, church.
es, &c, &c. promised you and at least fifty
others that would give you my views as to the
state generally, but have not heretofore found
time TO write up the notes In my possession and
put them In shape Tor publication.
IN all OF my letters have attempted t. et ac-
curate, and white may have been mis!nIormed
on some points, believe that the statements
made were substantially true.
All travellers do not receive TIE same impress
sions. What pleases one docs not another One
man would not live in the state If you would
give it to hlm;" another thinks it almost a
paradise.
Thousands of people have visited Illinois and
have left the state believing it to be an unhealthy
undesirable place OF residence, and the people
only half civilized; but you and know they
were mistaken just rs thousands Of other people
have been and will be as to Texas and other
southern or western states.
1t should lee remembered that Texas is more
than four times as large as Illinos-largcr than
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas combined.
1t extends from the Goth TO the 34th parallels of
latitude, and from the Oath to the l06th paral-
lels of longitude OF course this gives great
variety of climate, and, as may be expected, OF
soil also. The thermometer does not range any
higher there than in lllinois-the heat is longer
continued; but as rule the nights are cool, so
that one may almost surely secure sound, re.
frcshing sleep.
The northern portion is said to be best 10,
wheat and other small grains; the middle FOR
cotton, and the southern for cane and for graz
ing. OF course, this Is but very general state
mcnt. For example, cotton is grown in mos'
parts Of the state, and good wheat is raised in
the middle district" The average yield of wheat
is said to be about y bushels per acre, corn 4;
bushels, oats 10 bushels, cotton $50 pounds. Blu
it should be remembered that the farmers as
rule do not cultivate the land as we do They
have not our improved Implements and do no
give the same attention to the preparation o
the soil AS do our northern farmers. | saw hun
f dreds OF men blowing with one horse or mule
, many times only blowing a shallow furrow il
which to plant leaving the ground between tn,
rows untouched,-the plow being a small cas-
iron affair ofvery primitive construction. l also
saw farmers, powlng with two horses and plow'
of the best patterns, turning up all the soil to
liberal depth, and have DO doubt this last vii
soon be the rule not the exception.
FrHit culture seems TO be generally neglected
, but Twas pleased TO note many young orchards
: indicating an improvement in this respect. II
seems improbable, and yet is fact, that with
climate and soil especially favorable to fruit
growing, California pears were on sale in The
markets! a wild mustang grape grows here
abundantly, and is said to be of unusual excel
: lence for wine. | was informed that much more
attention had been given Of late years the
, cultivation Of fruit, including grapes, and ne
doubt that before many years have elapsed Tex
as fruits will he found in all our northern
markets.
. All kinds of business in towns and cities seem
4 cd to be over-crowded, and The only hope OF sue
cess in that direction, in my Judgment, is io
men who have capital enough to await conten
, with II small trade until the town and business
grow up to them.
Manufacturers will find splendid openings
= Water power is abundant, labor cheap and man
ufactories much needed. was told that Their
was not a single paper mill in the state, ana be
lieve that one to a half dozen paper mills coul'
make money rapidly. Very few cotton mills ar
; found. Several have been built, but for som
c reason have not proved remuneratiye. This wa
:. pugzler to me. Perhaps some political ecCno
8 mist can explain it. Grain, raw material waite
power, cheap labor, cheap livng,-and yet Texa
n an
cotton cloth shipped back to Texas! The prob
lem is too much for my figures, but would Xix
TO see some one cypher it out
For farmers, dairymen, stock raising and MAJ
ket gardens the opportunities are excellent; bu
to be thrifty they must work here as elsewhere
{ The climate will permit work the year rounC
q and the soil will surely return rich reward.
$. Land can be had in almost any OF the counte
I. within a reasonable distance from market d
from 81 TO - per acre: the markets are fatr an
Il growing better aud there is no necessary los
n of time IN wintcr=no exhausilng OF the account
, ilations of the growing season during period q
- four or five months of forced idcuess, as at Ia
north
- Taxes are lisht. They are fixed IS the coust
tuition Of the state, and can no; exceed one ha
- OF one per cent. on the valuation. The stat
. debt 4, triaing, and many of the counties are ne
- only out OF debt, but have surplus funds in IN
Treasury.
ie For stock raising the state possesses peculi:
Is advsntsgcs The mildncsS ci the winters make
at il unnecessary TO feed stock, though believe
ID would pay TO 90 50 Tor month or m1rc,I an
IN beef led upon the rich mesquit grass is Of exec
lent quali,y-gaod enough for an cpicure. II
cost Of stock raising is here reduced TO the min
mum, ard arm prepared to believe The .dmo
Y fabulous tales Of money made hy those cagag,
IN this branch % industry.
is one.hall Of the public lands AMI one-tourtA
be the state taxes are reserved for school purT