Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-02-06
COMMUNICATED.
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
January %, 1877.
Editor Of the Bristol NcaO8:


Editor Of the Bristol NcaUs:
had promised myself to give you
an account of my trip to the
Lone Star" State, together with a
review of the business prospects of
this young city. Other subjects of
temporal convenience have so engaged
my time and attention that the pres
ent is my earliest convenience. Suf-
flee it to say our trip was a safe and
pleasant one through the courtesy of
that genial and popular Railroad Off
cial Maj Ed. f, SissOn, welt known
throughout your section,
In view of the fact that many men
are dispOsing of comfortable homes
in Virginia, with view to moving to
Texas on account of the temporary
business depression at home, | am in
duccd to give such my honest cOnviC-
tiOns, from no mercenary motives,
and in so doing shall speak only Of
what | have seen myself. With the
soil and climate of northern Texas
am well pleased. The water in most
sections is very bad to a Virginian,
being Indifferent well water, from
which stock in many localities must
also be watered.
Again. An Emigrant, if he comes
to buy lands or to settle vacant land
must, of necessity, first build him a
house. No matter whether he locates
in timbered sections or on the Pral-
rie, he must wagon from the nearest
Railroad station all Of his building
material, for the timber grown here
is unfit for building purposes. The
expenses of such necessities, if he
tA HTI ipn Ia, tp
lands, is easily calculated. Lands are
cheap, yet it would be well for those
contemplating u move to this country
to consider it in its proper light, and
to appreciate the advantages of their
own sections and to consider the dis
advantages of others.
So many men are making livings by
speculatiOns In the apt credulity of the
unsuspecting yeomanry of Virginia
in picturing to them lands of flowers,
soft Italian skies and big bOnanzas of
wealth, that | have wondered why
others have not spoken against this
dupedom.
OF Fort Worth, situated as she Is at
the terminus of the Texas Pacific
Rail Road, of her growth, prosperity
business facilities | could not well
speak too highly. She has recently
assumed a decidedly city air by the
introduction of street cars. The city
gas works are now under course of
erection. Houses spring up as if by
magic, and she adds weekly to the
statue of her imposing self neat and
commodiOus business houses. A joint
stock company let to contract the erec-
ton of a fine Hotel last week to contain
siXty-siX rooms. The trade of the city
is immense in Cotton and Hides. Over
thirty thousand Buffalo hides have
been shipped from this point this
season. A well known grocer of this
city sold on Friday last Seven thOus-
and dollars $4,000 worth of goods ;
SO 900 of which was Wagoned to Ft.
Concho, 225 miles west of here. All
classes have money, and they spend it
like it comes, easy.
The winter has been remarkably Sc
we're We have had two SHOWS, the
deepest five inches deep, though in
other parts of the State it he's been
considerably deeper.
With kindest regards for yourself,
aud hopes / fondly cherish of better
days for Virginia and our common
country, | remain with respect,
SIGMA.