The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-22
Letter From Texas.
AUsTIN, TEXAS, Nov. o.

some two thousand miles in the lone Star
State and making close observations, am
satisfied Il presents inducements for men of
capital either large or small not 10 be found
in snyother State In the Union. There is
perhaps greater variety of soil, producing
q greater variety Of fruits, vegetables and
cereals than can bs found anywhere on the
continent.
In northern and central Texas wheat,
rye, oats, and corn, are grown side By side
with cotton. In southern Texas until with |
in the past few years i. was supposed wheat
could not be successfully grown, and even
now wheat growing side by side with cotton
sugar-cans and mid the semi tropical fruits
is considered an experiment, which has
very fair promise Of proving asuccess.
Corn does well in every part of the State,
and in some portions yields equal to the
fertil valleys Of Ohio, or the rich prairiss of
Illinois.
Wheat in many localities yields much
better than in Ohio making from 20 to 80
bushels per acre. Oats and barly are an
astonishing success the former yielding so
to 20 and in some instances more than 100
bushels per acre, the latter from so to so
pushels per acre and of fine quality. The
Eastern part Of the State is heavily timber
ed with pine, post. red, and pin oak, wal
nut, elm, cherry, hickory, and pecan which
gives an abundsnce Of cheap lumber for
fencing and building, besides there is in
terspersed all over the State ranges of wood
land in sufficient quantities for fuel and ON
many rich farms will bs found timber
sufficieri for fuel, fencing, and building.
On tie mountain range are found very
heavy grooih Of cedar which furnishes the
best fencing posts at $1,000 per hundred,
and at intervals through the state are found
the best building stone. Watsrl the count
~ is we'll watsred by rivers, creeks, and
springs. / have always supposed Texas
to be very dry, hot country, but i find il
better watered than Illinois, and think as
we'll watered as Iowa. But as place Of
wealth Texas excels in its faculties for
stock raising. On the vast and fertile
prairies are swarming countless herds OF
cattle, sheep, and horses grazing the year
round requiring no feed but that provided
by the munifcent hand Of providence
Here they roam from year to year, multi
plying and yielding with no expense for
feed, and nothing but little care, not even
salt.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH.
There 10 no mistake about the climate
although under . semi-tropical sun, the
range Of temprstuss 10 not near so great a,
in the latitude Of Ohio. The mercury sell
dom rising above 30 in summer and seldom
below 20 in winter, true il sometimes fall
lower and sometimes rises higher but tbs
heat here al 100 IL not near so oppressive
as in Ohio at 80, there is almost constantly
delightful gulf breeze, which makes il
measurably pleasant. In fall and winter
there are occasional northers which sprint
up and blow fierce gale for a few days
but even these 10 northern man are no
only endurable but rather pleasant than
otherwise. There is no mistake abou
health, you can taste IL in the air, one love
TO fill his lungs with the pure gulf breeze
Consumption does not originate here, ant
thoes prsdisposed to the terrible disease ar
Renerly greatly benefited, and IL not too ia
gone are cured by a sojourn in this delight
ful climate, which rivals and is some wha
similar to the far famed italy.
Iwould not have my friends believe
however, that Texas is q paradise wher
lazy and thriftless persons can bask in th
genial sun shine and bathe in the limpi
waters and idle away a life which was Civ
en- by q generous providence for q nobl
and glorious purpose and grow rich an
happy off the bounties bestowed 80 lavishl
on the Lone Star State. But what desir
TO say Ia this, that to the industrious an
enterprising citizen who can get here wit
little capital and good deal of energ
and endurance who is willing to undere
the hardships Of pioneer life, that in IL
not for distant future rich reward for ii
hardships and investment is certain.
In Texas as in all other new countris
there are drawbacks. You will not fn
here your elegant residence, either
country or city, although in some cities ar
occasionally in the country are to be four
good buildings and many Of the comfor
and conveinces found in the older states.
Neither will you find Schools and Churo
es so plenty or so we'll supported and atte
ded as in the older s'ates, here society
not to be compared with that Of Ohio
any Of the northern states.
The citizens of Texas have however, Il
genuine southern hospitality and as a ge
eral rule will bid you welcome and lot
upon you as public benefactor, for brin
ing your Yankey ideas and energies to d
vslop the wealth of their native state. Sin
/ am here have received many letters
inquiry and will say TO all that / wou
H. ,,4 ns.ll
With . family TO come here unless he cou
bring money enough to live upon one ye,
although lands is very cheap, good vii
unimproved lands from 40cts to $1,000 p
acre. 1t will require one year to get q sta
so that a living for a family can be pro,
ded, neither would advise any person
come here to rent or work for wages, the
is such . large emigration, and so mar
men come who wish TO rent or work {
first year, that rents are high and wap
low. But to those who have money to
vest and improve with, there 10 certainly
opportunity OF vastly bettering their cond
tion. II appears like fiction to speak
good lands at 40 cents per acre, but il
true that Just as fine lands as / ever 81
are 10 be had at that price. True they q
not in the old setteled portions Of the stt
but have known lands which sold in Is
for seventy Eve cents per acre to sell vii
in the last week for FIVE dollars per &C
and lands which sold one year ago for t
to three dollars per acre are now selling
six dollars per acre. honestly belle
that Investments In lands In this state "
pay one hundred per cent and often m,
within one year.
Another thing, transactions in real est
are as common here "a in stock and gri
In Ohio, ! have kno En lands to char
hands several times since ! have been
this state. viii mention one instan
Duncan g. Smith bought lands in VILLA
County In July 1877 at $3.50 per az
placed il in the hands of Lone Star Con
any who sold q portion TO w. NJ. Baker
Zanssville, Ohio, in September at five d
lars per acre. Baker went TO picking {
ton and authorized the com pany to sell
land at six dollars per acre, before the m
10 Of october the land was sold to Mrs
sey Of Cleveland, Ohio, at the stipula
price. Yielding Mr.. Baker 20 per c
profit in one month. This transaction