Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-04-14
OUR TEXAS / ETTER.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, April 3rd, 1877.
Mr.. Edbor-Afier a long silence, | will
send you aud your reader. another hasty Ii le,
tha, you may know how we are dong in this
portion of the world. THE weather Las been
very foe, and Texas farmers have been very
busy finishing up their planting too busy,
indeed, TO write much. The press is now
abou, over, however and there will be bu,
little more TO do until harvest time, since the
corn crop will be small, a. there is litile sale
for corn where there are SO many other kinds
of gain. The fields are now "arrayed in
living green" and are heau'iful 10 behold
promising a Iich and abun liant harvest Ii
valleys and undulaling prs sr'es, all clothed in
their wavy green, and raises bis heart in
thank. 10 the Civer of all good for the glori-
Gus prospect and flatering promise Of the
things Necessary 20 supper, these frail bodies.
But, 10 my promise made TO YOU in my !a.i-
the Lumber trade and and Its indications Of
prosperity. II you were TO drive up TO the
.iepor of the r. & p r. r. you would d.
4stonished TO see lumber piled on both side
hundred yards, and perhaps from thirty TO
if,y ears vet unoaded This lumber is ali
fresh from the mills OF Eastern Texas, and
the many houses packed full of sashes, doors
blinds, &c, from Chicago and ST. Louis.
think there are some ten or twelve firms in
his trade, and have heard OF one of then
doing business of 100000 since the rail-
road reached this place; and the whole trade
xil reach millions every year and increase
,nnuaily as the county becomes filled more
and more with settlers from the older States.
Hundreds OF wagons are loaded every day al
two hundred miles, leaving the money for
the lrmber. You will remember that every
thing Is cash in Texas; and if her people
lave money TO invest in lumber TO such an
extent, 10 improve and build up their homes,
after psyiog cash for other things necessary for
living, farming, etc, it is evidence sufficien,
,ha, they are in far better condition than
any portion of the Cotton States with which
am acquainted.
A close observer need ask no question to
determine The prosperity Of country, as the
facts spch as have stated. stand out promi-
nenily and speak for themselves. l don,
mean 10 intimate, Mr.. Editor, that "money
grows on trees, or that man can amass a
fortune here in a few years farming; bot dc
mean that any man of ordinary industry and
economy can soon have him a good comfort
able home and make good living for bis
family in The meantime. 1t is no place for
lazy man nor one who j, not willing TO work,
and if he has spark Of industry he catches
the spirit of enterprise by inspiration and is
borne alon. in the onward march.
Immigrants with small means mus, 60 far
ther west. as land is too high for them in this
portion of the county. But for man with
capital here is as fine al opening and as good
a country a. the heart could wish. Wild
lands can be bought almost anywhere IN the
country, a few miles from iown, Tor five dol
lar. per acre; but this will not be the case
long. Improved lands are held At from fiji
teen to fo,ty dollars.
A large proportion Of the people are from
the older g lain ..owiag Sta'es farther north,
and this is the DOLLY place ! have seen where
the wsr>harche, is eo,i'ey buried. Federal
a I'D Confederate soldiers work together. sleep
together and each recocnts the deeds Of dar-
ing OF his respective acmy IN perfect harmony
and friendship. Very few become excited
over pol,tcs-,odeed, they are seldom men,
each seems to vie with his neigh
bor in good wiI-worting Together to make
Northern Texas the grandest country on the
continent, oi which it is easily susceptible.
What we mos, need now is the gap Of the
rsl oad from Shreveport 10 Monroe. Finish
that and the balance will as naturally come as
the stream flows down the mountain side
and we will furnish you and the Cotton States
in grain, stock, meat aod -four for one-.hird
less ihsn You are getting it now. The b0d-
10. of tha: LAX OF road is also importan, to
connec, the two great eastern snd western
systems oil railroad in the South.
Yours &c. J. W. HILL.
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