The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-14
FROM TEXAS.
uorsrnN. Texas, March Is, 1911.

HOUSTON, Texas, March =, 1914.
MEssRs. EplToRs I have been st:oling
through the markell southern Institution
and noting the abundance of excellent garden
vegetables; then around portion OF this beau
tiful city enjoying the sights and nhaiinS the
fragrance OF the flowers, roses, vcrbcnas, orange
blossoms and many others; have felt the cool
gulf breeze from The south, te,npcring the sam-
ner heat Of s05; marked the foliage on the
trees and shrubs and natures green carpet, and
have unanimously cs,ne to the conclusion mat
this is indeed THE sunny south and ncs' de-
Ight.ul spot on which to lingcr.
Ihave so much that would li"c to say about
Houston That scarcely know where to begin or
where 10 end, and furthermore hate to write
il ap" at all in such hasty manner as neccS-
sarily must, being SO continually ION ire wing
Houston the county seat Of Harris county, is
situated at the head OF navigation on buNaio
Bayou, 80 miles north OF Galveston. The popu-
laton is estimated at 2G,000-that OF the county
$4,000 The business houses manly OF
brick, well and substantially built and very many
of tac dwellings arc large, commodlous and
tasteful indicating wealth and refinement, there
being of course many smaller dwellings, some
neat and cosy, and others mere boxes, where
people stay, not live. The general appearance
Of the city is pleasing and the people lmet were
as rule, aiable, courteous, gentlemarly, and
ready and willing to give me any information or
assistance asked for or needed.
Like most Of the Texas cities visited it is fair
ly provided with schools, while all the leading
religious denominations have churches, some OF
which are very fine IN fact the tendency
throughout the state seems 10 be to unncccssa-
rly multiply churches, each particular shade Of
religious belief feeling unhappy unless il has a
church building more or less prctcntious, even
though obtained 10y persistent begging, or
though burdened with debt
Manufacturing has not received the attention
from capitalists it deserves or will ultimately
receive, as a magnificent water power with
10 feet fall can readily be had. This, with unus-
ually good railroad communication to all pats
Of the state, will sooner or later attract capital,
and Houston will become manufacturing as
wei as commercial city. There are some twenty
~ manufactures of various kinds, some large and
some small, the railroad car shops being the
most extensive.
This is the railroad center or city Of the state,
there being nine railroads centering here and
Others in contemplation placing Houston far
ahead Of any other city in the state in this re-
spect. As before stated, BulIalo Bayou is naviSa-
Die for smaller craft 1utc 10 the city, and steam
srs ply regularly to and from Galveston, while
the larger ocean steamships come within six
miles Of Houston.
! did not obtain full details OF the shipments,
but was informed that the cotton handled would
amount to 100000 bllcs per aRnum One 81 the
railroads. the youngest, shipped during the last
} months 229lS sacks OF grain, zoos sacks
bones, 81 AZ sacks cotton seed, about 700 becves
$50 calves, &c. IIcsc figures will give you some
imperfect idea OF the shipments from here.
The editor of The .ige has been keeping re.
cord OF the weather for some time past but his
observations were not tabulatcd ana will sim
ply cay that the naxum thermometer last year
was $50, minlmsm 205, mean 73S am in
clned to think this figure too high for the annual
mean temperature, Judging from results at other
places, and possibly may have misunderstood
Mr.. Stevenson.
The annexed mortuary report obtained from
the records Of the health officer and know 1t to
be correct Consumption figures largely in the
list, but physicians, as in other cities assure Inc
that in most instances these cases were import
cd-strangcrS who came here too late to be bcnc.
fitted by the climate.
The diseases are or should not be Of trouble
come character to treat, but do require what is
called supporting tonic treatment as rule.