The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-19
Texas.

The following letter we fad in the Nelson
Examiner, of the 30th, and from the initials,
we conclude it was written by our former
townsman, Y. Howe Peyton, Esq. AS many
of our people have their eyes turned toward
the Lone Star State, and many OF their
friends are already there, the letter will in
rercst them:
VICTORIA, TEXAS, March Is, 1877.
Mr.. Editor II have now been four
months in. this, the Empire State of the
South. and as the impressions have formed
are not altogether crude, it has occurred to
me that brief descriptive letter might not
be uninteresting to the readers Of your val
liable and widely circulated newspaper.
Texas is the largest State in the Union
and extends from twenty-five and one half
degrees to thlrty-six and one-half degrees
North, or through eleven degrees of lati-
tude; and from about ninety-three and one
half to one hundred and seven degrees Of
longitude West from Greenwich, or through
thirteen and one-half degrees of longitude.
1t is considerably larger than France, its
greatest extent from North to South being
one thousand miles, and nearly as much
from East to West. 1t embraces the South
ern portion Of the temperate zone within
which belt of the earth's surface is found
the mildest, the most genial and uniform
climate in the whole world. The surface of
the country is an inclined plane, with a
gradual descent from the Northern or West
ern boundary to the Gulf, San Antonio be-
ing seventeen hundred feet above the Cuffs
surface and the country farther North being
still more elevated. The coast counties for
distance of nearly hundred miles into
the interior are quite level, but beyond, the |
country becomes rolling, with alternate ele-
vations and depressions, which increase as |
we proceed towards the North West. But |
the highest mountains do not exceed two |
thousand feet above their base.
The climate is superb. During the sum-
mer months the whole sea coast is tanned |
by a delightful and health-giving breeze |
which sweeps over more than half the State;
and PAL taking as it does of the regularity of
the trade winds, prevents any feeling OF OPP
pressiveness from the heat during the high
est range of the thermometer. No one has
ever been known to fall from sun-stroke
here, as is sometimes the case in Richmond
and New York. 1t is truly a healthy coun-
try and is rapidly becoming favorite resort
for consumptives.
The streams are bordered on both sides
with growth Of timber usually extending
from few hundred yards to five or six
miles in width. There are also groves Of
post oak and otEer timber in the interior
prairies between the rivers of greater or less
extent, but this timber is not generally suit
able for building purposes. The channels
of the streams are deep and abundantly
stocked with fish. 1t is not an uncommon
thing to catch fish out Of the Guadalupe
river, which is not larger than the Eye.
Weighing one hundred pounds. The belt of
country extending twenty-five miles West
and twenty-five miles East of this point
and one hundred miles South to the Rio
Grande comprises the very best portion of
Texas. The people are mainly engaged in
fertility and will produce any and every
thing.
One of your sturdy Nelson farmers COM
ing here with capital of two thousand dol
lars has large fortune in the hollow Of his
hand and need feel no apprehension as to
leaving an Inheritance to his children. He
can buy land at from two to five dollars an
acre which will produce from fifty to hun
bred bushels of corn. have seen good hor-
ses sell at auction for from five to six dollars
a head, and cattle are so cheap that twelve
dollars is considered large price for fine
fat beef 1 state these facts especially for the
benefit of those farmers who are working
themselves to death on poor land, and who,
if they knew it, have only to move in this
direction to secure the horn of plenty for
their declining years. l will leave i'll a few
days for Corpus Christi where expect to en-
gage in business.
Y. H. P.