The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-04
From Texas.


.Nessrs. Edtt0rS-When | was in your city
last winter promised to write you an occa-
sional letter, but have hitherto neglected IT..
A description Of this portion Of Texas may be
of interest to your readers. Kaufman county,
of which Kaufman is the county seat, is situat
ed about one hundred miles south Of the north
line of the state, and about the same distance
west of the east line of the state, 1t contains
Ia population Of about $4,000; is about one.
third timber, balance prairie; has nearly cv.
cry variety Of soil, though the black land pre-
dominates. Most of the land is very produc-
tive, wheat winter, from 10 to 30 bushels per
acre; oats and barley, 90 to GO; corn, - to 80;
cotton, half a bale to a bale per acre. Consid-
cradle attention is paid to stock raising, and
horses and cattle get good living all the year
round on the range Farmers put up hay
(Which they get for the cutting for their work
stock and mich cows only. The profits OF
stock raising are immense. Let me make
statement; man for $4,000 can buy 1000
mother cows and calves; in four yn ssss
a --.-----,y, pvuI.y c.Ir-ou steers at $50 apiece
-$12,500 First investment, 100000 inter
est on same 4 years at 10 per cent, $500; prin-
cipal and interest $4,000 sale of 4-yearold
steers, $l2,5O0, which, taken from the first
cost and interest, leaves $500, and the stock
of cattle nearly doubled, and the sales each
year constantly increasing ] have placed no
fancy figures, but actual prices. Stocks of cat
tie, including old and young, may be bought
for SO or 81 head OF course smaller pur-
chasers could count on rs great an increase,
but the first cost would be greater \ single
COW is worth from $40 tos2O; an extra milch
COW is worth still more
Fruit does well here. Peaches, pears, plums,
apricots, figs, etc, do remarkably well. Early
apples are the finest ever saw; late apples are
not SO good. ] have had early apples and
peaches il my garden for at least six weeks,
and peaches and apples are ripcning all the
time. The peaches will last until October.
| 4 word in regard To- the climate. | think
Texas climate is the most delightful | ever
WIS in. Although so far south, the heat in the
summer is not so intense. We have good
gulf breeze all the time, and the night, are
cool and pleasant have been in Texas five
years, and ! state a fact when | say that | sui.
fcred more with the heat in the city of Ottawa
in the summer of 1872 when | was reading
law with Geo. w Stipp, than have during
my five years stay in Texas. have never
known u case of sun-stroke, except in the cities
where the breeze was INSTRUCTED, and honest
| " believe that for the farmer, stock-raiscr and
land speculator Texas offers greater induce.
ments than any other state, and Kaufman Co
is not behind any other We already have
one railroad through the county and another
in process OF construction, which affords a
home market for all kinds of produce. Good
land may be bought at from So To $40 pei
acre, and improved farms at from $40 10 So
per acre, and will say that if any of youl
lreadors wish To make further inquiries con
lccning Texas, her lands and her advantages
if they will address me- enclosing stamp fol
reply, will give them any information in my
power. do not think there is any paradis,
for poor man on earth, but do think tia
this portion Of Texas, taking into consideration
her climate, zone does not have Ia work 81
months To keep warm the rest of the year, he
soil and her markets, affords greater adyan
tagcs and better facilities than almost am
other portion of our country
Very respectfully yours,
I Il V,vo