The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-03-01
a MANITOWOCIAN IN r6XAs.
What he Thinks of the Country. the
People, Climate, etc.
Dallas. Texas. Feb % 1szz


with DR.. Simon and Nick Ley-to Texas,
| allow me to make use Of your valuable
columns, and thereby try and satisfy
them all. Leaving Manitowoc midst
snow and ice, the iron horse took us
through Wisconsin. On entering Till
nois the snow had disappeared ana pools
of water greeted our eyes instead. Ar
irving in Chicago during the afternoon,
after q stay OF a few hours we started
across the prairies of Illinois, passing
through numerous places of note, prin-
cipally among them Springfield, where
lies the dust Of the martyr Pre- ident
Lincoln. Early next morning We came
to the banks of the ''father of waters"
the Mississippi, at Alton, H., and
short ride brought US to St.Louis, cross
ing over the great bridge, which is a
grand structure. Here we STOPPED to
visit friends, then visited all the places
Of note AMI had the pleasure of seeing
the annual ice break Or jam of the Mis-
sissippi. Thousand of people crowded the
levee to witness the sights. After two
days sojourn we Left for Texas on the
III. X. ct. Road, passing through the
finest aud most picturesque portion Of
Missouri, through tunnels and along the
banks of the ''Big Muddy" or Missouri
River. through Herman, the famed wine
growing district, Jefferson City, with the
capitol, penitentiary, &c, reaching Sedalia
at O'Clock in the evening. Here We
changed cars, and company of Z. s.
Soldiers, who came on board at st.
Lonis, left Us as they were bound for
tie Black Hills. Thence we entered
Kansas, the principal cities are Fl. Scott
and Parsons, up the valley of Neosho
and Usage Mission and going South
from here we enter the Indian Territory,
rolling over its beautiful praries, here
and there intermixed with small forests
Of gnarly looking trees, then mountains,
rivers, valleys, Indian villages consist
ing of different tribes as we advanced,
such as tbs Choctaw. Creeks, Cherokee
eiiltt O1hNA ASttAoiJc, Win
of game, such as antelope, prairie wolves,
quail, prairie chickens, etc. The scenery
is grand and beautiful as far as the eve
can reach. The red men own all the
valuable land, and let US hope that some
day not far distant the white man shall
be admitted and improve its soil we
lt,ap i'ayaG ut tho cn-oaiiGl &c
Texas, the city of Dennison 1t ia
lively frontier town of s, 1000 inhabitants,
parks, churches, cotton press, etc. But
enough Of the trip. In answer to other
enquiries [ would say /: Business is
well represented here in ali departments,
but northern man with energy ard
pluck aud ample means to carry on Il
strictly cash business, can do well. The
best towns in northern Texas are Den
nisop, Dallas, Fort Worth, Weatherforl
ana Austin.
The climate they claim is healthy, al
though look at the cemeteries bellies
the assertion. The water here is pGcr,
and rain water a luxury. the manners
and customs of the people are so differ
ent from ours that it makes one feel IN
comfortable. It strikes a new conner
that the police and militia company all
There is a great current Of immigration
at present into Texas. Lands are cheap,
no winter to contend with, and other
advantages. In the western part of the
State lands run from so cents to s. per
acre but for a poor man it is best to
take homestead according to the laws
TO every head of a family there shall he
donated 100 acres OF public lands, on the
conditions that he will select, locate said
lands, and occupy the same for three
years and pay Office fees due thereon /
and to single men Is years and upwards,
so acres on the same terms. Farmers
coming here can get farms to work on
shares the land owner furnishes house,
team, and the implements, wood, etc,
the renter to make crop, which consists
Of cotton, corn, etc, and divide equally
with the owner after it is made Money
can also be made in stock raising
Some men here have herds of 10, 900 to
30, 900 head of cattle. These are the
so-calied cattle kings.
The immigration TO this state has been, |
for the year 1876, about 400, 0A0, OF al |
classes, many looking for employment !;
but the country is overstocked, and my |
advise to doctors, lawyers, clerks, etc, |
IS to stop whore they are Tor here in |
Dallas, place of IS, 900, I counted mp
ward; of As doctors, ready and willing
to heal the afflicted. Negroes are as
thick as black berries, but to all appear |
ance no: as sweet. and a reader of Uncle |
Toms Cabin will soon lose lis interest /
aud sympathy with them when be sees
this ragged, dirty, thieving class of pee
ple-and the SO called "white thrash"
are not much better. For laziness they |!
are unexcelled. This may be called the t
lazy mans country, because of its mild /
climate, etc. A man can live comfort /
able in houses OF frail construction, and /
some of them are frail At the out I
skirts Of this city are numerous families /
living in canvass tents, and have been |
for year or two past. They seem to /
want no more. Snow and ice are very |
rare occurrence, and the Texan is not /
compelled, like northern farmers, to tell |
early and late that he may have food for /
~ Dha t,.s--o