The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-03-01
In form ation-MOre Particularly for
People not Living I'm Texas.
FRANKFORT, Franklin Co., Nv


February Is, 1877.
Editors Democratic Statesmdn-Will
you be so kind as to answer, through
Your noble paper, few questions rela-
tive to Texas and her resources, inhab-
itants, soil and products, etc? We
have read various articles from Texas,
by Dio Rivers, and are completely cap
tivated. Dio Rivers must he we'll
versed in Texas history and surely has
an eye to pry into her hidden secrets.
lie tells of an active volcano in Texas
Now, does such a thing exist2 We
wish (ten of us) to immigrate to Texas
and desire to settle near schools and
churches-where the citizens are tenn
perate and refined. With some CAPT.
tai, We expect to invest in lands and
stock. Is Austin an inviting situation,
or can we secure land in Travis county
at reasonable prices9 We take, too, q
healthy locality into consideration.
We fully expect to visit Texas early
in the spring, but wish to have an eye
to some special locality.
With good wishes for the prosperity
of the good DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN, 1
am yours, with good wishes.
]. P. STABLES. ~
Texas is filled with the finest of
farming and grazing lands. East of
the Brazos river, what are termed
public oranges" are becoming too
confined to admit of extensive stock
raising, according to Texas ideas. The
large herds have been moved west, or
driven to Northern markets. A great
deal of the country south of Dallas an t.
Fort Worth, as far west as the Colo
RADIO river, is as thickly settled with a
farming population as is North Texas.
Between the Brazos and the Colorado
rivers are to be found the rich farming
districts of Bell, Milan, Falls, Will
Hanson, Travis, Burleson, Bastrop,
Washington, Fayette, Colorado, Whar-
ton, Brszsria and Matsgorda counties,
and even west of the Colorado, farther
south than Austin, and as far south as
the Guadalupe river country, are many
we'll developed agricultural districts.
Beyond this the land is mainly used
for grazing large herds of cattle, horses
and sheep, though they are exceed
ingly rich. and will one day be brought
into cultivation. Though Texas
abo1nds in good land there is much
that is poor, but the poor lands are well
defined and lie in bodies, sometimes
large, sometimes small. Almost any
where in Texas good class of people
can be found. Northern, Middle and
Eastern Texas abound in all the fea-
lures of civilization and advancement,
and West Texas is rapidly approaching
the same condition. Far to good
schools can be found almost anywhere,
and churches and Christian influences
abound. A great deal Of whisky has
been destroyed in Texas, but its peo-
pie are waking up to its terrible in
fuenees, and under general law,
that went into effect only last fall,
about sfty counties have voted on local
option, and more than thirty OF
these have established prohibition.
This shows the growing public tenn
per. Travis county, in which the city
of Austin is located, will vote on this
question on the seventeenth of March,
and strong hopes arc entertained OF
its adoption. Austin is one of the
most delightfully."- located cities on the
American continent situated amid
romantic scenery, and surrounded by
wide expanses OF the richest farming
lands in Texas. The limpid waters Of
the Colorado river, fresh from the
mountains, wash the base oil
the hills upon which it is built,
and Barton's creek, 9 mile away,
gushes from the solid rocks. and al
once forms 8 stream powerful enough
to drive . dozen mills. Austin has,
variously estimated, from IS, 600 &c
IL. 900 inhabitants; is the terminsl
point Of both the international. ana
western branch Of the Texas Centrz
railway. The Texas Military Institute,
located here, Is fine Institution. Tn.
/ Austin Graded School. for COO pupils,
is the beginning of system, which
viii grow rapidly. Besides these Their,
are innumsrzble private colleges and
schools for both sexeA with man,