The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-20
From Texas.
BEECELNRlDGE, Stevens Co., Texas, !
April Slh, 1878. |

BRECKLNRDGE, Stevens Co, Texas,
April Sth, 1873.
EGtt2,w Fire Yruder:-Atter an absence of
TWO months find am no nearer filling my
engagements with my friends of writing them
my experience in The land Of perpetual spring
than when | first arrived, so have concluded
10 inilict the task upon you. TO commence,
lbcn ! will state that after being burned out
three times IN the same number Of years in
Ottawa, came to the conclusion that the place
was getting too hot for me, and realizing that
! was on the wrong side of fifty, and that
could not expect to make but one more move.
/ concluded 10 go straight through to Texas
and be done with it, as that is considered The
last place this side of the river The next
thing TO know was to find the cheapest and
best route, and after considering and engineer
ing, concluded To 80 with Mr. James Cunning.
ham, and, in company with quite II number of
others we started on the first Of February from
the C., Il. y Q. depot at o'clock in the even.
ing and arrived in Strcator on time, and took
ears for Dwight, and then the train on the
Chicago, Alton and St. Louis road for ST. Louis,
having urchascd an cmigrant ticket at Strcator
Tor S2OGj to jefferson, Texas. And here | will
"y that VIC rode all the way, with the cxccp.
lion Of "a short distance, in first class cars, and
'hc ladies oil the way; then there was Il lady
tAa. was going TO join her husband, with n
little glrl thaJwas sick on the road and through
Hr. Cunningham She was allowed a berth in a
sleeping car, notwithstanding she was travel
ing on a cheap ticket.
twas showing when we left Ottawa, and
continued until we reached Poplar Bluffs Some
"i the way the snow was six inches deep Then
we leit II and have not seen IL flake since. We
arrived at Jefferson on Sunday at . o'clock,
went To- hotel, and after dinner took a stroll
through the town, which is very pleasantly
situated on bayou that forms water communi
cation with Red river, and so to the Mississippi
uYcr and the rest of the world II was once
me livcllcSt place on the continent, but the
railroads have killed it, and where once stood
block after block Of fine brick buildings moth
lHg remains but what could not be DESTROYED
by fire, and it is said the owners took that plan
70 get the money from the insurance companies
10 go west Fine residences can bc rented for
rom five 10 ten dollars per month, and there
is good settled country around it, and saw
more cotton IN ils streets than | have seen any
where else in Texas. We then looked up Capt
Glen Marshall, and he welcomed us to hi.
house, where We remained until Friday even
ilg and ! canyasscd the town and bccam,
acquainted with a number of its business men
who were very friendly and anxious for me {,
settle with them, but were not III situation t,
render me the assistance | required, but prom
iscd 10 do something and write Inc TO For
Worth. Capt Marshall is the owner of SOM
$1,000 acres and has number of plantation
where Cunningham has located number o
La Sale county men, and if | am not greatly
mistaken they will find in him q good land
lofd and a gentleman TO deal with. fl coult
have got power ! think | might have stat,
there or come back after looking through TN
state.
We neIl visited MARSHALL, which Is locate,
a 1poini where the Iron Mountain and TcXa
ard Pacific meet. It is very lively place. a
the machine shops Of the T. d u. road are her
and the offices of the land department Capt
Marshall accompanied Us here. Cunningham
introduced u TO II. II. Abrams, land commi,
sioner, whom we lonnd a gentleman, and VIII
gave Us a great deal Of information regardin
Texas. lie also contsayto usual custom, CAV
VI reduced fare TO FOn Wont, and stop-ovc