Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-10

Monday morning, and in company with
a %half-dozen other saltwater enthusi-
asts, the audience being composed of a
number OF ladies, who came to worship
at Neptune's shrine, but at the last mo-
ment could not pluck up the requisite
determination to enter the water.
Gen. Shields, the Collector Of Gus
toms, having kindly placed the Revenue
Cutter, Louis McLain, her lying in
port, at the disposal of the editorial par
ty, they embarked at 10 o'clock a. NJ.
on that vessel, for a cruise around the
bay. After about two hours spent in
this manner, which was a novel and
most delightful experience for all the
party but one or two ladies', who were
affected with sea-sickness, the excur-
slonists returned to the city for dinner,
which they were prepared, from the in
cidents OF the morning, to enjoy with
keen relish. Among the attractions of
the stay in Galveston was a Sunday
evening concert, by the Hungarian pri-
ma donna, Mile lima de Murski, assist
ed by the famous tenor Brignoli, and
the basso Susini.
At the hour of 2 o'clock p. NJ. on
Monday, the party took the cars for the
homeward journey. About % miles out
from the city, our train was stopped to
enable the excursionists to participate
in a picnic in a grove near the track,
gotten up by a company from Calves
ton for the benefit of a church. 1t af-
forded a good opportunity to witness
the style of our Southern cousins in
such matters. There was a platform for
dancing, well patronized, various booths
for the sale of refreshments, the list
embracing most of the drinks between
the extremes of buttermilk and strong
beer, with a forty rod whiskey as a re-
serve, and an air gun shooting gallery,
all in full blast. After spending half
an hour at this place,our party'.returned
to the cars laden with trophies of Span
ish moss, which hung in graceful fes-
toons from every tree in the grove, and
the train sped on through Houston to
Palestine, where we were to take a new
departure for Austin, the capital of the
State. The route from Palestine to
Austin passes through a we'll settled
and exceedingly rich portion of the
State. 1t is the great cotton growing
region. The cane also fourishes in the
bottom lands of the Trinity and Brazos
rivers and their tributaries. Corn,
wheat, oats, rye, barley and tobacco are
grown to advantage on the uplands.
while fruits of all kinds yield abundant
ly. 1t is a land flowing with milk and
honey, and was deemed by many of the
party, the finest region yet seen in Tex
as. Unimproved lands along this route,
can be bought for from 50 to So per
acre. The towns along the line have an
air of thrift and substance,
Austin was reached at 1:3O p. VI.
Tuesday. 1t is a beautiful city, and
has a population of about $4,000. 1t
is situated on the Colorado river, that
majestic stream flowing past the foot of
the main avenue, while the heights at
the other end are crowned by the Capt.
tol building. A splendid Court House
TANKS the State House on the main
street, and other elegant and costly
buildings. public and private, are scat
tered over the city. The Capitol was
visited by the cxcursionists. who re-
ceived courteous and obliging treatment
from the various officials. Gov. Hub
bard was detained at his residence, and
sent a courteous note OF excuse. \ few
hours were very pleasantly spent by the
party in viewing the various objects of
interest about the city, and taking note
of it's growth and civilization. The city
is plentifullv supplied with churches
and institutions of learning, and is one
of the most desirable places for a resi-
dence in Texas. An institution that
attracted much attention, was the ice
manufacturing establishment. 1t sup
plies all the ice used in the city, and
the product appears to be as solid as the
naturally formed article. 1t is sold for
l! cents per pound, and Is tons a day
are manufactured.
Leaving Austin Tuesday evening, the
excursion party returned yer the same
route, arriving at Palestine Wednesday
morning at s o'clock. This was our
first sight of the place by daylight. 1t
is well situated, and has a population of
5000. The general Offices and repair
shops of the International and Great
Northern II. Ii. are located here. and it
is the junction of the northern, south
ern and western divisions of that road.
The soil upon which the town is built
is a bright red clay, and it was curious
to see a crimson cloud rise in the rear
of vehicles passing in the street. This
sort of land, of which there is very
much-with gradatiOns down to the
black waxy soil-in Texas, is said to be
very rich and enduring This county,
Anderson, is in the edge of the timber
ed region, and large quantities of lumber
are manufactured. There is considera-
BILE northern immigration to this part of
the State. We were shown here, a
Duchess pear, weighing 3 ounces.
This, we judge, was a little more than
an average specimen of Texas fruits,
but it demonstrated the possibilities.
At 10 A. NJ. the excursion train was
off for Texarcana, where it arrived at
8 p. NJ. Here the party separated, one
wing taking in Hot Springs and St. Louis,
via the Iron Mountain route, and the
balance returning ria Denison, the In
dian Territory and Hannibal, to Burl-
ington. Previous to separating, howev-
er, Messers. Il. II. Smith, of the NJ, X.
& 7. Road, who accompanied the party
all the way round, and was unwearied