The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-07-18
Tllr LONE srAn i. srATn.
letter fronl an Oregoninn new Living In
Texas Description Of she Country.


Tho following letter was written BY an Or
egonian who has been residing in Texas foi
three years, to LOWS. s.stimson, at sodaville,
aud can be relied upon as a correct doscrip-
tion Of that country,
BRowSwoon, Tex, April 5th, 1870.
M, Sti#soa
DgAn Sm:-Your valued favor Of the 30th
ult came TO my address a short time since,
and now, after having found leisure hour,
with pleasure begin note in answer to your
very welcome letter.
You desired some information regarding
this country. which viii proceed TO give
you briefly. do not know that | can an.
awer all Of your inquiries without becoming
more tedious than you would care TO read,
but viii giyo you a few items relative to mat
tera with which am moro familiar.
The general aurfacC Of the country 10 this
section ia for the most part level, with here
and there few low, rocky hills, which arc
unfit for cultivation, though they generally
afford good stock range, especially during
the summer season. Tho level portion Is
mostly good. tillablo land, though not one.
tenth of it is in cultivation. Ioraes, cattle
and sheep all do well here; but in my opinion
sheep are much more subject 10 disease here
than in either Oregon or California. still
many are engaged in that business here aud
make it profitable. while others break up at
it in very short time. To be successful
with sheep in Texas man must have sheep.
sense, and also experience with it. We have
not great many sheep in our part Of tho
country, in fact the winter months arc too
severe for them unless they can have winter
range behind a range Of hills or low noun
taina to protect them from the storrns' when
they can have protection Of that kind they
do very well here ia Brown county.
The iurgest stocks Of sheep are in tho low.
or part of the State. in the Nuccsa river
country aud about san Antonia, where tho
climate Is much warmer during tho winter
lthat Is about 200 miles south Of herel and
sheep have usually done quite well there
whom properly cared for but have just re.
eeived letter from a sheep.man down there
with whom was acquainted in California;
stating that they have disease among sheep
which Is killing them at icarul rate, aud
that he himself had lost 900 head since May
last.
Cattle do well on the range here. arc rare.
ly fed during the winter. and. in my jadg.
ment, pas better than sheep Beef cattle.
Four-year-old steers. are worth about SIS /;
threea. slei tgoa, from $50 to IS; year.
lings. this spring. 3; cows with young calves.
from SO 70 SIS. While speaking Of sheep
should have stated that they were worth
from 81. 50 TO 81 per head. norsea do well
on the range from one year 70 the other.
With regard to the productions OF the soil
VII state that we raise almost everything
here that VIC have ever tried, but We have
not ye; been able 70 realize much Tor our sir.
I.ias products, for the reason that We are too
lar from market. SO yon can easily see when
,Fe haul cur wheat and cotton 10 the railroad
aud ship them to the st. Louis and New Or.
lcans uaarlsesa. have Il sold. then let the rail.
road company aud the commission men take
their Share (which Is usually about ALI. that
there Is nothing left Tor the produce.
Yours very truly.
G.. J.. EiLlofr