The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-07-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM TEXAS.

| PLANO COLLIN COUNTY, Texas, June IS, 1880
EDITOR Consolidating taken trip into this por-
! ton of Texas have concluded to dot down n few
| dry items In my rough style, for the Old Chief
grown gray il has, in the interests Of the people
of Donphan County. The writer is one, and he is
free to confess il who has always had high regard
for the manly and independent positions taken by its
timeshonored editor, upon all questions-moral or
! profane-that have, from time to time, presented
themselves to the people of Northern Kansas.
Iproposc to simply write facts about this section
and make known my views about the real character
Of this country and to give such other information
| as think some of your readers may care to know.
This is n beautiful country to look upon. Tho
fora is unsurpassed; the prairie portion, and even
that which has been in cultivation, being covered
with the most beautiful flowers, Of yaregated eolors
The land here il termed the black waxy, rich and
fertile; the black SOIL the farmers tell me- extend
ing to a depth Of five or six feet and resting on a
strata of rock. At times, when plowed-say after
dry weather-it turns up in big Jumps that dissolve
when rain falls, like sugar. The creek bottoms,
possibly should say the bottoms of the streams arc
of soay,stone; the water, even of the springs, is
warm and has soft taste-being not at all palata-
BILE TO who, for many years, sometimes
against his willl has been accustomed to the pure,
cool, and health giving water of Doniphan County.
ing elm, blackberry ash, peppor-wOod. cottonwood,
pecan, and red oak.
There are some good peach orchards, but so far. |
have not seen nor can learn of apple orchard in
this County noticed some diniinutive specimens
Of the fruit that Is said to have played h- with old
Mother Eve and Father Adam, selling out Of wagon
on the street, at s2-25 per blshel have noticed
fine vegetable gardens, but know that the ay-
erage Texan isn't very heavy garden sass; nor
does he possess the thrift of the major portion of our
people.
The meanest town that I have met with, so far,
taking first heat and stink into consideration is Dali
las, and for mosquitoes, in that place there are
of them to the square nch than the entire pop
ulation of China. The people here, lind, n ger
eral thing are a kind of free and goeasy hailfelo,,
well met, sort of a community; plain in their man
ners, plain in dress-nany of them, of course, wear
ing the broad brimmed hat sombrerO-and plain
in their way o: Enthusiastically.
That much has been oyerstated in the papers about
Texas every fairminded man must admit. 1t is al
together the best advertised region of the United
States and lies have been written about it, than
were told on Andrew jackson or James Buchan-
an.
In my former trip, some years ago. I pail my CON.
pliments TO Southern Texas, and shall say what I
believe be true about this portion of the Lone Star
State. Taking everything into consideration, so far
As my own observation goes-and always Look with
both eyes wide open. when awake, AMI one when
from what can CLEAN from settlers,
believe that Northern Kansas in many respects, Is
superior. You can't walk about in the grass here,
without your boots shoes being all covered and
made red with chggcrs-little infinitessemal mites
1r, q former prominent Kansas politician would
nave said, insignificant sons ofb-h-es"-that soon
ind their way your skin, burrow in il, irrtate it,
md make you scratch like you had the itch, and
wear like the profane British army in Flanders that
We read Of. Fleas and flies and bed-bugs are indi-
;enous, and they bite, according to my best judg-
sufferer ought to be able to judge-like
he big horsefy of the Eastern States. MOsquitoes-
nut forbear for have disposition to harrow up
ny soul by mentioning them.
The soil here Is generous the crops of cotton and
orn look splendid-as fine rs have ever secn
3 now in this and Dallas County. Roasting ears in
ii the fields at this writing. Green beans peas
ettuee early potatoes, etc. in abundance. The yield
wheat, this year, the farmers tell me- will not av-
rage more than fifteen bushels per acre oats about
fly bushels, but the farmers here about threeto
our bushels to the acre.
The town Of Plano is a handsome little town Of
bout 600 inhabitants, and is situated ON the Houston
Texas Central Railroad, about eighteen miles north
Dallas, and about sixteen miles south Of McKin-
ey. 1t is surrounded by rich farming country,
nd appears to be prosperous little village, doing
God business. have been quite sick for some days,
nd am As industrious I ever was in my life
rying to get well. hear but little political talk
he people all appear to be deeently busy, minding
heir own business. There are large number Of
ientuekians Tennesseeans, and some Missourians
ere; hut the population of Texas, as we all know,
as, from the first, been gathered from the four
uarters of f-a.t;or fr,,,