Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-31
Letter from Kansas.

TOPEKA, March % 1880.
Mr.. Editor: IL have found no spare time to
write until now, and have only a chance at this
time TO write hasty note. First, will say that
the iron horse took us from the lovely town of
Montpelier, in the northeastern corner OF the
Union, b Houston, Texas, almost in the south
west corner, in ninety-eight and one-half hours
running time, distance of more than two thou
sand miles, without accident or mshap of any
kind. We came by way OF Montreal, Chicago,
St Louis and the Twin Mountain route, through
Arkansas cornerwise, and the eastern side of
Texas. Upon arriving at Houston, found our
selves all right and not tired. The route from
thirty or forty miles below ST. Louis to within
about the same distance OF Houston is one con-
tnual wilderness, except here and there a little
clearing, and occasionally dilapidated town in
Arkansas, with clearing close upon either side
We passed Little Rock just before the break OF
day. When daylight appeared we were again in
the timber so the capital OF the state seemed to
be no exception The general appearance OF
what we saw of the state OF Arkansas indicated a
want OF enterprise and push At the stations we
see idle crowds Of negroes. After crossing the
line into Texas there was more thrift and pros
perity. Water and steam mills were running,
cutting out pine timber, much of which was going
into the interior of the state, where there is no
pine. We arrived in Houston ON Friday, the
18th OF this month, and found corn in gardens five
or six inches high, and potatoes the same height,
roses in bloom and leaves fallen to the ground in
front-yards shade acceptable, and people in shirt
sleeves and wearing white vests. They were
having warm thunder showers, such as we have
in June, only more abundant relates to claps OF
thunder and the size OF the ran-drops The storm
changed into what the Texans term norther,
and on Sunday fires were necessary and over
coats were put on. The cold wave killed vegeta-
ton down To within about one hundred miles OF
Houston and In northern Texas the ground was
frozen and much damage done to the crops 1t was
the coolest snap OF the winter, except Christmas
time Before We left the state the weather was
warm again. and farmers found their crops were
not so much injured as was at first feared We
found the inhabitants kind, polite and obliging,
and glad TO see northern people with them; In
fact some OF the Texas people begin TO believe
their northern brethren are their best friends and
one very intelligent gentleman was frank to say
that the Republican party Of the north were their
only true friends. We made a rule that we would
not allude to politics while In the south, and have
not departed from IL, but have been glad TO listen
to what others might say
We find Texas "a vast plain, more than five hun
bred miles in extent each way, generally good
land, and liberal supply OF timber for prairie
country. Its climate IL unsurpassed, perhaps, in
the world, the mercury never going much below
thirty degrees above zero, nor above one hundred
or one hundred and ten as the other extreme
They invariably have cool nights SO much so
that covering is acceptable, The heat OF mid
summer is aleviated by cool breezes from the
Gulf OF Mexico. II they had our pure, cool
springs OF water and clear running brooks, their
country would In very truth be paradise here
below but such is not the In any Hat country.
| la Texas there is, without doubt lack OF water;
in fact, one will fnd no running water In places
for hundreds of miles. Daring the time OF drouth
cattle In many localities have to 20 many miles
for water, and people have to draw il long dis
tances Tor family use, lacking the enterprise To
sink wells no very deep as they have to In many
places Ia reach il. They are now sinking arte-
sian wells In many places, Have gone down six
hundred feet In some localities and no; yet found
water; and in others, Ind II at about that depth
Land is very cheap; nice prairie lands, as fine M
any, can DO bought Tor from one TO four or five
| dollars per acre according to location @. @. n.