The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-23
tFon Tue News AND HERALD. 7
4 LETTEIe FROM TEXAS.
"hat tho Lone Star State is Doinp.Crov-
ing Texarbana

/ - SSSA AAS4k rICOm IE4AS.
What tho Lone Star State Is Doing. .Grov-
! Ing TexarLana.
TEXARKANA, April 2.--When I left
south Carolina for Toxas fifteon
months ago, promised q good many
OF my friends to writo and lot them
hear something about this country, I
have put this Off from timo to time,
waiting until l could see more of the
piace and the people. l will now
write few lines for your valuable
paper, which comes like ray of sun
shine into our Office once a week.
l like Texas very much indeed. The
hospitality of the people is very COR
dial. In many places society is vet
doubtless very unsettled, and people
have not been settled long enough to
accumulate the comforts which time
alone can bring; but l find as fino
people in this place as hayo ever
seon anywhere. In nothing PERHAPS
arc people SO greatly misrcprescntcd
as III this. Tho impression prevails
that Texas has boon settled largely by
rcncgadcs from tho halter in older
States, but after years sojourn with
the good people here, l take pleasure
in correcting it. We have sin here as
everywhere else. Evidences of it are
to be seen everywhere; but the Chris
tians arc fighting it bravely. The
clarion sound Of the gospel can be
heard in the pulpit every Sunday. The
Sunday law is enforced, and the
friends of law and order approve it
heartily.
am in the mercantile business in
Iexarkana. So far we arc succeeding
finely.
TENARKANA CLAIMS FIVE THOUSAND
inhabitants. and is still growing. The
stumps arc hardly out or the principal
streets, and yet its fine brick buildiIirs
and snug dwellings show its substan
tlai growth. The limo between Texas
and Arkansas passes near the centre
OF the city. The people look very
much alike on both sides of the line.
we have two Baptist churches, one
Presbyterian, one Methodist and one
Roman Catholic, and these have flour
ishing Sunday schools. We have two
large, fourishing academies, and the |
Roman Catholics have large school |
here.
Tcxarkana, being The terminus of so
many railroads, is bound to be Il great
Place in the future. l sec no surcr
slg1 OF solid prosperity than the vast
amount Of railroad building going on
in Texas. The surveyors COMPASS is
III use in every part Of tho State. I'M
migrants have been pouring in since
carly in the fall 1t is claimed that
ten thousand new settlers have pitch
Ell their tents in the surrounding cout-
ties. Coming here, one hardly knows
where to locate. The salubrity Of the
climate, the variety of productions.
Inc vast extent Of territory, and the
spirit Of tho people are splendid At
fractions to new comers. Texas.
ind, is long way ahead Of the older
States in the use Of modern improyc-
ments. The old-fashioncd ways held
rs back over thcre-a good deal of the
'ld togyism that still carries stone
n one end of the mill-sack to balance
ne Dag, because our great grand
iNthore did 1t. 1 like INC new way, r
with the buggy-plows, cultivators,
,"'ti5n,Sair% ,S y%,. .Geopcrs and ..au. ssYch. j
,oommseratingly..... ..>..
hings. A few years Of my life spent
'etwcen the plow-handlcs, prepares
nc to appreciate the difference. Texas
'flers: superb opportunities to indus
rious. persevering toilers, and is the
asst place underline sun for loafers or
'agrant adventurcrs too proud to
york, and waiting for something to
urn up. All that an immigrant needs
: money enough to bring him to the
ountry. After that, if he will work,
le can take care of himself. l know
nen who came here soon after the
var, with earthly possessions that
could have been carried in a sachcl on
heir backs, now owning splendid
arms, free Of debt, and making
money. The most fertile land is said
O be IN the central portion Of the
State, but the land all over the State
will give large crops Of corn. cotton
md oats, when properly titled. There
ire great Inducements here for stock
'aisers. This, think, is as fine a
stock country as can be found any
where in the world.
IcXaS is not whit behind other
States in regard to talent, but here, as
else, we find grccnncss
Two boys stepped into Il
store one day, and looking around,
'picd pair Of "wafllc irons" One
said to the other, "I'll bet YOU don't
lnow what this ISL" His companion
'cplicd, very indignantly, "You must
AXE me to be fool. You reckon
IDoN'T KNOW BULLET MouLDs
when see 'cm?"
intended, when wrote, TO give
you history Of our travel from home,
but have already written more than
when began. l will only
say that the scenery along the whole |
line from Columbia to Texas was love-
ly, particularly through the mountain
Gus portion. The manner of crossing
the Mississippi River, although, sup |
pose, as safe as altuost any other style
Of railroad travel, is very trying to
nervous people. The ferry boat is
brought up to the track so skillfully
that the rails on the boat and shore
are connected, and tho engine backs