The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-03-17
Letter From Texas.
GAN MARCOS TExAa.

Editor PLAIN DEALER.--We left
New Orleans ut noon. by the "Sun-
J set Route" for Austin and San Mar
cos, took the ferry across the Miss
issippi to Algicrs the Brooklyn OF
N. o., thence we Travelled west
along the Gulf through numerous
Sugar Plantations. You see the
sugar house IN the distance, sur.
rounded by 90 10 30 small houses all
neatly whtcwashed. The large
| plantations are I'LL low iiat land.
drained by bitches from 4 to 6 feet
deep. Planting has just commenced
aud the seed cane which has been
covered oil winter Ii uncovered md
being planted lii drills four feet
apart. the drills being raised by
plowing each way to carry or the
water 70 the large bitches. On many
| plantations they arc introducing IL
system 81 small farming tho planter
furnishing land and seed and buying
the cane Nv the ton. One man and
team can tend ~ acres yielding IN
average of ~ tons pcr acre. worth
| -four dollars per ton lit the mill. $50
miles through the low lands Of Lou
isannn brought ~ to Houston, the
Il. II. centre 81 'rrxa4. Except the
sugar plantations there Is little good
farming land along this route. The
country II heavily timbcrcd with
Cypress. Live Oak, Pine. Hickory.
Magnolia, blackberry, Gum and
many varieties of ercfgrceGs all
drapcd in Il thick shroud like cover
ing Of hanging moss.
Houston il In the Pine woods, has
population Of about 10000. Many
fine buildings, and IN fiourishing
condition. Beyond this We cross
the Brazos, and q better country.
more rolling. better soil. better SET
tied. Chapel Hill and Brennan
both large towns in Washington Co.
Lands we'll cultivated mostly in cot
ton, which Is in perfection here.
Peach trees on most farms now In
full bloom. Fruit, milk, butter and
cheese receive little attention In
Texas, yet it seems to me that entire
success would result from Il slight
effort. Late varieties would escape
the late frosts, and ice and brains
would make success Of dairying OF
the Texas prairics. Tee Is plentyat
SO. per ton, and the state Is full OF
"oM heads. Met Doctors Nelson 4
Blackburn OF BRENNAN and Chapel
Hill, men OF extensive Information,
told residents) 10 whom am indebt-
ed for much useful knowledge. Both
speak highly Of the country, the eli
mate, fertility. general prosperity and
a general desire to have northern
farmers settle among them. They
would gladly exchange 40 lawyers
for one northern farmer and make
big money by the trade. They offer
you both hands to shake, aud 70
farther to accommodate mn enquirer
than any men I ever met. They
spoke very highly Of Col. r. J. Sledge,
whom l started to visit. 15O miles
from Houston we came to Austin, the
capitol city. OF 1000 people. Two
cOlOrs predominant, white and black,
with descending grades. Visited the
Capital building u stately building
on capitol hill. at the foot Of which
sweeps the far famed Colorado. The
city Is widely scattered among the
hills. A great variety OF excellent
building stone and marble abound
here. The new capitol building to
cost millions is soon to be COM
menccd. Here we crossed the Col
orado, started south for our des.ina-
| ton. Passed the best farming land
we have seen since leaving home,
black soil 4 to feet Deep rolling
l N ri L. ~ al ~..st1,
meandcrcd with swift running brooks
OF purest water. We stopped at
Kyle, - miles from our destination,
an entirely new town three months
old, sporting the best hotel we have
found SO far, and the usual stores,
shops and post office. Took our way
across II beautiful prairie to the
Coloncrs. He was ut home with the
latch string out side the door. The
house is on All elevation command.
ing a view OF most OF his mngniil-
cent plantation Of 10000 acres. 4
large spring OF good water rise.
near tho door, surrounded by lis,
oaks, festooncd with the ever present
moss. After a nights rest the Col
saddlcd his horses and we fthe Col.
John Swanzey ESQ. Of FrecporsIll
and self started on Il tour Il ohser,
walton. We first visited 1000 acre!
under cultivation in one body lyin:
! between two brooks Of water. Her,
the Col, Is planting corn, has SOM
50 acres already in. All this ha
been cross plowcd This spring. bein:
mostly new breaking. Then wo yiai
ted Goo acres just being broken Il
three dollars per acre, with 4 yoke .
oxen.
S. l.. CARY.