The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-13
From Texas.

COLEMAN CITY, Ten, April %, 1882.
Leaving Waco on the 21st inst. with all the
equipments and appendages of COW boys
life, we find ourselves in this broken, wild
western country.
The life of cow hunter IN the west is any
thing but pleasant, compared with that Of the
average tourist. But nevertheless, your cor
respondent enjoyed 1t hugely; for the ever
varied and thrilling scenes enacted upon our
western border begct within US desire to see
the West.
Coleman is thriving little town OF only a
few years growth, being supported entirely
from the stock trade; but since the passage OF
the Texas & Pacific westward the little towns
along that line have taken considerable
amount of her trade; but she still retains a
fair ratio, and with the prospect of the Santa
Fe II. r. she bids fair to make city of no
little importance at no greatly distant day
The surface of the country Is billy or undu-
lating, consisting of red sandy soil, which
is certainly adapted to small grain If there
was sufficient rainfall. But this, like the
staked plains, seems to be everlastingly sealed
against the sturdy hand of the agriculturist.
AS write it has been more than two months
since any rain, and everything is parched up.
A little longer and there will not be grass
enough to support the stock
The scenery throughout the country is love
ly, ever Astounding with relics and curiosities
~ ha az 10 N
of the last fire kindled by the red man as he
passed unwillingly from his native land Or
perchance, there stands some Handicapped
mountain, lifting its hoary head heavenward,
as If wont to tell of the heroic deeds enacted
around its base, which will ever render its
name illustrlous; one of which IN particular
we noticed, as it bore the name of Mount La.
Dor. And while we gazed passively upon its
rugged sides or dome-llke cap, could but as.
sociate it with the sacred mount of old from
whose summit the great law.giver of Israel
viewed the promised land.
There exist signs and traces of considerable
mineral wealth, which will doubtless be devel.
oped sooner or later. One place l visited
showed every evidence of mine of some de.
having been worked doubtless by
some race now extinct. AS to whether thesel
ancient people were mining for gold, copper
or silver remains unsolved, as the excavations
though deep and extensive, were too much|
iefaced by time to decide what they were
mining for. Only a few years since buffalo,
roamed in countless herds over the valleys,
but 1t is now fifty miles to the nearest herd
hey having rapidly receded before the ad. |
Vanclng hand of civilization.
Stock raising out here is conducted on al
different principle from other places During
he spring or gathering season a number oil
men surround large section of country, driv.
nS everything regardless of marks and hranda
o common centre, when each and every
nan cuts out his own cattle from the herd,
These are commonly known as "Roundups;"l
md think it is very appropriate name, for
thousands Of cattle are rounded up in these
nerds. 1t IS very difficult to keep stock to-
,ether during the WINTER consequently every
pring finds them scattered to the four winds
The prairie dog is a common little animal
o this section, burrowing IN countless mum.
,ers on every side. He Is an acute, impudent
title fellow, barking at you from every corner.
Whenever a snake enters their holes for lodg.
ng they soon scamper out and stop up the
lole securely, ever afterwards abandoning it.
LITTLE TEXAN.