The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-10-06
From Texas.


o Utt fSUttOf SOihS W. 'N''"S
lime tried new route, viz: from Joiiei
10 ST. Louis via the G. e. A., thence to Tex
arkana via the |. NJ. & s., thence south
westerly through Marshall, Dallas, IT.
Worth, etc, via the I. u +.
On all of these railroads every eilor'
WAS made to secure the comfort, convent
ence and safety OF the passengers, and
their efforts were as successful as any rGa-
sonable man could expect,
Our excursion party included ladies and
gentlemen from Ottawa, Chicago Snring-
field, Gacsburg, with others from ono,
Iowa, kentucky and Tennessee conccntra-
ling at ST. Louis, where DR.. j. f. Ennis,
the N. r. agent, took charge of the party,
and conducted the excursion in manner
eminentlv satisfactory to all. Other oiii-
greater part of the way and at Marshall
Col. Abrams, the land commissioner,
showed US every attention at his office and
detailed Mr.. Roessler, from his office, to
make the western trip with Us, and he
proved TO be not only "a gentleman but a
perfect cyclopedia If information rs to
Texas
| should have mentioned that AT St.
Louis two new emigrant slcepers were at
,sched to the train, which cars were entire.
~ at our disposal, and were switched of
wherever we chose to stop.
Our party was not well pleased with Ar
kansas as seen from the car window, As
che road for the most part runs through an
almost unbrokGn fJrest, and 1t Is said
through the poorest part of the state
Residents and others insisted that by going
few miles to either side of the road a
rich and fertile country would surely be
found, and stated that improved farms
we're worth from $25 to S15 per acre. The
state certainly is rich in hard and soft
5000, and money can surely be made in
manufacturing lumber wagons, furniture,
&c, and these facts are beginning 10 bel
recognized to some cxtent Us witnessed byI
saw mills, which are seen at intervals, and
by wood working manufactures at various
POINTS.
Il is claimed that good crops Of corn,
cotton and wheat can be grown there, and
that rapid fortunes await fruit growers.
AT all events it would seem wise for PEG
pie who are seeking new homes and
especially for manufacturers to make a.
PERSONAL Inspection OF these vast forests,
yhich can be bought tor from 81 30 10 sol
per acre.
The people welcome all good men, and
Bill aid them IN every possible manner
They recognize the fact that the state needs
good men and capital and will do all they
raR to secure both
The eastern part on TcXa2 Is heavily TIM
Sercd, and along the +, d T., at least, saw
mills are frequently seen, while lumber
forms II leading item of freight This tim.
DIR belt Is about 100 miles in width ia the
SOrthcra part of the state, alIcr passing
bhltIl VIC 'blIN ~ u ttdt|lINl UIu ttIlIiti
grGirle quite similar 10 that seen IN La
Sale county, on which are seen farms with
good dwellings aud orchards, perfect pic
cures of rural beauty with every evidence
ii thrift and prosperity.
Our party gazed delighted and with al
most covetous eyes upon these excellent
farms, but on learning that they could not
Se bought for less than from $50 to $7j
pr acre concluded not to stop, but 10 90,
on further west where equally good lands
-unImproved -Duld be had al from SO
10 s.. So we ran on to Wcathcrlorl (our!
first stopping point after leaving MarshalDI
where our cars were side tracked, and we
we're cOurieously told we could stay rs
long rs We pleased and 20 on when We got
ready,
This letter, rs you Will observe, is large
ly Introductory and not precisely what | |,
intended to say in the outset, but if any OF
Jour readers do me the honor to follow me
through Texas they will read more under
slandingly after running through this let
Ter. H.