Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-08-04

fENCER, SAT
A VISIT TO TEXAS BY AN OLD RESI-
DENT OF THIS COUNTY.
MNNEAPoL1s, MIMI, July ~, 1883.
EDITOR INTELLIGENCER: Il loft homo
June 18th with a view Of visiting the south
In search of a milder climate; I reached st.
Louis the next day. After spending q few
DAYS with friends, I left for Denison. Texas.
I reached Sedalia on the morning of the 18th,
and then took the Missouri, Kansas and Tex
as Pacific, r. R; most of the country being
prairie the crops improved as I went south,
and I must say that Oswego county, Kansas
contains as rich q body Of land and good
crops as I ever saw any where in the west;
then comes the Indian territory, belonging to |
the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Sem
inoles, Shswnees, Delawares and Creeks; It
is estimated that the territory contains $1,000
acres Of land to each poor Indian, and Of the
richest quality of soil; stone coal is abundant
In the territory and costs the railroads about
two dollars per ton; the distance across the
territory is about three hundred miles, and
mostly of the richest prairie land, along the
line of the railroads; there are . number of
way-stations and some small towns, the
largest I think was Vinita, containing a pop
ulation Of about 500, who from their COM
plexion showed that they were making rapid
strides toward civilization, although the ap-
pearance Of the town did not indicate 1t as
the improvements were rather Of q low or
der. Their land Is mostly rented for grazing,
and but little is cultivated, only here and
there q small patch in corn which shows that
1t produces well in that latitude. After leav-
ing the Indian territory we crossed the Red
river Of the south, which from the color Of
Its water derives its name. On both sides of
the river there Is q wide strip Of heavy forest
Of black walnut, hickory, pecan, ash and
blackberry; wild grapes are very abundant on
the Red river bottoms and make an excellent
wine. Denison Is the first place reached; |
1t 10 about five miles from Red river and To-
ated fh the timber; they claim . population
Of 1000, and it is the great shipping point for
a number OF. roads. The railroads pay out
monthly $4,000, and this will be increased
by the employment of five hundred men at
their car shops. The soil around Dsnison
is sandy and well adapted to fruit and vege-
tables, (Which has been proven by their enor-
nous growth and sbundance,) being shipped
both north and south End a ready market. 1
visited q number Of orchards near the city
and I never saw such q heavy yield of grapes
and blackberries; I tasted some of the wine
which reminded me of the pure Juice that
Noah took for his 'stomach's sake" en-
joyed it hugely. Denison is ar e%ntsrprising
and thriving city, and is the center of q large
and growing trade with a prospect of becom-
ing q place Of some magnitude; the large
quantities of iron ore lying on the surface
of the ground IN and around the city is the
best of evidence that there are rich deposits Of
iron not far distant.
The next place I went was Sherman, ten
miles south of Denison and the county seat
Of Grayson county; it has q population Of
5000. The business portion Of the city Is
well constructed and of the most substantial
material; a courthouse, opera house and sew
eral large hotels add much to the appearance
Of the city; a street railway line running
from the railroad station to the southern
limits Of the city is In operation. The
number of churches whose spires point
~heavenward indicate to a stranger that the
morals of the city are we'll protected and
advanced by an earnest effort on behalf of
the ministry. Sherman is well located and
has some beautiful residences and nice shady
groves to protect it from the wind and SUM-. 1
met here several old friends from Missouri
whose friendship was appreciated and who
gave me some valuable information respect |
ing Taxas; among them were the Hon. Jos. !
Bledsoe, president of the city bank, who has |
a nice farm outside the city; the Judge has
200 hives Of Italian bees, which during the
horse mint season make him 1000 pounds of |
honey per day, and one hive made him In one
day II pounds; this I think Is the greatest |
yield ever known, and establishes the fact that |
Texas is the place to produce honey. The |
Judge has q fish pond which is full Of the fnny |
tribe and capable Of making Friday sacred at |
least in his domicile. Fruits and vegetables |
are very abundant, peaches, apples, pears,
plums, grapes, blackberries and Strawberries |
are raised in abundance and of a good quail. |
ty, making Sherman the garden of the world
and q paradise this side of eternity. Grayson
county is about two-thirds prairie, nine
tenths of which Is good farming land and
about one-third in cultivation, and is regard
ed as one Of the most productive counties in |
the state. From Sherman 1 took the tram to |
Fort Worth, 90 miles distant In a southwest
erly direction; the country over which 1
passed was exceedingly beautiful and of the |
best quality of rich limestone land. Wheat |
and oats had been harvested but the large !
growth Of corn and cotton proved Its produc- |
t~iveness. Fort Worth Is the county seat Of
Tsrrant county, and claims a population of
$4,000; it is located on the banks of the Trini- |
ty river; underlying the city Is a solid bed of
limestone that crops out in rocky bluffs; not
even a cyclone could shake its foundation; the |
city must contain some wisdom being found |
ed on a rock. The city is the commercial
center of q large and prosperous section of
the country, and the headquarters of some OF
the principle stock ~raisers. I found several
old acquaintance there whose kindness I |
shall never forget In showing me the city; I
saw as fine stores in Fort Worth as In any |
other city, of which they have reason to be |
proud. The city from its high location over
looks q beautiful and rich farming and graz
AhS Souuoy "AiCA Ao nc ucuSuL anu aQmlrd. l
ton OF a tourist and makes him feel, although |
In Texas, that 1t was created by an overruling |
providence for His dearly beloved children !
descendants of Adam, Noah and Lott, down |
to the evangelist Guiteau. My next point !
was Waco, about 30 miles south of Fort /
Worth; the county seat Of McLennon county, |
and claims a population of 5000; it is situated |
on the banks of the Brazos river; the altitude +
being much above the surrounding country;
1t is a new place and in a thriving and pros |
porous condition. I was on the suspension
bridge built by Mr.. Griffith who built the
Niagara and the first St. Anthony Falls and
Minneapolis suspension bridges; 1t, Ike the
others. showed the honesty and professional
skill of the builder. Waco has q large capt.
tai invested in manufacturing, a cotton facto-
~, and also a cotton seed oil mill of large
capacity; three Touring mills. two iron foun-
dries, pillow factory, carriages, wagons and
agricultural implement made to order, and Is
the center of a large cotton trade which IL
compressed here for other markets. I met
MIR. c. NJ. seley, president of the Waco State
Bank; he was formerly from Wisconsin, and
well known among the lumbermen of that