The Russellville Democrat., 1883-02-01
Rambles In Texas.
NO 3.

River, and is not as level as one might imagine. It has the best nat ural drainage of any city of it's size known to the writer. The streets are wide and most Of the principal ones are well kept. Congress ave me, runs from the depot of the Houston and International Railroads to capitol hill, . distance of, perhaps more than half IT; ;ic, and is crowded on each side with business houses. Most of the business is done on this avenue. T'the Post office building one block vest Of the avenue is a large building of beautifully dressed stonea gil taken from the quarries of Texas. They are all white, and l suppose, limestone.
 The state house was burned down sometime ago, and another, which will do honor to the state will be built soon. They are digging deep that the house may be founded upon a rock The foundation is already dug out. If learned the dimen- slons of the contemplated structure l have forgotten it. From the ex tent of the base as shown on capitol hill it will be a grand affair and Texas ought to have a grand state house. When first went to Austin, I undertook to take Tn all the sights on foot but certain very trouble some pet on my little toe, admonish- ed me that 1 would continue my walk at considerable inconvenience and not a little pam. I did not stop, however. though did not walk. An old friend from the county placed a fine horse and buggy at my disposal. which was accepted with hat in hand and "thank you sir and Tn spite of corns and sore toes l continued my look. There were great many things to be seen in all parts of the city, but one may see them all, or nearly all of them, or something like them in almost any other city of the same size. Bremond's shrubbery yard is the most noted place of it's kind. The shrubbery is very beau tiful and rare, saw here, what was told, was the Bonana plant. It is not like any other plant 1 had ever seen. It was curiosity to me- There are number of churches in the city. All denominations are represented. The school interest is not neglected. The state University buildings are in course of erection. There is already a deaf and dumb asylum here for the education of that unfortunate class. Also blind asylum. My time Tn this pleasant town was limited, and l was com pelled to leave before l got half through with the sights. Before leaving however, let us look at the beautiful Colorado. It is not large stream, neither did it afford much water when 1 saw it, but when flush, would be dangerous stream to fall into, l forded it in q buggy. 1t is crossed by two bridges, one for the railroad, the other for ordinary tray el Leaving Austin on tue dirt road we passed over some broken ground, rocks and cedars m abundance. - About two miles south of Austin, we struck the open prairie again, and out on one of these large prairies, three miles or more we passed Ft. McGruder. It is a small fort built of earth on the lone prairie, appar- antly large enough to shelter 300 men by closely crowding them, with no other advantage save bank of dirt. There is open prairie al around and an enemy could have gone around Tn any direction with perfect ease. The only reason 1 can give for this fertilization, where it is, is, that it was the first of series, which he contemplated building. It bears it's builders name. He said it was built to defend Austin. That may be, and likely he would have succeeded if the enemy had been compelled to come that way and no other. Some call it McGruder's s monument.
 l have written of Austin as if 1 had made halt as 1 went out, but 1 dia not stop then but came back and spent most of two days there. l left the railroad at Dupree, as went out, found my brother waiting for me. While waiting for the train at Tex arkana on the night previous, 1 had notified my nephew, of my coming, and he sent the telegram to his father, so had pleasant ride from Dupree out to Mountain city, about two and half miles, where as mat ter of course I was kindly received by my brothers family. Not one of whom save himself, 1 had ever seen. Here l spent n very pleasant time with them, as well as I could wish among my nieces and nephews.-- i There being only nine of them. Mountain city is only country store and Post office. There is splendid country in this part of Hays county. l travelled over a considerable scope of country from thls point south Kyle, railroad town is on the road about twenty miles south of Austin, in the heart of splendid farming country, and so far as the soil is con cerned it certainly is us good land as think l ever saw. The uncertain ty of the seasons is the only draw hack Corn and cation wara hnt h