Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-21


plantations near at hand. Farther on, we
catch glimpses of cottages, gardens and busy
workers in the fields of sugar and rice. On
we 90, cane fields, rice fields, corn fields
dark forests, low shrubs, tangled vines, prai
rie lands, lumber and sugar mills, houses
and hedges on both sides. AS we pass
through dense swamps, with water in the
bitches on each side of the railroad track
alligators could be seen basking on the logs
and brush, or with noses protruding from
the water. The passengers and especially
our young friend from Rockingham-as the
trains sped along, frequently made them
targets for their pistols but without further
result than that the ugly reptiles would
plunge into and under the water and disap
pear from sight.
Further on we came to cypress and water
oak swamps, the resort Of alligators, turtles
and water snakes. Here and there were
large numbers of cypress logs which hao
been cut in the swamps and fioated on the
water to the saw mills located where the
logs could be conveniently gathered, and
whence the sawed lumber could be shipped
to points where it is in demand.
Vermillionville, La, the supper house
IA miles from New Orleans, was reached
about nightfall. Profting by the expert.
ence gained at Montgomery and Bay St
Louis, Rev. Mr.. Gregory, who was the
major-domo of our car, had telegraphed the
coming of the crowd, and, as result, the
majority of the passengers succeeded in par:
taking of a bountiful and well prepared
supper. Being one of the lucky number
and feeling we'll satisfied that such was the
case, after short interval we retired to ou1
berth and were soon asleep.
Consulting the railroad schedule for irfor.
y,oofin,, fSY1 thof train nrnScan the
Sabine river, which is the boundary line al
that point between Louisiana and Texas
on Tuesday morning, the 9Th Of May. The
map of Texas shows that we entered the
State in Orange county, and upon investiga'
tion, we find that it has an area of 1856 square
miles, and population in 1880, according to
the census, of 1888, of which 1G per cent.
was colored. Our information is that the
county is situated between Sabine and Ne
ches rivers, and that the general surface Of
the country is a slightly undulating plain,
the southern portion being mostly open
prairie, and the northern uplands covered
with heavy forest of pine and several
kinds of oaks; while in the bottoms of the
rivers is growth of water oaks, white oaks,
beech, hickory, cypress, walnut, and other
varieties of hard woods. The soil on the
streams is dark alluvial. On the timbered
uplands and the prairies the soil is light, in
terspersed with a dark loam. The lumber
business is the chief pursuit, and pine lum-
ber is worth from $40 to $12 per thousand
feet at the mills. Unimproved land, suita-
BILE for farms, is quoted at from so cents to
50 per acre we'll timbered pine lands at S.
to $S, according to location; improved tracts
are worth from So to $40 per acre; and land
in cultivation rents for from So to 81 per
acre fencing costs 500 per mile. With or
dinary cultivation and good seasons, cotton
yields from 200 to 40Opounds of lint per acre;
corn 20 to 80 bushels. For domestic purpO-
ses cistern water is almost exclusively used.
The town of Orange is the county-seat, and
it is claimed that it has population OF
about $500.
The next county entered was Jefferson.
The area of the county is. 1,032 miles. The
population in 1880, was 8, ,4S9-one third col
ored. All the southern part of this county
is represented as nearly level and almost en-
tirely devoid of timber, the soil being light
and not we'll adapted to farming purposes.
The northern portion of the county, con-
tiguous to the streams, is covered more or
less densely with different varieties Of oak,
hickory, ash, cypress, pine and other kinds
of timber: From about ten miles above
Beaumont, heavy pine forests extend for
about 120. miles nOrthWard. The lumber
and stock interests are the leading and most
profitable industries of the county. Unim-
proved farming lands are quoted at from 81
to S. per acre; and pasture lands at from 81
cents to 81. Tracts with a portion in cult.
walton and the necessary houses, are held
at $40 to S12 per acre. Fencing costs from
500 to $125 per mile. Cistern water is pre-.
ferred for domestic purposes and is most
generally used. Beaumont, the county seat
10 a1o inn o1 IN haun nnr11at tiOn nf ohnJ1t
1,500.
The next county traversed was Liberty
The area of the county is ,172 miles and the
population is reported by the census of 1886
as 4,999 -one-half cOlored. We are inform
ed that the surface is generally level. The
Trinity river flows from north to south near.
ly centrally through the county; and the
East San Jacinto river through the north
west corner. The bottoms of the rivers are
covered with several varieties Of oak, to-
gether with ash, elm, walnut, pecan, gum
etc. Unimproved lands are quoted at from
50 to $5 per acre. Improved lands at from
S. upwards, according to quality, location
and the proportion ofenclosed land. Farms
with houses for tenants, are rented at from
$3.50 to 81 per acre, or more generally share
of the crop. Fencing costs from 800 to $l5C
per mile. Cistern water is preferred for 40
mestic purposes and ndalmOstuniversally used
1t is said that the best lands, under proper
tillage, with good seasons, will produce from
1000 to l,2OO pounds seed cotton per acre
Liberty is the county seat and has popula'
ton of about 500
Daylight found us in Harris county, at
East San Jacint0 river. We were soon up
and dressed, and on the lookoutfor the won
derS Of Texas. After passing out of the
hnr adj f> hn rix IIynn
to see the prairies covered with thousands
of fat cattle, tall grass, blooming flowers.
verdant fields of corn, wheat and oats, beau
tiful residences dotted here and there, with
everything to please the eye and gladden.
the heart. But the reality disclosed few OF
these imaginary sights. On the contrary
the settlements were few and far between
and but little of the land contiguous to the
railroad was in cultivation. Small herds
of cattle, in fair condition, could occasional.
ly be seen grazing on the short grass afford
ed by the prairies. The surface of the prai.
ries presented an alienation of long and
gentle swells and depressions, dotted here
and there with solitary scrubby trees. Al
we approached Houston, the county-seat OF
Harris county, the character of the country
changes. Timber is more abundant and
we pass through alternate strips of prairie
creeks and bayous along the route. The
soil of the prairie in the southern part OF
the county, is a black, tenacious lime land
that nearer the city is a dark friable earth
with an admiXture of sand. On the mar.
gin of the prairies, where there is growth
of small pines, it is light grey or yellow.
ish, compact soil Cotton, corn, oats, etc.
are grown in the county. The popula
ton of the county in 1880 was 27,985--3!
per cent. colored. The area of Harris coun
ty is 1900 square miles. 1t is estimated
that tbara ara Op1xy ohout 0O OO0 aprps i1