Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-02
Mgisfenaneuns &eadina.
AS OTHERS SEE US.
NOTES and DISSERTATIONS By ONE or VA
CO.'S VISITORS.
Waco, Texas, Examiner. July 13.

NdCO, 1ohdS, July
Itislate now to discuss matters and Ievents
which transpired in connection with the
Baptist Convention which assembled here in
ment is so deservingly true that we think it
very appropriate. Along with the dele
gates to the Convention came others, many
others, not delegates but merely lockers on,
who came to see the grand empire State of
the Union. Very many came with crude
ideas of the Lone Star State and her people.
They little expected to meet the cultiva-
ton and refinement in society that they
did, nor did they expect to see such magnli-
cent buildings and public improvements.
Among others who came was MIR. Lewis M.
Grist, editor and proprietor of the YORK
VILE ENQUIRER, IOrkVille, South Caro-
lima. He came to see Texas, and how well
he fulfilled his mission can be seen by pc
rusal of his notes and comments which
appeared in the ENQUIRER of June 2lst.
Nine closely filled columns are devoted to
Texas and such information as strangers
and emigrants looking TeXasWard most de-
sire. Mr.. Grist gives the full benefit of his
observations, Investigations and inquiries
in reference to our State. After giving a
short synopsis of his trip from home until
he reached our borders, he then takes up the
counties and cities in the order in which he
passed through them on his way to Waco.
He recites statistical information concern
ing each county, giving its resources and
stage of development and progress. Prices
are given of lumber and building material,
the cost of fencing and lands improved and
unimproved. The number of railroads and
connections, the population and other de-
sirable information. In his account he en-
ables his readers to more thoroughly under
stand his description by comparisons with
other localities with which they are famil-
lar. In concluding the article Mr.. Grist
comments upon his trip and experience,
and then alluding to the numerous inquiries
put to him concerning Texas since his re-
turn, writes as follows:
"Since our return home we have been
frequently asked, what do you think of
TeXas?' TO this question we reply, that,
comparatively, we have seen SO little OF the
State that we cannot speak OF it as whole.
We are satisfied, however, from the tnfor-
nation that we have been able to obtain
that we passed through some counties that,
for farming purposes, are equal to the best
in the State, notably, McLennan, Dallas
and Collin. AS a rule when persons emil
CRATE from one place to another, it is with
the expectation of being able to better their
condition. With the view of showing our
readers the advantages and disadvantages
of the three counties, we propose to compare
them with York county, which is repre-
sentative county Of the Piedmont region of
South Carolina.
'In the counties mentioned above, the
yield of cotton per acre, with good seasons
and proper tillage without the use of tertil-
izers of any kind, is, in McLennan, on up
lands, one-half bale, on bottom lands, three
fourths to one bale. In Dallas, from one
third to three-fourths of a bale. In Collin,
from three-fourths to one bale"
He compares the cost of raising crops
here and in his own State, making the
additional cost of gathering them in Texas
compensate for the expense of using fer
tilizers in his own State. Altogether the
article is one we'll calculated to give clear
idea of Texas, and the writer does not in
dulge in any disparaging comments nor en-
deavor to represent us in a false light. On
the contrary, he pays Texas this handsome
compliment, which we earnestly commend
to those blatant, loud-mouthed gentry whose
especial calling in high life seems to be to
cry down Texas and her people:
"There is one misapprehension in the old
States, which we desire to correct. 1t is
that, as a class the people of Texas are law
less and turbulent. For this idea there is
no foundation; but on the contrary, they
are as law abiding and moral as any people
among whom we have ever been. During
our stay in the State we were in several Of
the larger cities, and travelled a distance of
nearly six hundred miles through the State,
by public conveyance, and during the whole
time we did not see more than four persons
whom we knew to be under the influence OF
Intoxicating liquors, nor did we hear q half
dozen OathS."