Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-18
INTERESTING TEXAS LETTER.
EDIToR SOUTH KENTUCKIAN:

EDITOR SOUTu KENTUCKIAN:
AS have been asked so often about
my trip to Texas | thought l would
just say through your paper a few
things concerning it. We left Hop
kinsville Jan. 80, and had good luck.
stepping on the platform at Abilene
in 4S hours. Looking around among
strangers | felt a little awkward, as |
suppose most men do in a strange
place, and while making some inquir-
les about a place to stop, up walked
my son, Henry, which made me feel
rather at home. About 10 O'Clock
we started across the prairie for An
son, Jones county. The country from
Abilene to Arson Is very level. The
soil is red with some sand in it.
1t looks rich and is from one to five
feet deep. About three-fourths of
the prairie is covered with timber
about the quality of our black locust |;
though very scrubby, it is very dura-
BILE for fence posts. 1t stands about
as thick as an old peach. orchard and
resembles one. One hand can clear
from half to three-quarters of an
acre day.
The land improves all the way from
Abilene to Arson and for IL miles
farther where Henry was located in
tent. We spent 10 or II days in
Jones county, attended church at An
son, saw a nice audience, very order
ly excepting number of babies that
insisted on having a hearing. Girls
were rather scarce, so l would advise
young men going there to make their
matrimonial arrangements before
they start.
Maybe this will explain why some
of my young friends who went out
there came back so soon.
There are two ways to buy lanC
there. One is two dollars per acre
cash for railroad land and the olhcl
is two dollars for school or Abilene
land with thirty years to pay in, at
five per cent.
1t appears to me that a poor MAJ
has a better chance there than here
Society is good and | would judg
from what l saw was even bette
than here. In spite of these advan
tages l would say TO those who hav
good homes here that are paid tol
stay where you are.
As to the healthfulness of Jone
county, | can't see any cause for sick
ness and the people look health!
The grass grows about six inche
: high in the spring, cures up dry i
: the summer and lasts in that cOnd
ton until the next spring. With n
rain 10 spoil the grass, stock live I'll
year round without any other fec
: ing and keep in living order.
z saw quite number of Christia
: county folks but heard none of the
S say they wanted to come back
Z Kentucky.
y As to the crops of Jones count
u there has not been much done
farming yet, but think it will be
number one wheat county. don
Il see why it will not be as good
s. California. 1t is said to be abo
is the same climate and soil. Oats {
Re well, Millet yields from 2 to 4 to
TO per acre. | don't think corn will ,
a well on account of the dry summer
a. There is some game, such as ant
Il lopes, wildcats, panthers, wolv
mule-eared rabbits, prairie dogs a
rattle-snakes.
ne Mr.. Editor, l don't care especia
rs to puff Texas, but l have always h
is, a weakness that way. l lived in
70. lis county, Texas, in 1855 and the b
RI lands there could then be bought
TX from one to two dollars per acre III
the same land is worth from $50
$50 per acre. l think Jones is bet
" than Ellis county. The land lies b
~ ter and is just as rich, though !
ed black.
he l suppose there are about us ma
inhabitants in Jones county now
there were in Ellis in 1855 and settl
five times as fast and with the best
citizens.
" Mr.. Editor, there is a good d
more that might be said, but as
chances are so good for the wa
basket l will quit.
G. r. PIERCE
g., HOpklnsville, KY, March, 10 Is