The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-12
The Lone Star State
Fosr wonrH. Tesa.. Oct. .. 1854

EDTToR CLARION: knowing thai 3
number OF young men OF nv native
State. contemplate seeking their for
tunes in Texas, and having promised
some University men to write them in
regard to the state Of affairs here, with
vour kind indulgence, take this oppor-
tunity of giving them the result of nay
observations aud conversation with men
well informed on the subject.
The first thing which forcibly strikes
the stranger Is the vast magnitude of
the Lone star State. Tom Ochiltree
wasn't far wrong when he said he had
an empire for 4 Congressional District.
Forty-eisht hours, in q direct line, over
the best road in the State, from Texar-
kama on the extreme eastern border, to
FL Paso an the extreme western. Four
teen hours from Texarkana to Fort
Worth FL Paso Is still over six hun
dred miles further toward the setting
sun. Tom Green county alone, in
which, by the way, Capt. Baker, ''the
member from Lafayette has located,
is larger than the State of Massachusetts,
Leaving Texarkana, the route for one
hundred and sixty miles passes through
the piue belt, splendidly timbered, and
dotted every few miles with some of the
finest numbering mills in the South.
Then the timber gradually grows small
er, until it dwindles into the insiguifi-
cant mesquite bush, and the dwarfed
and stunted blackjack. From Willis
Point to Fort Worth the train passes
through rolling prairies, broken here
and there by the cross timbers-a mag
niicent farming and grazing country,
bearing striking resemblance TO por-
tions of Southern Kentucky. The black
loan soil is admirably adapted to the
culture of cotton, corn, wheat and other
cereals, producing in favorable season a
bale to a bale and half of cotton to
the acre.
THE PEOPLE OUT HERE
are astride with the times, and farm ac-
cording to scientific and improved meth
DDS Beyond Fort Worth, the route
lies through the great prairies, beauti-
full sweep of country with its thriving
towns of recent growth, and its great
ranches. the monotony of the scene
varied by great herds of cattle and
horses, and fiocks of sheep and Andora
goats, dotted here and there, an occa-
sional prairie dog village with its
mounds, inhabited by bats, owls and
dogs, and way off in the distance herd
of antelopes, grazing in the shade of the
mesquite bushes, and shifting the air as
if suspicious of danger. The mesquite
grass, indigenous to the prairies, grows
spontaneously. Drying up in the fall,
! it cures itself, and is left standing on
the prairies, furnishing hay for the
stock during the winter.
To young professional men, who con
template locating here, ! would say, the
professions
ARE AT PRESENT CROWDED.
Fresh from college, young physi-
clans, and lawyers are here from all
parts of the Union. Out of hun
dred lawyers in this place, over half
are young men, with many of whom,
| fear it is a severe struggle. Yet
| by no means wish to discourage
others. A prominent and successful
| lawyer, formerly of Mississippi, says that
for the number of inhabitants, Texas
has more litigation than any two other
States. The courts are in session most
all the time, and the successful lawyers
are comparatively young men, of age:
ranging from thirty up 10 forty-fVe
| While / believe q yeunG professional
man OF talent and metal will succeed
i in Texas sooner than in the older States
yet | would advise none tc come who
can make a good living at home, and il
they do come, let them be sure to have
strong financial backing. This is nC
F. 1A II .
day. It takes time, patience, money
perseverance, energy and pluck here a
well as elsewere.
1 Are there many young physician
here? / was invited out to social gath
ering recently. Out of eight young mel
present, five were young physicians
Draw your own Inference. / am prout
to say,
MssIssIPPIANs HOLD THEIR OWN
with the best. Many of the most pros
porous and useful, the most prominen
and influential citizens of Texas ar
Mississippians In the forum and ol
the hustings, in the pulpit and in tn
various ranks and walks Of life, Missi:
7 sippians stand shoulder to shoulder wit
the ablest and the best. Many prom
nent members of the Legislature ar
Mississippians. The present candidat
/, for Lieutenant-Goyerno Mr.. Barnet
! Gibbs, is Mississippian. Many sui
stantial and successful farmers and ca
: tie men, and many of the leading me
chants are Mississippians.
) Those who have capital would d
!, we'll to come to Texas. Money con
4 Il of
! from one to two per cent, with good s
! curities, month. Those who wish
7 T embark in the cattle business can lea,
! the public school lands for ten years
:, eight cents an acre per annum.
Texas has the most
: MAGNIFICENT PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND
8 in the Union; $4,000, 600 acres of lar
3 have been set aside, the proceeds to
e devoted to the education of her ehildre
v Her free schools run eight months
E. the year. Teachers pass rigid examin
4, tions and command good salaries. b
r even the profession of Paiduetics
a crowded. Thirty-six teachers from Te
+ as and seven other States made applic
5, tons for few vacant positions in &
re public schools of this city. Out of tn
sr number your correspondent had {
5, good fortune to be elected principal
x-1 one of the city schools.
er Many young men imagine that tn
re can
as START AS COW BOYS.
!. They picture the cowboy envelop
y in glamour of romance and chivall
Never was an idea more erroneous.
y the first place, it takes no little 81
= and experience to be cowboy. He
T .s sui gsnsris, peculiarly Texas institute.
q Wish his broad Mexican s0mbrero, q
n n leather breeches, his Texas saddle a
z lari0t. his high topped, high bee
- bp0te and heavy spurs, which last of
q. cost more lhan his pony. Many
li1sIa. bern 81 the saddle. bees
daring herze zlen and fx pert 10 t11oz1|
81. lariD1 al "a early age. heard {
3. boast. aud be didn't much cx1keef
- eitiIeT. that he could ride anYt1
- g. that vars hair. Few roses or roman
s. 8. il his life. Poorly paid. the best e
- - ulandina no asore than so, in the sad
a. nearly al The time. in all sorts Of wea
~ er, forced 10 sleep Id the driving 7
- and binding sleet, with the North
g. =. blowing stilI gales, drinking hot surf
e, wafer ii the sumner. his life Is ons
kx' toll and prixa1ion. His improgide
- Is as eEoFeEbiaI IS that Of the szi
Hoarding his wages Tor SIX months,
~ - goes to the nearest town, and IN tweI
II four hauTs the saloons and gzmbl
IhelIs hare swept away bis hard ]
~ earnings He goes back to the rant
80 Lays IN another supply to disappear