The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1885-03-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
Greenyille. Texas.

0ECGHtlisCs ADAdcs
Correspondence OF the Democrat
As | haye heretofore given some
items about this part of Texas, |
think something more should be
given so that your readers may have
all the facts. My last letter was
principally about the black lands, |
will now give some Of the disadvant
ages. These lands will soon be all
fenced, very little prairie outside
now, so that there is practically no
range for stock. But land owners
are providing for that by leaving
part of their farms unbroken for pas
ture and meadows so that they will
haye place to keep their stock. 1t
will not be 5 years on a1v OF these
prairles before cattle will have to be
kept in pastures or if left outside
will have nothing but open lands to
run in and few creek bottoms.
Hogs have to be kept up now as the
| fences are all made of wire. Water
is principally cistern and pool water.
The timber lands are much cheaper,
not SO good, however, but wood is
convenient and water better and
more plenty. Good springs and
wells are found in the timber lands,
and some of these lands are very
productive, they also have many
good apple and peach orchards in
the timber lands. ] have seen wag
on loads of Texas apples on the
streets OF Greenvile, at from rs cts.
To $1.25 per bushel. All kinds of
vegetables, melons, potatoes, etc,
grow in abundance on the sandy tim
Der lands. They also grow on tho
black lands, but not.so well. A man
with capital will certainly do better
to invest in the black prairie lands,
but / am of the opinion that man
with small means had better stick
to the timber lands, as he can get
land cheaper, his hogs and cattle can
always have range, wood and water
convenient, and he can be more in
dependent. What he loses in the
productive capacity of his land he
will make up in other advantages in
the timber; be will have no prairie
grass for hay, but oats, millet and
tame grass do well; also he can raise
the Louisiana sugar cane. | have
eaten as fine nolasses made here on
the sandy lands as | ever saw that
were made in Louisiana. This cane
will not grow on the black lands. In
the timber the northers are very lit
tie if any worse than the winds are
with you in Pope county, and be-
sides the mud don't stick and the
chiggers don't bite. So you see
while / admit the black lands TO be
the best and most productive, yet on
the whole | am timber and sandy
land man. The sandy timber lands
here are much better than the sandy
prairics.
Well people are beginning TO farm,
oats are about all sowed, and corn
planting will begin next week Not
withstanding the cold winter people
have broken good deal of land.
Health has been good, very few
deaths, and no pneumonia that |
have heard of; corn yet sells at so
cts per bushel, bacon 8 TO 10 cents,
-four five to six dollars per barrel.
Ii any of my friends in Arkansas
want to come to Texas, | will take
pleasure in showing them around.
| know they can be suited as they
can find any kind of country here
they want, except mountains and
rocks. A pleasant year to you all.
will say this Arkansas has the
most hospitable people in the world.
w. j. MCANALLY.
Feb. %, 1885.