The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-24
UP IN NORTHEAST TEXAS.
in CORNER COUNTIES.
''Worn Out Lsnds" Yielding Prolifl-
cally- Hundreds OF Hills Filled
with Iron ore--Hughes
Springs-Its Founder.

HERALD. IA week of travel in Ma
rion, Cass aud Morris Counties shows
that Northeast Texas has tho finest
crops of corn, cotton, sugarcane, fruits
and melons evor grown in this section,
OLD land that was considered worn
out years ago is now covered with
crops of corn almost equal to the black
land crops of North Texas. AS an old
farmer expressed it: "The ears Of
corn look like 'coons hanging up by
their tails"
l havo als) been making observe
tions in the iron regions here. 1t is
well known that during and prior to
the war several extensive iron fur
naces and founderies were operated
la Cass and Marion Counties. There
are many hundreds Of square miles OF
iron ore hills, composed almost entire
ly Of the very richest red ore, contain
ing iron enough to gridiron the Slale
of Texas. During the war at the old
Hughes furnace, near this place, vast
quantities Of pig iron were
made and stacked up. After
pence was restored this iron was
| sold, and with the advent of the rail-
road it commenced TO be shipped
away. The last shipment was made
only yoar ago. This iron was found
| to be OF such splendid quality that has
all been used i'm the manufacture OF
car wheels, bong superior in tough
ness TO the northern iron. There are
Indications OF coal here and some rich
coal discoveries would not surprise
any ono here. II coal Of good quality
eau DO obtained here this will become
ono Of the most famous iron regions
| in the world, and we shall witness r
boom Gqualled only ny that which has
blessed the region around Birp2jDg-
ham, Alabama.
At Hughes Springs, almost any day,
may DO seen an old, decreplt, sad
looking man, lie generally gCosl
poorly clad and mopes around Gs il ini
q dream. H0 is cared for and his wants.
supplied by relatives, so tho rumOiI
goes. This mans life, il well written,
| would DO stranger Than romance and
more exciting than the widest novel;
Once no owned this entire valley for
miles and miles up and down; his
| slaves were numbered by the hundred
! and dWelt in villages all through
| these rugged hils; On the ridge south
Of here stood his splendid brick castle
which looked Ike some grand Euro
poan bgrruuiSl mansion, and in 1t was
| found every luxury that money could
! buy. This man was Colonel RaeCg
| Hughes, Sr, He had strong faith in
the richness Of his iron ores, and also
spent thousands OF dollars in search
ing for gold. The war came
on and no remained s. Union man 10
tho last. His slayes were freed, his
vast estate wont 90 ruin, his lands
| passed 10 other hands and tho railroad
| penetrated tho valley, although he
| protested guj threatened, even going
! so lhrHS tu confront tho surveyors and
! graders with q shotgun. Ono OF his
( strange ijnc!as vas that thi8 section
Yi country, including the splendid
springs hero and tho town, on Ne
l1uEed 90 him, apc he ghll claims
! that an the residents are t.-a-
! pgsseTs Ou h3 rights. II is
said Chat hia reduction from yyoqIlh
| Oh poverty has long affected his miul
alt he reQVoutly call9 upon the c.tl-
I 2ns here gud demgud1 rGu.. If ho
iiut3 % house Vacant no GOas 'n and
/ takes pl47laaiOn, and cannot DO rr-
moved except by force. Io has u..u
| baol in jail 40 Linden on uccrau. al
| his strange i1A0ie8 and COndu q. r..hr
alb claims that h3 is very orthv.
and his grlsiOcIatic b9Wing la uuil.
marked go times 20 his lri8ud1 }.
talks enthusiastically of % hotel ho
proposes Co builJ over LhO snleuGil
| springs here, lG Is 20 cost @ million
dollars md win bo protusely oIns-
meIi,gl with iron, copper, silver and
cold from the surrounding hills. Ba
also claims that 10 will compel tho
| UBitgd States government 10 nav him
several million dollars for his slaves
and for tho iron foundry taken from
him during tho war. Because no was
a Union man, no asserts, his claims
will DO paid promptly whenoYer prop.
erly presented. The people horo LOOK
upon the old mau rather with pity
than otherwise, az his footsteps
ere feeble and his day.
nearly numbered. His vagarie-
and tano'Cs grO tolerated aud humored
with patience, The vast estates hRv-
disappeared. The OLD brick caetlr
was burned several years ago, but not
until after 10 had boon long deserted
and many stories Of haunts and ghost.
and midnight gob,ins wore in orcu
lGtion among the people, round about
who looked upon the ruined mansion
with q Kind Of supors,itious awe. Blu,
10 VIII all be over soon, tor tho dust of
the once proud pOsssssor Gust, iu
tho natural course of Gvonts, soon
return TO ils original dust
as silence now roigns whore once was
gaioty and reyelry.
The famous springs here arc nc.
tracing attention again ON account OF
their wonderful heHlth-giving waters
Tho water is strongly imprognatad
with iron aud other minerals cslCu.
lated To restore health and strength tC
tho feeble. Tho main spring flows IN
a bold stream almost as cold rs ice. II
Is surrounded ny beautiful
groves, making II a delight.
tul place TO rest and re.
cuperste. There is no malaria nor
mosquitoes. The hotel accommoda.
tons are iirst.Class. The railroads
give reduced rates of fare, and mum.
lers Of persons arc coming in TO spend
the summer. Tho writer has tested
the waters thoroughly and can heartily
recommend them TO all who are debill.
tated, iaundiced or In need of rest and
health. KNARF,
Tho only cigarettes which do moi
stick 20 tho lips are Opera Puts.
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