The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-06
THE LONE STAR STATE.
Mai. L. M. Buford Enamored ofits PeO-
pie and Climate--.A Booming
Country.

Mai. L. NJ. Buford, of Fort Worth,
Texas, arrived in Rock Island on Thurs
day. We have been proud to claim the
major as a resident of this city for a
great many years, but we will now have
to give him up, as he has decided to cast
his fortune in the great southwest. For
the past month and half he has been
travelling through Texas. He first decided
to locate at Dallas, but extra inducements
were offered him by the citizers OF Fort
Worth, and he has now completed ar
rangements to make the latter city his
future home. About the first OF July
large agricultural implement house will be
opened at Fort Worth, under the firm
name of Buford, Aldrich & Worthington.
The goods offered for sale will be manus
featured by the Rock Island plow COM
pany, whose reputation for turning out
none but first class work has already been
fully established in that section. A branch
house at Sherman, which has been oper-
ated by the Kansas City house, will be
discontinued when the new firm cons
mences business. Mr. Buford has secured
central location in the city, and
from present indications he is
satisfied that he will soon command
large trade.
Il never met such
COURTEOUS AND ACCOMMODATING
people in my life" said Mr.. Buford, "as
there are in Texas. Everybody has
pleasant word for you, and they make a
stranger feel perfectly at home. As soon
as | arrived at Fort Worth, was called
upon by the mayor and large number
of prominent citizens and gwen hearty
welcome. During my stay in the city
many favors were shown me, and special
inducements were given me to locate
there OF course other strangers are
shown the same attention, and especially
all northern people looked after am
greatly indebted to Hon. Peter Smith,
mayor of the city, Mr.. Joseph II. Brown
wholesale grocer and Mr. Walter Huff
man, proprietor of large agricultural
implement house, for cOurtesies extend
ed
The country around Fort Worth, Mr.
Buford reports, is settling up rapidly.
The state makes it an object for bonafide
settlers to go there. Within days ride
of Fort Worth, excellent land can be pur,
chased for So per acre on thirty years
time. at per cent interest. The land is
very fertile, and cotton is the principal
product. Wheat is already harvested and
peaches are ripe, while strawberries
are luxury of the past Corn
is as high as ones head and there will be
large yield, The climate is delightful.
The days are quite warm, but the nights
are cool, thus insuring pleasant slumber.
Twenty degrees av0ve zero is considered
very severe weather in winter.
FORMER ROCK ISLANDERS.
Il visited Mr. j. s. Drake, at Denni-
son, continued Mr.. Buford. HE has a
magnificent residence about two miles
from the city, and is quite an Influential
citizen. He is interested in the Dennison
Water company. At Gainesville | met
Mr. Prick. son of Martin Prick. of Rocl
Island, who is engaged with Cleaves &
Fletcher, implement dealers.
| POLITICS.
Very little attention is paid to politics
and you very seldom hear the question
discussed. Nearly everybody is demo-
crat, and it is hard work to get up con
troversy. Mayor Smith. of Fort Worth
is prominently talked of as candidate
for governor He is a very capable maj
and has hosts of friends throughout the
state"
Mr.. Buford has come back. to Rock
Island for the purpose of moving his
family to his new home and closing uI
his business affairs here. He expects Il
return in about a month