The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-10
DENTON, Texas, June Is, 1856.

!
| II is rather a long stretch from Midland
to Denton, say $50 miles, but this is a state
of "magnifcent distances as well as mag
nScence in other respects, and travelling in
Texas is both natural and easy.
| AUD here the guest Of the genial Col. W
l.. Dunavan, whose friends in Denton are num-
bered by the score, and who with his pleasant
and intelligent family-which now includes
his son. Noah II Arc doing all in their power
to make me feel quite at home, and are sue
ceeiing so well that shall leave their beau
tiful and comfortable residence with great re-
luctance. The Colonel has taken me out
! riding every day for more than week, show.
ing me both town and country in every di.
llon; several other gentlemen have also
shown me similar cour,esies, so that am &C.
quiring quite an intimate acquaintance with
this locality.
The favorable opinion once expressed in
your columns of Denton city and country is
only strengthened by this visit, though pos.
sibly the natural and other advantages here
may seem hightensd by contrast with the
less settled and more drouth afflicted coun.
try farther west. But i, is certain that the
greater portion Of the soil in Denton county
is rich and productive. Add TO this an
abundance of timber, plenty Of water in
natural water courses and springs, good
fruit country, an intelligent and law abiding
people. and healthy climate, and it will be
seen that the claims of this county to favor
able consideration are many and just.
On my first visit here about FIVE years ago,
very much Of the land outside of the city
limits was unenced, and the prevailing
opinion among the Old settlers especially
was that though this was an excellent coun
Try for stock and possibly for cotton, it was
not good for farming and the granger
would he almost certain to get left. Now,
all the of the country, nearly, that | have
seen is well fenced, cosey or commdous
uOuScS tTC NIslDlt III SfCIy utlCt'ioHi
profitable crops Of wheat corn, oats and
cotton are raised, orchards are numerous
and increasing, while the few who coutine
themselves to stock are handling smaller
punches" relying more upon the improved
quality than upon immense herds so fire.
quently seen in the west.
Lands are held at treble and quadruple
the prices of five years ago and are going
still higher; in consequence the settlement
Of this county will doubtless be somewhat
retarded, the cheaper lands farther west be
ing more attractive TO men Of small or moder-
ate means, as well ms to those who buy for
investment merely. But the growth of Den
ton county, though possibly slow, will be
certain, and this will within a reasonable
time be as wealthy and prosperous as La
Sale county now is. The city is undergo
ing the same transformation that Ottawa has
witnessed All of the old frame buildings
around the court house square have been re
nlattu ny htul anu ShbSAhhA4hl W lNh0
twelve room brick school house that is a
credit to both city and county, has been
erected, and an excellent graded school in
operation, large grain elevator and an
additional roller Touring mill built, together
with large number of inviting and some
quite pretentious residences
The people are intelligent. sfable and
courteous. and those who have the eEtrss of
society say that it is ofthe best as regards
culture and refinement. Opinons vary as
10 whether northern people are welcome in
society or not; the truth probably IL. that
while there are some so distilctiyely south.
crn and who may have suffered in purse by
the war, tina, they cannot or will not asso.
ciate in friendly, familiar way in their
homes with any from the north, there are
others who take more liberal, enlarged
view of the situation aud are willing to NEE,
on equal terms. at home or elsewhere. meri.
tOriOus people without regard to geOgrsphi-