The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-10
Texas in Midsummer.

fIDLANIy I'm 'uuN '''
"Coing 10 Texas in midsummer Why
ysu must be crazy. 1t is hot enough here,
bat way down there where they have had no
rain for months. country all burnt up. thou
sands of dead and dying cattle, stencil horri-
BILE, phew. You may go if you like but
not any for me, please"
About thus ran the comments and opin'
ions of sundry persons whom urge1 to take
trip with me to Dixie But not discour'
aged in the least, left Ottawa on the 18th
inst. via "the 5:25 mixed" and on arriving
in Joliet was captured by r. +. Kirste, Esq
ticket agent C. & A., who very kindly invi-
ted me to his house, where made my self at
home on his suggestion till train time 1915
p. NJ, and the two hours wait passed most
pleasantly. Let me say in passing tina, this
same C. & A. Ry. is eminently successful,
not only in furnishing superior accomnoia,
tions for the travelling public, but also in the
selection of gentlemen rs agents. conductors,
etc.
At St. Louis, where the excursion party
WAS made up TO 60 via the l., NJ. s, |
learned tina, there had been washout along
the line somewhere; but by making a detour
Of rs miles or so. we could get around it,,
losing about three hours time. Arkansas, or
that portion Of it seen the next day, was de.
cidedly moist, not to say wet. much of the
land along the railway being covered with
water and the ewamps were numerous. and
interesting az such, but pot to be recon-.
mended for farming purposes.
Seriously. however, there is much valuable
timber all along the route, adording abund-
mt opportunities for making money. and
much good land, beyond doubt, for farming
purposes, while for fruit, portions of the
state are unexcelled.
The first glimpse of Texas was seen the
following day and was surprise in this
that instead Of a country all burnt up with
the sun and looking rs though the people
would soon have to choose between famine
and importation of food products, | found -
between Marshall and f. Worth fields Of
corn from four to ten feet in height, hayir z
healthy appearance and giving promise
with even a small amount Of summer rains
of fair if not full average crop
The cotton varied from fair to excellent
some fields quite poor. though it was re-
marked that the most Of this inter class in.
dictated the absence Of good farming rather
than Of rain.
There is no question but that the rainfall
this year has been much below the average,
especially in West Texas, the older settlers
insisting tina, nhey have never seen anything
like it since 1873 Wheat and oats have
suffered materially for want of rain, the
wheat being perhaps two-thiri crop, and
oats in many cases failare Pastures
looked as well a. could be expected in mid
summer and stock were not suffering for
grass. II is noticeable that farmers are in
aHtAR dtItdE' VI WI II AiA NA''i'
depending less and less on cotton as a staple
Whether this il due TO the increase in north
ern farmers-ani they are numerous all over
Texas--or 10 some other cause, is unknown
to the writer. but the fact remains and the
change in this direction is beyond doubt a
wise one.
In some locations ives, of Fl. Worth good
crops Of corn and cotton were seen, but it
must be confessed there were many sorry"
fields, and evidences were numerous Of the
almost total failure Of oats and partial sue.
cess of wheat, corn and cotton.
The condition Of the grass varied remsrs-
ably in diferen, localities In those places
where rains have been aJunisn, this month.
and these are ~ no mean. infreJuen'. the
grass was excellent; in others it seemed AL
burnt up aud Of 40 value whatever 10 ile
numerous cattle that were pasturei upon it.
In fact, ii appeared that an action for cruel