Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-13
SHACKELFORD COUNTY.
The stories Of DestiintIOn Greatly
ExaggeratedA Field for the
Man with the Hoe,
M PLENTY Of seed wheat can be Obtained
n Large Acreage will bo Planted
This Pail.
rrom nur rr,rcllnr cotreapondenl.

From our Travelling Correspondent.
ALBANY, TEX, Oct. 1.-THE average
stranger Ia unprepared, upon his arrival
here, 10 see town Of the magnitude and
appearance OF Albany, In such an appar-
emily isolated portion OF the state. In
stead OF the board shanties and dug-outs
OF most western'towne, you 6nd here
commodious stores, built Of stone, fine
public buildings, school-houses ana
churches, and an appearance OF thrift
and prosperity hardly 70 be expected In a
country about the destitution Of which
30 much has been lately said by the news
papers. Albany is surrounded by a very
fine country, and some day, when the peo-
pie ofthis country learn the lesson OF man
agement and foresight learned by the PEG
pie Of Kansas and other Western states,
lt will blossom like the rose. farmer
comes out into this country, invests his
all in farm and then expects to make
money the hrst year, and, In fact, expects
70 begin 20 realize from his Investment
from the very beginning, and he often
makes a failure. Bat In Illinois and Kan
sas people have learned to expect nothing
until they get their lands In condition to
produce. There Is no country on earth
with the recuperatiVe powers Of the
pralrles OF Texas, hence people expect
too much and sometimes are disap-
pointed. Only six weeks ago the pTai-
rles we're barren OF grass, and IL APP
peared that even the roots were de-
stroyed, but now, since the rain
began TO fall, the country is
as green as can be, and the
grass is in fine condition, while an entire
change has come over the face OF nature.
The farmers say that fine season Is In
the ground, and expect TO raise the finest
wheat crop ever produced In this portion
Of the state.
While there can be no doubt that there
is some restitution, yet there is no ques-
tion--no matter what interested people
may say---that the reports from this
county, as to the number, are greatly
exaggerated II Is commonly under.
understood here that with the exception
OF about twenty families, who need help,
seed wheat Is all that the farmers Of this
county ask for or desire. A fine season
IL said TO be Ia the ground, and II plenty
OF seed wheat can be obtained, large
acreage will be planted, and Sbackletord
county will be redeemed. Already three
carloads Of wheat have been received
here, secured through the instru-
mentality OF the Rev John Brown
Of this place, who Is now In New
York, and IL Is thought two more will be
sufficient 20 supply the demand. AS one
farmer said, "lf we can get seed wheat,
we will rustic for grub" and they win
make success OF 1t, too.
There IL railroad scheme brewing in
the Northwestern states that Will prove
Of great benefit TO Western Texas
when built 1t Is proposed to run
line from Miles City, M. r.,
through Wyoming, Dakota, Ne
braska and Western Kansas to Galveston.
The route will oe along the old cattle
trail, and much OF It's north-bound freight
would be the transportation OF cattle TO
the feeding grounds Of the Northwest,
while the great grain districts tapped by 1t
win find easy access 70 the Gulf and Euro
pean markets, and at much cheaper rates
than can be given by lines which now
traverse the country TO the eastern sea-
board. Western Texas furnishes fruit
ful field for home seekers, and the open
Ing OF such railroad lines as the one con-
templated above, win go a long way to-
wards the settlement OF the West.
Albany expects this railroad to pass
through It's limits and be factor In its
up-building. With the Texas Central
already here, this new road would GER
talnly make 1t town OF no mean mpor-
lance, as Its position would make It for
years to come the supply depot for large
scope of country. Stranger things have
happened, and there is nothing unreason-
able In the hope Albany entertains.