Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-12-15
OUR PILGRIMAGE.

WhClC OuC llOlhS HdppCHo W NC Is
the best place on earth, for there are
some places better than Others to
make homes. In a three weeks
excursion through Texasand Mexico,
with stops Of short duration at
various towns and cities, and a
kaleidoscope glance at portions of
Louisiana and Mississippi from car
windows, we saw much that was
pleasant and attractive to home
seekers. We saw many old-fash.
Toned, conservative towns, and
numerous others III various stages of
development under the new or
"boom" idea. The worlds natural
advantages are pretty equally dis
tributed, and it depends altogether
upon the constitution and tastes of
the individual as to where is the best
place for him to make his home.
Again, no proper idea can be formed
of any place in one brief visit. A
years stay in a place is necessary to
average up the seasons and give the
place its full measure Of credit. 4
person can frequently see enough in
a short time, however, 10 form
sufficient opinion to influence him in
the selection ola new home, or settle
his satisfaction with his old one.
There is no questioning the fact
that Texas possesses many advan-
tages and attractions for the home
seeker, and the people Of that state
have ample reason to be proud of
their vast empire. We are free to
confess that our trip through the
state gave us more favorable i'm
pressions of the country than we had
ever before entertained. Land is
cheap, and its fertility cannot be eX-
hausted for ages. As for climate
any desired variety can be found in
Texas. If you want cold winters
they can be found in Northern
Texas; fyOu wish perpetual summer
that is also to be had in the Southern
part Of the state, and along the gull
coast, and you can also make choice
ofany intermediate stage you may
desire by location between these eX.
tremes.
Our first stop in Texas was made al
TEXARKANA.
1t is tlourishing city of fourteen
summers and about 10000 souls. The
state line between Arkansas anC
Texas divides the town near the cen
ter, and it is one city paying tribute
to two states. They have two city
councils, two systems ofwater works
and in all public matters its affairs
are conducted as two cities, while
the visitor sees it as but one. Through
the kindness Of Mr.. l.. MOntedonico
secretary and general manager of tn,
gas works, we had pleasant carriage
ride over the city, and were showr
many beautiful public and private
buildings, together with variou
enterprises of more or less importance
Striking evidences of push and enter
prise are to be seen on every hand
You can almost see the place grow
Several important lines of railroad
converge there, and the place does
very large lumber business. One O
its big enterprises, a Gotten seed OF
: mill, plant representing an invest
ment of about 100000, is now idle
thanks to the trust. While all c
this machinery is rusting in idleness
and scores Of people are thereb,
thrown out of employment, bein
a condition of things made possible
and not only possible, but active, b.
the republican policy, it is not to b
wondered at that Texas is demo
, cratic.
Our trip through Arkansas, fror
Memphis to TeXarkana, was made i
the nightprincipally, and consequent
, ly we could see but little of Arkansa,
What we did see in the early morn
} ing before reaching TeXarkana, Wa
5 swampy, sterile in appearance, an
, anything but inviting.
= Leaving TeXarkana at o'clock i
5 the afternoon, we We're whirled alOn
at twenty-five or thirty miles a
D hour until night through almost
: solid pine forest, Some oak an
other trees were to be seen along tn
, streams hut the majority OF the tin
Der OF any value in this section
: pine, and little else is to be seen a
{ the stations along the route cXccI
, lumber and saw mills. The soil ha
e 4 white sandy appearance and is No
D very productive, Judging from tn
r rather delicate and attenuated cor
, ,pf r,tfnu -talEs -tgntliDr I'm fin