Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-02
NORTHWESTERN TEXAS
A. Oompa,ed With southern oan:ar mia b
Dakota Man.

NORTHWESTERN TEXAS
A. Oompa,ed With southern oan:or mia ,,
aDskota Man.
Casseiton (Dakotal Reporter
Eiitor Reporter: as@
When the cold of winter began to
pinch, I started on my journey to the
shores Of the much talked of "Golden
State"
My mind was well prepared to see the
land clothed In green and perpetual sum-
mel, land cove red everywhere with bloom
ing flowers, its valleys and hillsides dotted
all over with fruit trees of every kind,
well loaded with luscious, ripe
fruits. WAS even prepared
to see a country Of prosperous
people, with ample room for sll new
corners. To my disappointment, found
Southern California to be nDthir more
than mountainous, rocky, barren coun-
try, with an casionel small valley here
end there; the country is exceedingly dry
and nothing whatever can he raised ex-
cept oy Irrigation; not more thsn one
tenth Of the land can be Gu twisted, and
that only with irrigation. The land that
can be cultivated Is so scarce that II ts
held at from 5000 to $500 Per acre,
and this bigh-pr!ced land does
not produce IS much as the
lands of Dakote, which eau be bought st
from $40 to $40 per acre, the former
figures for wild, and the latter for i'm
proved lands, h!st quality and convenient
to market. Water is very scarce for irri-
gatiep, commands 8 fancy price, and Or
dinsrily costs more than the value Of one
half the crops raised on the land. The
people in Southern California do not pre-
tend to raise anything except by irriga-
ton, and this process of farming is "the
rich mans luxury and not TIE poor mans
support."I
To my surprise, mary Of the valleys,
snd in fact nearly all of them where farm.
ing snd fruit raising were formerly carried
on, have been cut up into ''town lots''
snd the industry CT town lot sEles seems
to be the principaI occupation Of the peo-
pie of Southern California. A gres' er
fraud than the sale Of these lots to the
people from the north and the east wss
never perpetrsted.
Ofteper thsn otherwise there is not an
other house than the cid farmhouse fol
miles away, and there is no more ressou
for or prospect Of town being built
where the town is "lsid cut" than at ony
plsce that msy be selected on the prairies
of Dakota, twenty miles from the rail-
road.
San Diego ard Les Angeles, cities OF
20, 900 and 1000 people, are the only
places Of Importance, but these cities
have far outgrown the country, and In
fact there is no country In Southern Cali
fornia capable Of supporting large
town. These cities are principally COM
posed OF land spectators, and in fact
land speculation is the principal bushes:
Of Southern California. There are also &
number Of mechanics and laborers, who
have been attracted to Southern Cali.
fornia By oyerdrawn stories, and this
class have been sorely disappointed. The
sanitary condition and police regulations
Of even these cities are deploreble: sick
ness and death prevail on every hand (;
there is not night or even day that men
are net knocked down and robbed on the
street.
much prefer my home in the far north
west to the prospect Of acquiring home
in California. Dissatisfied, ss ali men Of
moderate means now are VINO go to Cali
fo-nia, turned my face eastward in
search OF q country more to my taste. Al
one time had made up my mind TO re-
turn Immediately to my home in Dakota,
which, while 1 was in Celifornis,
thought good enough for ne, but, having
come so far, concluded to go to a coun
Try, If such could be found, more to nv
TASTE than California and l now find my.
self IN Northwest Texas.
Ny first stop in Texas WAS at Ell Psso,
q city Of considerable Importance, holding
now, 1t is said, the key to the gateway OF
the republic Of Mexico. 1 crossed over
to the town On the Mexican side, and for
the first time In my life saw bull fight,
which, by the way, is the national sport
of Mexico. Later on msy describe the
bull fight and habits Of the Mexican PEG
pie. but now there Ia Country ahead,
which pleased me so much that
III must refer to it before
close. Four hundred miles ride by
rail from the Mexican border brought me
to az fire country IS have ever seen,
and which reminds me of the rich lands
of Dakota. Remembrance of home
frightened before me; the season, Though
February, seemed to me IS May time;
could almost imagine that was home
again; that the snow and ice had gone
that nature had awakened from her lorg
winter sleep and that the land was ready
again to yield up Its bounteous stores.
Fast following these reflections of mine,
came my determination to stop Of and
see the
ABILENE COUNTRY OF TEXAS.
The city Of Abilene is the commercial
center and distributing point for $ scope
of country larger than the half Of Dakote,
and has country tributary to it capable
of supporting large city. and 1t ia from
the city Of Abilene that the country takes
its name. 1t is country after my own
heart, because the face Of the country
looks SO much like Dakots; because
wheat, oats and all the other cereals
grow and yield bountifullY; be-
cause fruits and vegetables are
grown in abundance; because the
lands are fertile and can be Dough,
cheap; because the climate is mild and
healthful; because it is 3 new country
rich in undeveloped resources and in
great possibilities-the very place for
young, energetic men and men of moder.
ate means to come to.
1t would DO your heart good to see the
gardens growing and the green wheat and