The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-08-24

1
Ii Is almost perfectly level and extends
seemingly for many miles to the north
ward. 1t is nearly all in cotton. which
is simply splendid Notwithstanding the
excessive rains and overflows. Then
we passed through many miles of swamp.
the water coming up to the track on
either side of the road. Occasionally we
would strike higher plateau for mile
or two, and these lands are cleared and
as rich as can be. On these high grounds
the farmers have built their dwellings,.
barns, etc., and the railroad company
their depot and express offices. These.
however, are usually built from eight
to ten feet above the ground to guard
against high water While passing
through this country people We're seen
Sitting in Their Houses Fishing
IN what was very recently a furnishing
garden or cotton patch. When the water
subsidies the crops will all be gone and
the people left alone in the mud and des-
olation. How white man can live in
this country cannot imagine. 1t looks
like it might give an alligator the chills.
This swamp country continues to near
Shreveport, where the high lands begin.
We reached Shreveport at II O'Clock
at night Shreveport is typical south
ern town of about $4,000 inhabitants
We remained there until 9 o'clock the
next morning, when we started for
Dallas, Texas.
On the route to Dallas we stopped an
hour at Marshall, Texas, town of 5000
Inhabitants about 60 miles from the Lou
isiana and Texas line. The mayor of the
town, MI " A.Adair, who is newspaper
man and live and energetic and press
ing young fellow, took as many of US as
| could get in carriages and drove us over
the town. 1t is very much like our Geor-
gla towns, but in several respects sur
passes many of them. They have an ele-
giant court house, splendid and we'll
equipped school houses, fine system of
waterworks supplied by artesian wells,
| electric lights and all the conveniences
of city. The lands around Marshall
are of light character, easily cultivated
and very productive. The country is
billy and seems to be a fine, healthy
climate. The lands are cheap, from 81
to s. per acre, with all the time you want
to pay for them. The surroundings of
Marshall are so inviting for people of
small means that it has been termed the
''pOor mans paradise"
The lands for thirty miles on either
side of Terrell, Texas, were certainly
magnificent. On can look in any direc-
ton and behold landscape slightly roll
ing, the highes1 points crowned with
groves and the pastures dotted with hun
dreds of cattle. The crops are mainly
corn, wheat, cotton and grass, quite
large area being devoted to the latter
crop. A man owning land in such
country as this ought to be reasonably
happy. 1t would gladden. the eyes of the
A"l AhOAS WIN AtVNO D0Cu oCIdCCItlIlS Ulo
soil of Georgia to take a ride over this
road and look at the country.
But every sweet has it bitter In the
first place, these lands are very high,
averaging $50 per acre. In the second
place, timber is very scarce, and again
the water is neither very good nor plen-
tiful.
The farm improvements are very poor.
1t is common to see $500 dwelling on a
$4,000 fam, and the barns and other
buildings are as sorry in proportion. If
a Georgia farmer owned a block of this
land it would be adorned with a nice
dwelling and fitted up in way to make
life worth living. And the weather! Hot
is no name for it. If was not for the
breeze that is almost constantly stirring
it would be unbearable. One can set
down in cool, shady place and be com
Portable, but as soon as you come in con-
tact with the sun it gets up trouble at
once.
We got into Dallas at $50 in the after
noon and through mistake of some one
the Dallas people were not appraised of
our coming until about two hours previ-
Gus and had made no arrangements for
our reception. Consequently we were a
badly disappointed crowd.
Dallas is situated in the midst of fine
and high prairie country, which as yet
is but slightly touched, but is being
taken in every year. Dallas is growing
rapidly with a present population of
forty thousand, and promises to be