The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-03-04

worthy families from Dewitt and Con
zales counties. But there are other in
nuences that have kept all SOuthweS-
tern Texas behind in the race Of pro-
gress. Tie Bohemians and Germans
are thrifty, prosperous people. They
may always be- depended upon to make
a living and pay their debts. They at
tend to their own business and let that
of others alone. But they do not be-
come AmericaniZed or adopt American
manners and customs and it IS impOs-
sible for Americans to reconcile Them
selves TO theirs. They are clanish and
as nearly as possible cOntine CONNER
cial and other intercourse to their own
nationalities; hence they to a consider
able extent HOchhieRizcd or Rhinized
u great portion OF Southern and South
western Texas and are fast driving the
better class OF Americans out. ImIni-
grants may not realize the full force of
this Immediately, but let them wait I'M
til they come into competition with
these classes in either labor or trade,
and they viii understand II as well as
do the hundreds who have gone before
them. Then again: All the good lands
of that country were taken up years and
years ago. The great body of them were
absorbed by rich stock men and specu-
laCOrs. OF recont years barOnial pas
lures have been fenced i'll and in some
instance the county seats were inclOs-
ed IN those vast domains. On account
of this, population instead of incrcas-
actually dominisbed, as the last two CEN
sus returns show, and it went so far
in Refugio county as to suspend politi-
cal organization.
have had u change Of heart. The pas
lures are eaten out and exhausted.
The cattle that did not die of starvation
are rapidly being driven to the North
west and TO Mexico, and the lands are
put upon the market and boomed by
real estate dealers as the finest on Gods
greer earth; and "tender-feet and
greenies" arc often employed to do the
booming.
Talk about Dewitt county and South
west Texas as being a new country!
1t is the very cradle ofthe State. With
i'll one decade of 1mpendenCe, De
Witt county was formed from fractions
of the three counties adjoining it ard
they are amongst the very oldest. The
railroad of which K. l.. IL. makes men
ton made Cuero the distributing point
for the commerce OF all West Texas,
and out here, as far North as the Bra
SIS river, the scattered settlements re-
coived their supplies from IndiaLoIa
through Dewitt county 80 that many OF
the pioneers OF the West were ia
miliar with the roads of that as they
were with the trails of the Comanchv
Indians that deprecated upon their
homes. If Dewitt Is such grand poor
mans country now, why did it not set
tie up then? Why did people leave its
and security from savage depreciation.
and 20 west TO encounter all the prlVa
tiOns, hardshipS and dangers of life on
the frontier? BY way OF lndi8nOla, De- |
Witt county WAS accessible to the |
world and immigrants to it were in no |
danger of massacre from the hostile |
nd lanS; but it is a fact that migrants |
to Northern and Western Texas were, |
and that the whole route traVersed |
from the old home presented obstacles |
all but insurmOuntaDle. Since the de- |
feat of tho Comanches at Plum Greek |
1910, Southern Texas was free from de-
probation, but this country was at their
mercy thirty-tive years later, and, with
all, it grew rapidly in population and
wealth while Southern Texas was at a
stand still. The political organization
Of Dewitt county is 30 years older than
that of Coleman, yet, although it Is Il
fact that De Witt Is the most prosperous
county in its section, IL is very little
ahead of Coleman in wealth and popu-
ton, while the latter is ahead of De-
Witt in the number of white American
residents.
l confess to having prOspected over
The greater portion of Texas and even
continued to do so after stopping in
Coleman county. There are many
pleasant localities in which l remained
or months and even years, and pros
1ered in them too. But that l found
none to snit me so well as Coleman for
. permanent home, is no doubt because
was very nara 10 pl6dS6.
If Dewitt suits K. L.. Ii. 1 have no
right to object. He is easier pleased
han l am-Lhat's all. L believe he is
lonest and do not believe he wishes to
deceive anyone! But Mr.. Editor, he rs no
drmer. Here is the proof: 81 say pos
lively the road leading from this place
o Hochheim is very nearly all sand
md grGUeL; and in fact nearly all roads
eadlng from Cuero for many miles are {
and and gravel" These are his exact ,
words Now / annual the fArnRF9 of
Tennessee and the South generally, to |
Know what use they have for cOun-
ry, the roads of which are all sand and
,ravel? We have in Northwest Texas,
strip of country called for short, "the !
DEVILS Truck Patch" The roads
Trough it are all sand and grdUeL just 6
ike our friends. The flora of That I
trip consists of briars, catclaw, shin r
ak runners and black jack. Its fauna -,
) lizzards, ants, beetles ticks and
mats. There is no nutritious or palata-
lie vegetation; aud the only relief from
he universal desolstion is, the occa-
iOnal jntting up of an ugly sandstone G
r black concrete rock. Farmers !
very where will recognize the charac- /;
ar of a country the natural roads OF .
1hich are nearly all sand and gravel. l
he roads OF Texas are all natural roads q
nd partHke of the chan acter OF the t
IHds through which they ale opened. l
'arTuerS, is not that the case in every :
onntry? Mr.. Grafton must have been {
ut on one of these roads assessing the =
hiRgers and Eatydids, or stuck fast i'll
mud hole in the Guadalupe bottom, '
Ihen l was prospecting in Dewitt, [
ence l missed the pleasure of meeting I
i'm. u
Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco and Gains o
lille We're inconsiderable hamlets, Cole
nan, AbilenS, San Angels and hun
reds of other prosperous towns in
est Texas had no existence when l
apital began to cast about for routes
yer which to construct railroads in
'eXas. Common sense tells every
e adler of the HERALD that these roads
'ere constructed in those sections %
he State that presented the greater I
romise. Capitalists knew that Iher" I
as no present profit in the Investment, l.
ut they had the good Judgment to Sc
act those sections that possessed the
erms OF development in the highest
egree.
1 may net trespass further on your t
pace and good nature, to reply in de I
Ill to all the points in the letter from fl
uero. Enough for one time. q
Sincerely yours, II. n. BLAKLEY. :,