Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1896-05-08
TEXAS

To the Editor Of the Iutenor Journal.


BRowSwooD, TEXAS, May 1. Ever
since my arrival in Rrown county have
been thinking would write letter 10
Jour paper. suppose the people thrfe
would like to hear something o. the
wild and woody west" That phrase, l
must say, ia a thing Of toe past. West
Texas is as tame 4 place IA any other
one. Those wild Gov by stories and
hairs breadth escapes are merely found
in papers and magazines.
Will my readers think / am anxious
for boom IL tell them something OF
my Southern home? Our town Is In the
South western part Of the State and is =
thriving place OF about 1000 Inhabitants
The Fort Worth and Rio Grande X. Il.
ends here. The Sante Fe passes here
and ends at st. Angelo. We have six
churches and promise OF two more soon;
one is partially Completed two colleges
aud two graded public schools, water
works and electric lights, round house,
several cotton gins, a compress and cot
ton seed oil mill. etc. The houses are
very nice but the yards are not 30 pretty
as in the old States. Most Of them are
minus the grass, though some have Der.
muds grass.
Lam los,h to say We have whisky back
again. We had time OF peace, but alas
we can't say as much now. We hope
and pray the next time We have an OPP
por,uni,y We will Dust II sgsin.
There is not much stock raising here
now. All the srsZing lands are turned
into farms aud wired up. Some stock
raising 10 done out farther West, but not
on such an extensive scale as Of yore
The pitching" horse, too, IL almost a
thing OF the past. Some OF the young
horses pitch or buck few jumps when
first ridden, but not those hall mile
pitches like they used TO. The long
horned cattle, too, are fast disappearing
and We are beginning TO have some fine
stock. We had stock show here some
time since aud although not 81 good ~
the old Kentucky stock, they were a de-
cided improvement on the Texas stock
of old.
nj must say this il lazy maus c'nn-
try, for after the crop IL put ia u takes
very little work TO compete IT, Cor F,
when there il a seasonabie year, makes
from 20 to 80 bushels per Scre, Data 30 TO
100. wheat from 20 to 10 per acre and
cotton from to ! Of a bale to the acre.
We have had one bad drouth since we
have been here aud il vas very distress
log then. Tue poor stock were the great
est sufferers from IT, All the water IN
the tanks, or ponds, Was dried up aud
the creeks and rivers we're so low great
deal of stock died from want OF water.
TIE grass, too, fest disappeared under
the burning heat. The winter after that
was one long 20 be remembered by all,
All the stock lived on Was prickly pear
psds. These were held over fire till
all the thorns were burned of and they
were yresdily deyoured by the cattle.
The drouth did not break mp till late in
the Spring and cut the next crop short
some. but people made enough to do
them. The rest Of the crops have been
good. Last year was fine year; most
all have corn left over nov alter using
plenty all winter
This is lovely Spring; everything IL
in fine condition. The grass IL nice and
the cattle and horses are sleek. Crops
are doing finely, corn is knee high and
oats are heading; the harvest time il
near Cotton is no aud looks nicely.
Ofthe people too much can not be
said. They are kind, G NAL and hospi
table. Taere ia no croSd OF stuck ups
ia erson ia nice 30, eau mix aud min
Ole with the richest. Poverty lie entire
lv laid aside. THE worth of a person II
looked At, not his homes and clothes
lauda, etc. In sickness they come anc
work. not merely asS in freezing tonei
how YOU are, but 20 sni stay for day
and nights. Oae can leave their sicl
and take rest coutentedlv, Tor they cal
know they will be cared Tor.
In the drouth here, when the poore
people were hard pressed for money Il
live on, Mr.. Henry Ford went East sn'
borrowed a large amount OF money ant
loaned it out for the people to live on Ill
their crops were made. ANY one VIII
tries to do for himself can make livin
here, for he can go to the towns and re
what he needs for the support OF hi
family and when the cotton is raised b
can pay.
lam afraid am writing too much TO
one time. But will you be lenient will
me /? for Texas is a subject | can't DIVE
too long on at least to my thinking
This is not written to encourage immi
grafton, but simply because though
perhaps my old friends and relative
in Kentucky would like to hear some
thing of the place where ! live, and al
open letter would be better. II this es