Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-08-19
Vol. xxx.
South Texas a Paradise.
A COUNTRY WHERE FARM PRO-
DUCTS GROW THE WHOLE
YEAR ROUND.
A Fine Climate With Refreshing
Breezes From the Gulf of Mexico
Letter From j. r. Crockett.

Letter From j. r. Crockett.
of the Ledger
Rock ISLAND, Colorado County, |
Texas, August 10, 1877 know of no
other way to reach SO many people of |
your part Of Missouri than to send an
occasional letter to the Great Relig-
lous weekly, thereby answering al
great many questions that many want |
TO know about the gulf coast Of South
Texas. The people from the northern
and northwestern States who are now
such interest in this sec
tion Of Texas should properly proceed
on the theory that they are simply
for natural conditions super
ior to those they desire to abandon in
the other States. Under such circum-
stances and with such views they can
hardly be disappointed In South
Texas. Too many try In their resJless
search for an Eldorado to find every
thing perfect and without possible
objection. 1t is possible that all that
heart could wish for cannot be found
in South Texas or the Texas coast re-
gion, but it is equally as certain
that more of the pleasant conditions
favorable to cheap and comfortable
living and profitable labor in the field
of agriculture and stock raising can
be found here than in any other sec
ton in the Southern States. This re-
gion is not locked in ice and snow for
elk months of the year, as in the
northwest, and the cost of living dur
ing the winter months does not con-
sumo the profits of the remainder of
the year. The heat is not productive
of prostrations and Is tempered by the
continuous breezes from the gulf. The
lands are yet to be had at a compare
lively small price and there is not a
more fertile soil in the United States,
nor one in which greater variety OF
crops can be produced with as little
labor. These are considerations that
ought to appeal at once to the prac-
tical sense of home-seeker and in
telligent agriculturists. The cities oi
Houston and Galveston and the Other
large towns scattered through the
territory are possessed of splendid
shipping facilities and offer ready
market for everything that can b'
produced. No false hopes should b'
held out to inqurers; the good and thu
bad should be presented to them IL
order that they may not be deceivet
and disappointed. The many and de-
eided advantages in climate, variet.
of products, cheapness of living AM
possibilities for the future are SO su
perior to those of the rigorous north
west that there is no necessity for de
ception in presenting our claims. L
no place kriow of can lands be pur
I chased so cheap 30 near railroads
? near markets and large cities. Fo
t general farming and fruit and vegeta
3 BILE culture and stock raising it ca
' not be excelled, and land, when i'm
proved, will be worth as much
more than our famous Missouri liant
OF course equally rich soil is found
D many other sections of Texas, but on
: principal advantage is found In OF
Q extraordinary climate, which enable
Q us to produce practically twefv
II months in the year. This coast sec
y ton is the home OF the vegetable.
9 may seem strange to people at di'
II tance who know of but one crop p
70 season, but some of the fields in tn
j. section would seem curiosity to the
n indeed; for they have been made
a produce three crops 80 far this SCI
1t son-being first planted to bean
among which melons were plante
in addition to which cotton was dri
ed in between the rows. A fine cr'
Dr. of beans was gathered In March 81
j. April, magnificent melons in June al
ic the cotton, which is fine, Is aoo
r. ready to pick now. Where corn
planted instead of cotton the groul
Of would be available for crop OF Ia
ne fall vegetables; for they are gro'
to here in October, November and d
IN cember as we'll as the early sprir
to Cotton, however, continues to be
of ND to Christmas. Twelve months
n the year something or many thir
be are growing. The balance (7) OF
,d. wear our land lies idle. ]
at possibilities of this section
%, fruit culture are beyond estima
Ic- as the soil seems to
ys. particularly adapted to it, and
Dol ability to ship to other less favol
ch points, assures fancy prices, as we
In free from competition. Caiifor
he PEOPLE are investigating and say
will rival California, and 1t is for
ed eight hours nearer market and che
ast rates to the North and East. oysts
ar fish of q great many sorts, lobsts
rit, green sea turtle, shrimp and Q
nv CLAIMS abound along our coast. v
,ad duck, geese, turkeys and wide raj
md of the finest game 10 had, and the n
will with the game leg can send TO
Ia market or hobble around himself
He buy all these cheap and fresh, incl
his ing venison steak at price OF
.ir- steak.
the what this country needs is to b
nv its actual condition placed before
zen people of the north, east and "
sdy Comparison with any section wiz
favorable to this In many ways.
yes instance, the wonderful heaithfuir
.ir- of this coast country, II only kno
the would induce investigation, WI
or would show that we are aosoiu
on free from malaria-no swamps In
lcountry-no throat and lung trou
r. and that our pure sait-lsden attn
phere, direct from the Cult, WIN :
orr. catarrh. Consumption - unkne
except among visitors, who are