The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-14
THE COAST COUNTRY.



by liza Porte Citizen.
Tho following article from Mr.. A. o.
Blackwell OF La Porte first appeared In the
La Porto Chronicle. The Information given
la of special interest to all persons who
wish To DO Informed concerning the coast
country OF Texas;
A letter was recently received by gem
tlemnn In La Porte from Corvallis, ore.s
containing numerous Inquiries the answers
to which would doubtless bo Of interest to
those contemplating moving to the coast
country. Az many such letters arc received
and there IL u general similarity IN tho
questions asked. the writer has undertaken
to answer In the Chronicle tho letter In
question, with the addition OF n few ques-
tons frequently asked by others. The guess
tons asked are as followu.
DO YOU liko the country, and have you
a good cimatef
DO you have plenty Of rain TO raise .
crop, or do YOU have TO irrigateY,
What Kinds OF grain can be raisedf
Does Tho wind blow the sand so one can
not zee his team ON tho road on account
of duBt7
10 you have good water and In plcntyf
Where In your market?
Are freight rates high
What 10 YOU pay farm handsf
What do you use for fuel. wood or COAL
and is 1t high In pricel
Is lumber cxpensive1
Does corn or rye do wellf
DO Irish potatoes do wellf
What is tho price Of raw land and can
places be had with some inproysmentsf
does II yet very hot In the summor3
liz there good fishing tbcrc7
Are farming tools high1
What can a good team OF mules or horses
be bought fort
what are good cows WORTH
Apayaripp unpati0aA In t60 order
asked, we reply:
We like the country and consider II one
Of tho very beat sections in tho United
States, all things considered. and tho oil
matc IL all that could be asked BY tho most
cxactng.
We have from forty.nve to fifty-two
inches Of rainfall annually. Plenty to raise
all sorts OF crops without irrigation. and
| It is generally well distributed.
Corn and oats are the leading grains.
with Knffir corn, sorghum. cow peas and
tho different millets for fornge crops.
Owug to the nature OF the soil. and our
heavy dcws during tho summer season. we
never have any dust. Even on the chocO-
late and sandy loan soils tho roads pack
hard
We have the very best artesian water
from flowing wells Plenty OF water for
stock can be had In surface wells at .
depth OF eighteen to twenty feet.
The local markets would be at Galveston
and Houston twenty-five and thirty miles
distant elites OF n combined population OF
1870 900 Inhabitants. Fruit. berries and gar
den truck are marketed all over tho coun-
try
Freight rates are not high. MS tho through
rates are regulated by water competition
and local rates are governed by the railroad
commissioners.
Farm hands (white) receive from SIS to
$40 per month. with board. We have no
| colored population In the immediate yicin-
| ity OF La Porte.
Wood is used exclusiveiy for fuel. and
| at the present time. and for many years
| 10 come. can be had at tho cost of cuttin1
| and hauling.
Lumber IL cheap, ranging from IS per
| 1000 up. as to quality.
Corn liz a staple crop. and rye 10 grown
| to a considerable extent. hut Ia used mostly
for pasture OF aoiliDg.
Irish potatoes do well and two crops are
raised a year.
! The price OF land In regulated entirely by
| 4s surroundings, nearness to railroads ana
| towns and other conditions II III much
| cheaper. generally spoalNsg. than In tbs
| Northwest There are some tracts offered
| with improvements.
IL does not get az hot here In the surn-
| mer as in the district lying north and west
| of Chicago. The mercury seldom rises
| above 90 degrees. and there is usually
| good breeze from the gulf. The warm sea-
| Son. however. Is much longer than In the
| north.
Tho Gsbing-in Galveston and San Jacinto
| BAYS IN OF tho best ana water towi ana
| game are plentiful.
| Farming tools arc about the same price
! as in the North.
! good team Of mules or horses can b.
| had from s75 to SIPS.
Good grade cows. $40 TO S4b each.
Al ,l... ln tufn nj nryt