Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-08-18
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
Gossip About the crop--A Small Cyclone.
Cost Of Raising Cotton.

v"ssip Apout inc trUp--A small Cyel0ne--
Cost Of Raising Cotton.
MIssooRI Cry, TEX, Aug. 8, 1897.
Cotton is opening up nicely and pick.
ing will commence this week in earnest
and will continue until near Christ.
mas. We have had tolerably dry
summer 80 far, although corn matured.
tolerably we'll and is selling at twenty
five to thirty five cents per bushel.
Cotton will stand more dry weather
than most any other crop. 1t would
have been better with little more
rain. HaYing is still in progress and
lasts here from the first OF May until
the first Of November.
We had storm of wind here the 4th
instant in which two houses were
blown down, one unoccupied the other
had the wife and three children OF Mr..
Scadden In 1t; the wife was hurt go
she died the 9th instant; one OF the
children had an arm hurt q little. Part
OF the house was burned up, 1t was,
scattered so 1t did not all burn. tits
no wonder houses blow down here,
they are put up on such light plan;
just thin box houses. not ceiled, set up
on blocks sawn from trees six to four
teen inches in diameter. twelve to
twenty four inches long and set on
top of the ground and just little
wind will jump them off the blocks
and then but little more turns them
over. This is the average Southern
Texas house, although few men build
good substantial houses. The average
Texan warm their feet and bake their
potatoes In the same stove. As our
Northers only last two or three days at
time then all is mild agnin rs spring.
Mr.. Scadden lost most Of his household
goods. The next day 500 cash was
made up to rebuild or help put up
another house for him; thus you see
we have generous, warmhearted peo.
pie who will help to bear each others
burdenss There was also a school
house mounted on six by six blocks,
a new cotton gin on four by four
blocks laid fatways on top of each
other, and house likewise, at Almeda
was jumped off the blocks. No wonder
Texas has the name of having or being
a land Of cyclones when stout man
can almost shake house down with
no wind at all. We have no stones
here to make foundations and every
one builds in hurry, and it is often
lovenly done.
One thing l notice about our old
Loafer's Glory Society members here,
there were two members last summer
who sat around the stores most OF the
time and cussed the country and let
their crops take care Of themselves,
that returoed from whence they came,
(Missoui@ aiSwe have none st all
now to represent the cause, and all
have good crops which we are all proud
to see and all are In good heart.
I had the pleasure today Of visiting
with friend Of mine Ia Dane) fam.
lily OF his native countrymen and took
dinner with them; they were poor
but happy family, and I certainly en-
joyed their hospitality, and according
to their custom in the old country,
they had their coffee at 40 clock In the
afternoon; coffee and cake, they told
me that is the custom in Denmark to
take coffee and cake every Sunday
evening and have their pleasant talk.
certainly enjoyed it and a more So
ciable family l never visited. There
are several settlements Of Danes in this
coast csqntry and they are an indus
trious, enterprising people. They buy
small farms and cultivate them well,
visit each other and enjoy life and are
seemingly as happy as people can be
and make those who come in contact
with them happy.
In regard to my cotton crop, will
now give the items of cost to the pres
ent time, as the cultivating is over and
the harvest is ready to gather: Black.
smith bill and feed for mules, $50 48;
hired help, $40 Of; grocery bill, S82 rs;
cotton seed, $S; total, S148 81. After
crop is gathered I will give results as
they turn out as promised to, with
figures, &c. JACK RABBIT.