Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-07-07
LETTER R 0 TEXAS.
From Houston to Galveston and Points
Between.

Between.
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, June 90, 1897
1t was my pleasure to travel from
Houston to Galveston, fifty miles.
There is some six or eight stations on
the line of the G. G. & s. F. R. r., and
at each station is a little settlement
and farms opened up and cultivated in
early vegetables of all kinds-water.
melons, stra wberries, peaches, pears
and other fruits. A special train Of six
or seven cars left Alvin Saturday night
loaded with watermelons and other
vegetables for Chicago, to go through
on express time and get into market.
Many of these settlements are six to
eight miles apart, and the space be.
tween is all open prairie just as good
and precisely the same quality Of soil
as that in cultivation. Very little cot.
ton is planted; gard an truck and fruits
are the main crops under cultivation.
saw some pear trees loaded down with
fruit, and all vegetables and fruits
found a ready sale In the northern
markets. 1t is the finest garden and
fruit land ever saw, just enough
sand to make the ground nice and
mellow to cultivate. Twelve years ago
this land was only thoughtto be useful
for stock, and large herds ranged over
the prairie, but now ii is a perfect
garden spot wherever cultivated, and
30 little OF it is as yet under cultivation.
Alvin is nearer the center between the
two points, 1t is also the largest town.
The inhabitants of these towns and
settlements are from the northern
States with a good many German and
other foreigners, and are an industrious,
e%nterprising people, and take great
pride in their work. There are more
farms of twenty acres and under than
there is over that amount, and they are
we'll titled. Some farms of five acres
and they are certainly a thing of
beauty and bring handsome returns
for the labor put upon them. The
Galveston water supply is taken twelve
to fourteen miles in background and
under bay pipes from an artesian well
located at Hitchcock, twelve miles
from Galveston. l saw a stream of
pure water as clear as crystal passing
under the railroad and into the ditch
alongside. 1t is the only stream I've
seen that looked like the limestone
branches in East Tennessee. l wanted
to get off and take a drink but was
afraid the train would leave. 1t came
from an artesian we'll close by. Why
say this is a desert country when such
beautiful streams can be had by a little
labor. 1t don't amount to near as
much as clearing the steep hillsides,
rolling stones and preparing land,
then climbing steep hills all ones life
time to cultivate, besides there lie no
time in the year but what one can 20
to the garden and get vegetables for
the table. In Galveston | saw three
or four large steamships and a dozen
or two smaller vessels which were
quite a curiosity to one not used to
seeing them. The pl~easantest part of
my trip was a bath in the Gulf of
Mexico. ! stood for some time looking
at them, both men and women, bathing
in the water and watched them Jump
the big waves or go under them and
concluded I'd try it to see how 1t went,
so l says to a fellow with gold framed
spectacles and gold pointed front teeth:
Says l, show does a greenborn do to
go in swimming here?" Says he give
me two bits for this ticket and come in
the room here and I'll tell YOU" l
did 20 and he took the ticket back and
gave me a bundle of goods, and said:
10 along yonder TO those little rooms
and 60 into the first one you find closed,
put on this suit lock the door and bring
the key to me-" l did 80, and when l
got the suit On the legs of it was about
three feet too short and the sleeves was
like those of a ladies shirt, minus the
%ruffles, I stepped out of the little room
locked it, feeling as big as Bob Fitz-
simmons, and handed the key to the
proper n l ventured forth to try
my luck. The bathing house Is built
on piles about fifteen feet high, one
hundred yards from the shore, and
had to go down a fight of steps to
enter the water. l went very cautious.
ly holding to the rope, when / got out
some fifty yards from the building, l