The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-01

10 come up 10 load ana unload frciEht lat
Houston. Judging from the remarks that
were made by several members, the pr&-
poets for these improvements are vek
good.
After we were introduced as Mennonitcs
our people were welcomed We did not no.
tice anything OF the so-called sleepy South.
Houston is lively city. II has sixteen rail-
roads. Of which several Rave their general
offices and shops here. The Southern Pa
cifc employs $500 men. the Houston and
Texas Central the same number. four c.,
mills employ 1900 men. In all the pay rol
OF the different factories railroads etc ,
amounts TO from 100000 TO half a million
dollars per month. The city Is fair mar
ket for garden truck and farm prodults
raised in the city. hut more than that It Is
storing center for goods and farm pro-
ducts for export.
These goods are loaded into bsrges, then
hauled down on Buffalo river to Galveston,
where they are reloaded into large ocenu
steamers for export. This small river is
the means that cQmpels the railroads to
make deep water rates to the interior OF
the country. For instance. the freight to
Kansas City and ST, Louis is s35 per hum
dred weight to Chicago $40 While we
were thare the freight from New York to
Galveston went down 10 . cents per 100
pounds We also found the people OF Hous-
ton to have sense for religious and spir.
itual matters, as indicated by the great
number of nice churches tower 30), among
which the newest, Presbyterian church,
cost $4,000, is a splendid building with an
organ that cost $40 1000 The next finest
church, perhaps, is the Episcopal church.
Thursday we took the train to Fairbanks
Near this place are located several Men
ncnite families among whom are John
Dalke and II. Lettkeman, from Hiilsboro.
Kan Mr.. Hepner of the same place mas
bought land there. The soil here seems to
be especially adapted to truck farming,
berries and horticulture and alfalfa. The
water is good. The natural grass IL mostly
blue stem. There is no lack OF hardwood
timber. The land, which was rather wet
while we were there. can nevertheless be
easily drained, for the small creeks are
ample to carry off all the water Bro Dalke
kindly took us by wagon to the Mennonite
settlement at Westfeld. The country
through which we drove seemed to be
rather fiat. and consequently there was
water standing here and there But 1t
would be an easy matter 10 draih the
land. especially If this matter would be
taken up by the legislature.
At Westfeld we found nice settlement
OF Mennonites from Colorado. Their min
ister is Bro. Henry Bergthold. They were
all very busy. industrious and full OF cour-
age. To our regret Bro. Bergthod was not
at home. so we could not stay with him
on the same night to Houston
Next morning We took the train east to
Crosby. where we engaged a team and
drove north perhaps twelve miles to see
| the tract OF land which was bought by Jo-
| seph Sebrag of Moundrdge, Kan. This tract
| consists of about 1900 acres OF splendid
| land. The soil may be called a sandy loan.
| There are about 1900 acres of prairie, sur
| rounded by 400 acres of fine timber. In Sc
| lecting this piece of land Nj. Sebras has
| again shown what a genius he Il when it
| comes TO business for after seeing and in
| specting lands in Oregon, California and
even Old Mexico. he has bought here. This
means something. In the neighborhood OF
this land are some more large tracts or
equally as good land for sale at from s. TO
81 per acre. timber and prairie mixed
| Next morning we went with j. s. Dough
erty per railroad to Richmond, county seat
Of Fort Bend county. This is a neat lively
place. There we took a team and drove out
to the So called Klaasen settlement. which
is located about ten miles south OF Rosen-
berg, Here we found several acquaintance,
Of whom will only mention J. +. Klaas-
sen, II. A. Unrich, H. Dahl and two
Bros. Klaassen. who used to live In the
neighborhood of Hilsboro, Kan. Accord
ing to our judgment this settlement ha:
struck the best land of all for general
farming. Every settler has some timber and
the land is well drained. The prairie looked
nice and green and was covered With blue
stem and white clover The well water
is soft like rain water and was pleasant
and cool. The timber consists mostly Of
live oak and pecans. | measured one o.
the former trees and found the trunk /,
be thirteen feet in circumference and the
top from rs to 100 feet in diameter.
The settlers here have done a great dea
of work Some of them will break up al
many as 100 acres of prairie this spring
and intend to plant most of 1t in cotton
Saturday evening my travelling companion
left me in order to take up his occupatl oi
again in Elkhart. Ind
The next day, Sunday, was n fine day
About half past in the morning the team
, commenced to gather at ]. p. Kleaasscn
where the congregation was to hold thci
meeting. Rev. Penner, formerly from Ne
y braska, preached the sermon. II could b
: felt how the Holy Spirit moved the con
I gregation In the afternoon they had Sun
day school at the same place. Bro. II. A
Unrich, superintendent, was leader in thi
work. and his stepson, Mr.. Friesen as
sisted him. The work was quite interestn
u and was carried ON lively. There wcr
!. about sixty-fivc persons present.
!; AT Alvin ] was met by Mr. Sosson. BE-
, tween this place and Galveston pcrso
sees fine pear orchards. also peach an
plum trees. Before We got to Galveston W
had to cross a strip OF water Of about thre
miles, for the city is built on an islam
Here found life, especially at the docks.
- What scenery was this to me, for
:, spent the first nineteen years OF my II
at seaport. These ships. sea gulls. vii
geese and especially the endless surface {
y water. But those old times have plsse
p" away. TO never return. and my only wis
now is that had made better use of m
time
Now the hour had come 10 leave tn
lovely spot and start for home got Their
= thank Cod. safe and also found all m
faTil- we'll
2 My impressions which received on tn
short visit were that our hrsth EN- who
: we all know. did not leave tbelr homes
the North and settled In NAe South b.
: cause they liked TO do II for tho SAKE
l. change. will not regret their move In ta,
=, lnE chosen Southern Texas for their futu'
II horn This country has good soi'.
healthy climate and good msrkets Nv he
. regards 10 I'll readers OF the Hilisboro pes
D remain During.
] Card from Mr.. Anderxon