Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-02-23
M. E. jenkins in Texas.

AT the request of the addressed
our many readers. we publish the
terville, Texas:
DEAR CHILDREN: | promised to write
and give you my candid opinion of this
country and as have travelled Il good deal
in the last month, interviewed a large
Ga OF lang agents and haYe seen
pared to give you my impression of this
country. You can buy land here from pc
and upward, and if you believe the agents
make good meal on salt alone, nor can a
man make living on the greater part
of this land.
known for several years, told me consider
able which he was interested i'll in Whar-
ton and Colorado counties: This land has
ing formerly belonged to the Southern
Pacific r. Il. and when that road went
into the hands OF !, receiver it was bought
ties were a great range for cattle it was
hard shedding for settler to compete with
the t! cowboys There was colony of Eng
llshmen settled about three miles from
where am writing some years ago and
6uilt quite town, two churches, three or
four stores, saloons of course, and every
thing that goes to make a thriving colony
but the end came suddenly.
was riding few days ago with man
who has lived here several years, when
near the railroad track and short dis
lance from New Philadelphia, the former
English town, we came across quite a
grave gray N .n,, en1Gnred who was buried
then-thcy died. The climate didn't
have anything to do with the burying.
One day the cowboys rcided the town and
small children who lived little out of
town, burned the. village, absorbed as
much whisky, as they could and went
satisfied an | hn Ia
kings were satisfied, too; but the situation
IS now changed, since the death of PR.
fierce some five years ago and the sale of
pany.
have met Mr.. John Linderholm and his
son, Harry; who with Mr.. Low, is the
Linderholm are workers and gentlemen.
You all know Mr.. Lowe and l now know
that all the statements he has made to me
about these lands can be relied upon.
Before forget it wish to state the one
woman who was left alive after the raid
on New Philadelphia is still here, and
has raised her family in good shape. She
owns about fifteen acres which She has
paid for by raising chickens has three or
four cows and makes butter. There is a
good market for butter and eggs at Hous-
ton. She says she matches chickens every.
month in the year.
Now, don't wish to worry you but wish
to say few more words concerning this
land. There is about 60,0OO acres in this
body of land. one half of which is now sold
and nearly all to Iowa and Illinois men.
1t is what we call a level country, yet fall
enough to carry off the water after a
heavy rain and at times it rains very
hard but in few hours you can work the
land. The grass is immense and last sea-
son nearly all the men were in the lav
business. 1t makes two or three tons to
the acre and cut twice during the season
with Il sure market at 81 to So a ton.
took dinner the other day with ii
a man named Thomas, from Audubon
county, Iowa. He has hogs as good as
garden was growing everything that
would grow in Iowa and looked like Iowa
gardens do in June; these things grow
peanuts dislike to tell it as it sounds
tishy. yet true. ] have Il sweet potato
that weighs II pounds and one hill Of nine
peanuts 60 to 10 bushels to the acre.
This town, Chesterville, has one store.
a school house, and good one dollar a
day hotel and good board at $3.50 per week.
The liverymen do a good business and
give satisfaction to their patrons. They
have good IDEAS about most things: both
Now a few more lines and I'm done.
When man with a little sand and some
money can get land here for 81 to $40 per
acre just as good as northern land It $50, if
they could see they would not hesitate to
come.
A word about the climate. This place is
300 feet higher. and the south and east
winds are delightful. 1t is hard to find IA
better climate or a better class of people.
came herea stranger and was never
treated better in my life | was told before
coming that | would get full of fever.
eaten up by mosquitoes, worried by flies
bitten by Il centipede. No one has ever
been bitten by poisonous insect. As for
the fever, flies and mosquitoes they are
tom lands which are worked by the negro.
There is difference between the southern
and northern negro; here they give the
white man the inside of the walk. This is
enough for this time. Hoping all are well
remain, Yours. NJ. f. JENKINS.