Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-31
THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
A Former Citizen of York Writes
Temptingly to His Old Friends.

Temptingly to His Old Friends.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
ToLAR, Hood County, Texas, May 26.
Having once been citizen OF your
state, andthinking perhaps that tne
readers of your valuable paper mlgnl
relish a bit Of news from the lar west,
especially when written by one WIN
whom many Of them are ACQUAINTED, l
will endeavor to chronicle re" tacus
about the great state of Texas, Where
I cast my lot 16 years ago. l Will say,
however, in the outset, that was rear
ed in the state of South Carolina. !
left the state when I was boy ana
dwelt in several of the western states
for short periods before reaching the
Lone Star" state, and while the OLD
Palmetto state will always occupy
sacred place in the page or memory,
and / will always enjoy visit there
among my friends and relatives, yet
from a financial standpoint, could not
think of leaving Texas and taking up
permanent abode in any OF the olo
states. Emigrants, in coming west,
claim that the light Of prosperity
dawns upon them when they reach
the Texas line. After emerging from
the rugged hills and the dismal swamps
of Arkansas and Louisiana, they are
first carried through the beautiful pine
forests of eastern Texas. Then come
the broad prairies, dotted with pretty
houses and highly improved farms,
with a black rich soil, ranging IN depth
from 5 to 20 feet. About their places
YOU will notice all kinds of the latest
improved farming machinery, but none
like those of the old states. Neither
will you see the guano distributor; sucn
thing Is not needed in Texas. Wnlle
the black prairie land Of Texas Is con-
ceded to be the most productive, we
also have sections of postoak country
with a deep sandy soil that is unsur-
passed for cotton and vegetables and Is
fairly good for corn. And neither do
these need fertilizers or guano distrio-
utors, as the soil is rich and product
i've. AS to the relative cost of making
a crop here and in the old states, l Will
say that there is no comparison, as IN
the smooth parts Of the state, hillside
bitches, crab grass, rocks and stumps
are things unknown. and two good
hands can easily work 40 acres in cot
ton and 25 acres in corn. The hoe Is
never used in corn except to thin 1t 10
stand, and all the breaking Is done
with four horse breakers. breaking
from three to four acres day, and the
pio"Cu WIFI
plowing out a middle at each through.
In ordinary years cotton averages one
half bale to the acre and corn about
30 bushels to the acre. Nearly every
farmer, in sections where the farms
are not too numerous, has small
bunch of cattle that adds to his In
come, as cattle always bring good
price in the west.
I know several parties who came to
Texas only a few years ago without
dollar, who are now in good circum-
stances. We sometimes have dry
year which cuts crops short, but even
then the average yield for each farm
hands exceeds that Of the old states.
We have just gone through the dryest
year I have ever seen since l came to
the state, and while it makes matters
little hard with us, I am $4,000 better
off than I was IS months ago, and l
have heard Of no one suffering. 'rops
are now looking well.
Now a few words about our citizens
and their customs. In the first place
they are the most generous and clever
people in the world. In the next place
they are religious, educated and ref1ned.
And best of all, we have no puor ar1s-
tocracy. but plenty Of wealthy gentle.
men. Every good citizen. regardless or
wealth, is on a social equality.
Now with all these blessings how can
sny one stay from within the borders
of such a state? Respectfully,
]. J. HoGUG.