The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-08-08
LETTER FROM COLORADO,
A very Interesting Lett r. from, Our
Correspondent liz the Far West.
Mr.. BAILEY is q Fine DcS-
Criptivc Writer. e..
TELLING THE TRUTH IN TEXAS.

the III Z. - iho papers Ev the same
mail. llsase accept my most sin
cere thanks for the vast amount I, {
interesting reading ,'cv afforded nc.
Language fails me in wh;cI I "uui,l
like to express my appreciation of
those mementoes Of my old home.
They were the most interesting of
any papers [ ever read.
L feel rather timid about giving
my praise about that Texas trip, but
it was certainly delightful reading.
l am very sorry that it stopped so
soon and hope you will continue more
of it because l know the half has
not been told. But you have been
carried SO high on the tongues of
praise regarding the write.up feel
you may become vain should such
applause continue much longer. But
that was not the only news of interest
to me. In fact every article was
read with interest but can only men,
tion few that seemed Just like being
back in old South Carolina once
more. The educational notes were
OF vast interest to me and hope our
people may continue to advance along
these lines until we have reached as
high standard as any people in any
country, and it is with much pride
that | notice the names of the grad
uating class of the Graded School.
1t is a pleasure to me to remember
having met the two who stood highest
in that class, and prouder still that
one is a first cousin of mine. Well
done, Lillian, I hope you may reach
the height of your ambition.
That Memorial Day address of
Capt. Douglass (as we always knew
him from my childhood) was very
fine. l always knew him as noble
gentleman and lively fox hunter
but had mo idea he could make such
a talk as he did, but l guess he is
not so bashful since he became Sena-
tor.
| Well, l had started to write some.
thing of my trip through Texas but
after reading all that interesting news
from home | could not get nv mind
on anything else until l acknowl-
edged my gratitude to you for such a
treat. 1 had hoped to give you a
few lines about the first of every
month, but having been so very
busy ever since I came and the failure
to get your first paper caused me to
get behind at the first. 1 am very
sorry that | was not able to give you
a full description of the State capitol
of Texas, but the magnifcecne of the
building so dazzled my mind that my
notes were scattered all over mem
orandum book. | notice that | did
not even give the cost of the build
ing and that is very important
factor with all close observers. You
will remember that they were very
long time getting ready to start this
wonderful building and there were a
great many bids put in and consid-
cred. but Texas had more land at
that time than anything else and the
custodians of that great State were
very much opposed to going so deep
in debt at that time, so they wanted
a company to build the capitol just
as their plans called for for so many
acres of land instead of so many dol
lars, and at last company was
formed at Austin, most of the in
eorporators were Austin people. So
this building company agreed to put
up the building as per the plans sub
mitted for three millon acres of land
This land was all specified and was
laying in various counties over the
State. Some of it was worth nine
ten and fifteen dollars per acre while
some was not worth more than one
dollar per acre. The value of some
has increased wonderfully while some
is as cheap as when the contract wa.
made. However, the great capito
was completed and the contractor,
say it cost them 3,644,0OO but tn,
contractors never went broke, so it j
safe to say they came out all right
as the average price Of the land the,
got only cost them little over one an,
q half fdollaas per acre, but still Texa,
has millions of beautiful land, som
very valuable but most of it is very
dry pasture land and is leased GU
for long term of years to the cattl
men of the northwest. Texas ha
given away more land than most G
the States contain. but thew ca