The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-05-28
A Letter from Texas.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, May 81, 1903.
Mr.. A. W. Knight, Editor The Bamberg
Herald-Dear Sir: The Herald has beer
most welcomed messenger since my ar
rival here Have been so much on the g
that I have not had time to write. My
last was to the County Times, and now
drop you few lines. In my last | gave
sketch Of my trip as far as to the Sabine
River, where passed over into this great
Empire State. A short run and we are in
the famous oil fields of Beaumont, but
they are not situated near the railroad
being some distance South of where we
passed. Yet the entire atmosphere is i'm
pregnated with the oil, and oil is the
theme, and great quantities are to be seen
in large tanks, in transit on the railroads.
The large rice fields are interesting to
look upon; this entire Gulf shore for hun
dreds of miles is rapidly becoming the
most suitable place for the growth of rice
since machinery can be used to such great
advantage, both in the cultivation and
gathering of the grain. Sugar cane (the
ribbon) is extensively grown, and you are
constantly passing through great fields.
1t is quite a novel sight to see the plow
men as they 60 in great companies COM
ing and returning to their labor over these
broad fields. Steam tram roads are used
to carry the cane to the large steam mills.
Not until we reached the high rolling
hills, dividing ridge between the Colo
RADIO and the great Guadaloupe rivers, do
you come into a very desirable farming
country. Here you find the Germans and
Bohemians have settled. They are good
farmers, do thorough work; neat and
handsome cottages are to be seen on all
sides. By far the best corn and cotton
fields that l have yet seen.
But the entire South, as far as / have
passed over, is very backward this year,
and especially the great river valleys of
this State, owing to excessive rains dur
ing the latter months of winter, and fol-
lowed by a long cold spring. The farmers
are yet planting their cotton, but about
finished, now cutting out TO stand, and
looking very we'll, good healthy color, and
if it were not for the boil weevil, which
has of later years been very disastrous to
the cotton crop in this section, there would
be great prospects for large crop here.
But the future is doubtful. The corn is
indeed beautiful, and as you reach the
higher elevations of the State, the oats
and wheat crops are doing well, and the
outlook is favorable for good crop OF
small grain.
But let me drop one word for old Con
zales, the home of my early days. Here
first went to school, and the college walls
from whence graduated in 1850 are still
standing, but have been renlodeled into a
handsome private residence. My old home
has also heen greatly changed, yet the old
oak that stood near the window where the
mocking birds used to sing still remains.
"Oh! woodman, spare that tree,
Touch not single bough,
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now"
l was glad to see that something had
withstood the "wreck of matter and the
crush of worlds" For truly it does seem
that the last half century has wrought such
great changes that we now behold new
creation. No longer do we see great droves
of horses nor hear the tinkling bells of
lowing herds, winding their way over hills
and through the woods to their resting
places at the close of day. But in their
stead you see the cotton mills, electric
lights and waterworks, and all the inno-
vations, conyeniences and comforts OF
modern times.
But few of the old houses are now
All are new, many magnificent
buildings, both public and private. But
found no difficulty in finding my way, for
when boy had followed my father, the
who at that time had much to do
in the plan and survey of this city. Its
streets, even at that early period, were ex.
tended far out into the country. Little did
I think that should ever see them as they
now appear.
need not say that 1 am enjoying my
trip and in good health. I hope soon to
be with you all again. Expect to leave
here about the 9th instant, and reach
home about the last of this month, as l
expect to stop a few days in Alabama
on my way back. Kind regards to all my
friends. L. N. BELLINGER.