Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-11-23
DOWN In TEXAS
III. y. Campbell writes EntertainiDgIy
of the Great Southwest-Mtchig
Good Enough.
Dallas. Texas. Nov. l8. 1905.

Dallas. Texas. Nov. | 8. 1905.
E. 3. Lapham, Ed. Banner;
Dear Sir;-I have for some time past
been thinking | would write you another /
letter as those have sent on former oc-
casons have been so well received
wish to sound warning note or rather TO
say few words to those of our state
who seem discontented and are talking OF
the great south vest and its glowing at
fractions and how cheap land is and how
easy money is made there. Their infor-
nation will be found in gaudly printed
circulars from land companies and rail-
road Immigration agents. You will find
they tell you so many went into such
place last year and none came back.
They don't tell you why they did not come
back. leaving you to believe all were so
well pleased they had no desire to do so
| will tell you the main reasons many do
not return. 1t is too far to walk, SIM
ply that and nothing more The poor old
horses that hauled the Prairie Schooner
into the land of promise have long since
been laid away beside the dry course of
some little creek and all that remains is
few dry bones that the crows and buzz
yards could not eat
Only this week saw family of man,
wife and five children and | wish all who
have the Migratory Fever could have
seen the sallow. hollow-eyed. expression
less faces; all soowed too plainly disap-
pointment and blasted hopes. saw
them eat their dinner and this was the
menu: Two Sc packages of soda crack
ers, cheap can of salmon and some
muddy coffee served in an old tin pail.
This was absolutely all the family of sew
en- had. The man put part of the salmon
into the cover of the pail and the oldest
girl held it in her lap; three other child
rem took it m their fingers and putting it
on the crackers, ate as though they liked
it and indeed heard one say, good amt
it," You are comfortably housed at home
in Michigan. who are trying so hard to
raise crop of discontentment and who
think they would be better off anywhere
But you say know Of so and so who has
done fine down there. Yes some do sue
coed here SO do some in digging lgold but
the present age of failures inc each is about
100 to that succeeds but you never
hear Of those who failonly those who sue
ceed The letters and circulars of the
land agents (be it said TO their everlasting
shame) never do record any failures. One
Of these land companies, finding | was
from Michigan, made me an offer of 5
an acre on all land sold to parties might
influence to leave Michigan and come
southwest and | am proud to say have
never received one dollar from them. !
have nothing lin real estate to sell in
Michigan or elsewhere. | have no lax to
grind" realize there are two sides to
every question but the land agents only
tell one side will tell the other as |
have seen it.
You cannot buy good land any cheaper
here than you can IN Michigan and in
many instances the price will be found full
as high and not fence post on the land
Great crops of fruit and vegetables, yes.
out big potato grower from Oklahoma
told me all potatoes used here after Nov
st must be shipped in from the North,
as ours will not keep. How would you
ike that Mr.. Potato Grower in Michigan
All the grapes you find on the fruit stands
here bear either the label of New York
or Michigan grower. so if you must leave
Michigan and want the good fruits of the
state you will have to buy them Of US who
are going to stay there. have been a
travelling salesman for nearly % years
and have been through Sc states, 2
territories Canada and District of Column
oia and have never found any place
without Disadvantages am satisfied that
the all-wise creator did not distribute all
the good things in one place but scattered
them all over this broad land | am sat-
sfed that our state has as many advan-
tages and as few disappointments as any
part of the country have seen. If your
buildings need fixing take the money you
would have to pay for railroad fare and
freight and fix them up (you need it more
= than the railroad) cultivate your ground
, thoroughly, put in good crop of content
: ment and tend it well Let TEDDY" run
= the government he can do it better than
: you can. even il you do have bill and
8 John" to help you and good box to set on
z down at the grocery store, you stay at
! home and take good care of what you
: have and remember that wiser men than
Z we have said IAN we can get in this
I world is our board and clothes, so if you
5 are getting good living and just little
Z more each year be satisfied and happy
) for that is all you can DO anywhere But
il you must go-go alone, don't take your
y wife and children and il you love than