The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-03-18
Correspondence Baltimore County Union
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
A Very Severe Winter-Thousands Of
Horses and Cattle Perish From
Cold-Handsome Church
Dedicated, Etc. Etc.
BRYAN. BRAzos County,, TEXAS,


Messrs Editors THE UNION comes regularly,
arriving every Tuesday morning, looking as
bright and clean as when it left your office.
We in this State have experienced the coolest
weather here in more than twenty years. The
number of cattle that persisted from cold will
reach away up into thousands. At Angeton. in
Brazoria county, at last accounts there had been
$4,000 worth of hides taken from cattle found
on the prairies near that place. There were
heavy losses also in hogs, sheep and horses. On
the I'd day of February, known as grounding
day." it was cloudy and freezing cold, and had
been for several days before. February 18th was
the coolest day of the season. Freezing point
was reached all over the State. At Abilene the
thermometer registered degrees below zero,
which, according to accounts, was the coolest
point reached during the winter. The first five
days Of the present month were beautiful and
warm, very springlike weather, but on the 9Th
clouds began to appear from southern direc-
ton and distant thunder betokened the approach
of storm. On the 18th rain began falling and
has been pouring down ever since. The streets
of our little city are flooded, making walking
very dificult. The damage done to farms will
doubtless be considerable.
Last Sunday the new Baptist Church that had
benin course of construction for a year or more,
was dedicated. The number of people present
was varionsly estimated from 1000 to 200. The
seating capacity of the church is about l,OO0and
after all the seats were occupied there were per-
haps 200 more in vehicles and standing in the
doorways. Rev. B. III. Dement,, pastor of the
Baptist Church of Waco preached the opening
sermon. announcing as his subject 1.-THE Church
and Its Services" His text was from first Tim
othy, 3:l5 "But if 1 tarry long. that thou mayest
know. how thou oughtest to behave myself in
a. soA L. col.~ Oh, ofk
living God, the pillar and ground of truth" AS
preface to the sermon the preacher congratu-
lated the pastor and people at large upon the
great work accomplished in building such a
handsome structure and upon the opening of
the way TO greater activities and opportunities
for usefulness. Few cities the size of Bryan
possess such magnificent church. 1t testifes to
the Christian energy and devotion and TO the
generosity of her people. The sermon was elo-
Quent and forcible and made profound impress
sion. The first part was description of the
church temporal and, as a spiritual edifce, the
distinction being beautifully drawn and elabor-
ately explained. The second part of the dis
course related to the work of the church, the
duties and obligations of the membership, etc.
1t was full of simplicity and truth. Bryan now
has two of as fine churches as are anywhere in
the South, and there will probably be new one
erected in the near future by the Christian de-
nomination. We are proud to see the good
work go on.
On the third of this month this little city was
visited by one of the most destructive fires that
it has ever known. The cottonseed oil mill was
discovered to be in blaze about A. M and
there being such a large quantity of oil and 9TH
er combustible matter in the building the
entire structure was consumed in short time.
The loss to the company is heavy, as the place
was stored with oil, seed, meal and cotton, upon
which there was no insurance. There was. how
ever, an insurance upon the building and ma
chinery of $4,000. The loss to the company is
variuusly estimated from $50 1000 to 100000. Be-
sides the company's loss the absence of the mill
will be keenly felt by ranchemen near the city
who depended upon its products for feed for
their cattle. The meal made from the cotton
seed was used also to large extent fertilizer
and is considered one of the best things used in
this portion of the State to put new life in old
wornout land.
think there will be general building boom
in this town as soon as the weather will permit.
Contracts for several new residences have al
ready been made. M.