River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-02-20


and any doubts which we may have
entertained regarding good lands in
Texas were absolutely dispelled be-
fore we had driven two miles. We
saw some of the best land out of
doors and we are sure that we got
no false impressions for the reason
that we saw the land at its worst in
stead of at its best. We encoun-
tered considerable rain that day but
even in the face of this we all agree
that as farming country Texas has
any other section in United States
absolutely beaten. The drainage
throughout the country was excep-
tionally fine and the roads in re-
markably good condition consider
ing the fact that this is the wet sea
son of the year. We drove all
through at rapid trot and covered
thousands of acres in our examina-
ton of lands. We found some of as
good corn as our own state or Iowa
could produce and found that it was
raised right on this land with little
or no cultivation.
On every hand we were impressed
with the great possibilities for
Northern people who will go into
that country and work land as we
do up here. There seems to be a
general feeling of satisfaction among
the old planters of this section who
feel that when they have enough to
carry them along for the rest of the
year they let their lands lie idle. A
Northern man, though, can go in
there and profitably work his land
at least eleven months of the year
and as the soil gives forth larger
crops for the early market you can
form some idea of what prospects
are for an Industrious farmer in the
Gulf Coast country. Before we left
the Streeter Company's land we all
felt that the claims made for this
section were not strong enough.
We resumed our journey towards
San Antonio for the purpose of
making train connections for the
bull fight but as stated before were
unsuccessful in this respect. We
found enough of interest however
in San Antonio to occupy A1r time
for Sunday, Monday and up until
Tuesday noon. We took in the
famous Alamo which is the cradle
of Texas liberty and holds very
sacred place in the history of the
state. 1t was here that 100 Texans
held the Alamo, which is an old
church, for ten days against 5000
Mexicans, all of the band agreeing
to die fighting rather than surrender
to the invaders. There are many
relics of the fighting days in this
historical place and it is we'll worth
anybody's time to make thorough
inspection of it's several points of
interest.
We also took an automobile trip
to the Old Missions which have been
standing almost two hundred years
and heard many of the old stories
which are associated with these
places. San Antonio is just full of
places which are rich in historical
tales and we consider the time spent
there as the most interesting of all
our trip.
From San Antonio we returned to
Houston, stopping there merely be-
tween trains, going from there to
Galveston. 1t Will be remembered
that Galveston was the scene of the
great flood few years ago. There
are but few evidences of the flood
left but the stories which the in
habitants tell were vivid enough to
make us realize what a great catas-
trophe they experienced. A great
sea wall of concrete has been built
along the entire harbor front since
that time which absolutely will
prevent a recurrence of the flood.
Whole sections of the town have
been elevated anywhere from five to
eighteen feet. We also made very
interesting trip among the docks
and wharves of the town inspecting
many of the great ocean ships which
were loading with cotton and other
products of the South on their way
to European points. The British
Jack" was as familiar sight in the
harbor there as our own Stars and
Stripes" and we got much valuable
information from the many steam
ship people we met.
We also took in several good
shows while we were down in the
South and altogether had one of the
most enjoyable trips imaginable.
We figured on taking trip to New
Orleans by water from Galveston,
! b,14 learned ,1Do, arrival that we