McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-06-06
McNairians Touring in Texas

May Is. Reached Austin about dark
and drove up to hotel which was beau
tiful on the outside, but you can't tell
what is on the inside until further inves-
tigation. Austin is a beautiful city sit
uated on the Colorado river and noted
for its immense supply of mosquitoes.
May 10, out of Austin by the way of
Round Rock. In this part of the coun-
try they had had a big rain few days
before, 7-inch rain accompanied by
hail storm and wind, all fell in 2 hours.
1t had wiped the young cotton entirely
off the field and left the corn in shreds.
The cotton had been chopped out and
had or 8 leaves on it; farmers very
much discouraged, but planting their
cotton again, Next towns, Georgetown,
Corn Hill and Sedalia; stopped for din
ner. Sedalia is one of the Oldest towns
in Texas. 1t was run against Austin for
the capital and missed it by one vote. 1t
is ten miles off the railroad on the old
stage-coach road. Next Bolton, county
site of Bell county; Temple, Waco, spent
night there. May 20, out of Waco by
way of Hillsboro, Itasca and Grandview
Here we met a Mr.. A, j. Ingle from
Savannah, Tenn. He left Tennessee in
1869 and is prosperous farmer near
Grandview. Next Maypearl, ,Waxahachie,
Dallas, spent night there. Dallas seems
to be the center. This is. the third time
we have been there.
One good feature of this trip is not
having to catch trains. We go when it
suits us best. Up to this time we have
never stopped one minute to work on
the cars. They have been perfect, not
even puncture. This southern trip was
grand; the scenery beautiful. God has
strewn wild flowers abundantly along
the highways, and parts that are not cul-
tivated are solid bed of wild flowers.
From Dallas May q we start north
west tour; our aim is to reach Memphis,
Tex. We start across the cross timbers.
Land is not so fertile. You could not
distinguish the difference between the
forest here and in McNairy county if it
were not for the pecan trees. They are
almost as plentiful as black jacks on the
MeNairy ridges.
Our first stop FIT. Worth, great COM
mercial city; spent night in magnifl
cent hotel We all visited the stockyard
and slaughter pens. We went through
Swift's packing house and saw them
slaughter and dress COWS, sheep and
hogs; went through the storage rooms.
My, we felt like we had reached the
North Pole! The guide cirfied us
through the entire building and saw
so much meat haven't been hungry
yet. In the afternoon Mr.. j. f. Hendrix
from Bonham joined us; also we got in
company with man going our western
tour in an tomobie=-another streak
of good luck for us, SO we all started
again. First town Rome; Decatur, conn
ty site of Wise county. Here we met Mr..
D. T.. Carter of Gravelhill, McNairy
county. He almost shed tears of Joy at
seeing us.
just out of Decatur about 10 miles |
tried to forget for a moment that was
in Texas, thinking we would land at Old
Purdy, scenery looked so natural.
Next town Alvoid, Sunset, Bowie for
supper; had to drive u miles to Bellevue
for lodging, May %, out of Bellevue;
Henrietta, 4 good-sized town but coun-
try rough; felt as if | must have been
dreaming of some story had read Of
the great rock cliffs, deserts and lone
prairies. Next Wichita Falls, quite a
city, but dustiest place on the globe go
ing into city. Next Iowa-P Park, Electra
This is the center Of oil fields. / would
guess there are about 1000 wells around
here. A few years before oil was dis
covered this land sold for 81 to $3 per
acre and did not seem to be worth any
thing. For miles and miles you don't
see anything growing, not even gardens,
Guess the people live on oil (not castor
oil.) The laboring class of people live
in the cheapest little shacks and tents
ever saw. The managers go in and out
of Wichita Falls In autos. This section
of country is very dry; all prairie with
a growth of mesquite, too poor for any
thing else to grow, but you can't always
tell what is hidden and you couldn't
buy this land at any price. Further on
as we drove along OR eyes beheld the
most beautiful lake we had ever seell
was raving over Its beauty when to my
great surprise it was just a mirage. SO
now lam not surprised that Texas has
been misrepresented. for you cant be-
lieve your own eyes. On reaching Ner-
non we find land some better; some
wheat fields, and hay making principal
occupation at present
Damsite is small town owned by one
man. He has a hog ranch with 1000
hogs on it. ''lt's site snre enough. y
We also saw great herds of cattle and
sheep grazing on the natural prairie
grass, a beautiful sight had longed to
see; also we saw prairie dogs and mule
ear rabbits galore. Next town Quanah,
Childress, spent night there. Here j.
l.. and j. f. Hrndrix found their cousin.
Willie Hendrix, who had been away
from Tennessee>3 "a years. Only cousins
who had played together in childhood
DAYS and been senArated so lnnr cnuld