Year: 1872




To tho Editor Of the Herald;


Relieving that IN occasional letter from
this section of the Union might prove IN
toresting to your readers, take tho liber
ty Of sending you few lines In reference
to matters and things in and around th,
political "Mecca" Of the nation, and prin-
cipally to such matters in and out Of Con.
gress that may be Of interest and profit tC
the citizens Of Texas generally.


Owing to the pending elections and the
absence Of the President and a grea. many
Of our plea sure seeking citizens, Washing
ton has not been as lively as usual, but In
a few weeks from now our streets will
again present u gay and animated appear.
snce. Great public improvements have
been made during the past spring and
summer. Pennsylvania ayenue,our Broad
way has been completed as far as Rock
Creek, on the West, and affords splen.
did drive of two miles upon wooden
pavement, almost as Lowell and smooth rs
q floor. Other streets have been improved
in like manner. The District has awoke
from its Rip Van Wrinkle slumber and at
the present rate of progress the people Of
the United States, in a few years, can
boast of the most beautiful capital city in
the world.


The late elections have caused tempo.
rary halt in political movements. The
friends Of Greeley are getting over their
late defeats and preparing to renew the
struggle with greater vigor. While many
give up the contest, others claim 10 see q
triumph on The 9th of November. The ad-
ministration party of course expect to walk
right over the field without much opposi-
tion. The election of Greeley is not out of
the "wOods," yet tho depressing effect of
the late elections will be hard to overcome,
especially in the Middle and Western
States. The New York Tribune, on the
morning of the late elections, claimed 1853
electoral Yates as sure for Greeley again t
60 as sure for Grant, leaving 1874 doubt
full, of which number 81 have certainly
gone for Grant, leaving him GA electoral
votes to get out of S3 and Greeley 81, 1874
electoral votes being necessary to choice.
So you may look for short but hot
fight.


COL Scott is busy making and complet-
ing contracts for the prompt and success
full completion of your great Texas Pacific
Railroad, and should his life be spared it
will in all probability outstrip the North
ern Pacific. Through his indomitable
perseverance, the people of Washington
can boast of another railroad TO Balti.
more, and relief from that exorbitant cor
poration, the Baltimore G. Ohio Railroad
Company, who have SO long controlled
our eastern and northern c3mmunication.


The successful completion Of the Texas
Pacific railroad being assured, will tend
much to the future prosperity Of yonr
State, and any suggestions that will tend
to increase that prosperity have no doubt
will be thankfully received. will there
fore devote the remainder of this letter to
the Statistical Division of the Department
of Agriculture, which, more than any 9TH
er branch of our executive government,
is botter adapted to promote not only the
interests of Texas, but of the whole Union.
This Division is presided over by Mr.. j.
r. Dodge, who is undoubtedly the best in
formed person In the country in regard to
the kinds and amount Of the agricultural
productions of each and every State in the
Union.


1t is the aim of tho Department to have
Statiotical correspondent in every coun-
ty in the United States, who will reply
regularly and promptly to such inquiries
as may be from time to time addressed him
in regard to the crops, ctc., of his county,
at the same time give any information
that he may deem of interest to his sec
tion or the country at large. In return
for these favors the Department supplies
each correspondent with such publications
and seeds as it may have for distribution.
As the Department has no funds for tho
payment of this service, dependence must
b, placed upon individual interest in rural
improve ement-upon the esprit du corps of
the intelligent and spirited farmer. There
are great many counties in your State
possessed of soil as productive and q eli
mate as healthy as any other portion OF
the country, that are now comparatively
unknown, but which, through active Co
operation with the Department of Agri-
culture, could soon make thsir resources
and advantages known TO the whole civ
ilized world. The monthly and other re-
ports of the Department arc sent to oil the
agricultural, horticultural and pomologic-
al societies and newspapers in this coun-
try and to great many in England,
France and Germany, and also to our dip
lomats in all parts of the world. By this
means the agricultural and mineral re-
sources of each State and Territory be-
come known TO all countries that are
interested, and the imm igrnnt can find
out before he leaves his native land what
section of the United States contains soil
and climate that best answers the pu rpo-
ses of the particular branch of rural in
dustry in which he wishes to engage.


Yours, ETC.,


EMMETT.