Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1883 — LETTER FROM TEXAS. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM TEXAS.

Sherman, Texas,] \ . Oct. 20, 1883. J Editor Sentinel: Believing that all the readers of the Sentinel are more or less interested in the welfare of the great Southwest, we venture?the following: We left Rensselaer on the evening of the 10th inst At Rose Lawn we were joined by John P. Petty and C. C. Cooper, the last named going only !o Chicago. On reaching Chicago we immediately repairad to the residence of Mr. J. C. Blomberg, and received a hearty greeting. Thursday and Friday were spent in sight-see-ing. Our little party visited the stock-yards, and were surprised at the marvelous rapidity with which animals are prepared ready for the pan and kettle. We also visited the Court House, Post Office, Lincoln Park and many other places of interest and amusement with which the Garden City abounds. Saturday morning Mr. Cooper bade us farewell, and took his departure well satisfied with his first visit to the metropolis of the West. On the morning of the 15th, after an adieu to our friends, we boarded a Wabash train and soon were gliding to the southwest and reaohed east St. Louis at 8:10 p. m., crossed the Father of Waters, knd at 9 o’clock reached the Union Depot, in St. Louis. Half an lour later we boarded the Iron Mountain train bound for Texarcanna/ .The night was clea M the moon and stars shining brightly enabled us to judge the nature of the country over which we passed. The train glided along the bank of the Mississippi for a few miles and then headed for-the southwest. We passed over a broad belt of hilly country after leaving St. Louis, which seemed to be productive but not very well cultivated. After leaving this we come to a bluffy strip covered with scrubby timber, the rocks cropping out, some places covering acres in one body. After that the country seemed more level and heavily wooded At day-break we reached the Slace where Jesse and Frank ames and their band of outlaws committed one of their train robberies—tho one for which the large reward was offered for their capture. Thesurrounding country seemed to be well calculated for a rendezvous for thieves and outlaws. _ Passing into Arkansas we found a level tract of country covered with a dense forest of pine, oak, <fcc. The soil seem% ed to be very poor, ond few farms. The farms generally contained ten or fifteen acres of com or cotton. At 2 o’clock we reached Little Rock, which appeared to be a very pleasant city judging from what we seen in the short stay of half an hour. The country surrounding the city was hilly i and undulating. On lea ving, we passed through heavy pine forests. In this there were many saw mills located along the railroad track, surrounded by immense piles of lumber. Lumbering seemed to be the chief occupation of the people, the soil being very poor ana not suited for agricultural purBoses.8 oses. On nearing Texarkana tie country seemed to improve j and we passed many excellent 1 farms.

At 8 o’clock Texarkana was reached and we stopped for the night. The city is located partly in Arkansas and partly in Texas. The buildings are generally good and the streets well naved, but the houses are scattering--a characteristic of Southern cities. At Ba.m. we took the Texas<fc Pacific, going westward. We passed thro’ a forest region about 80 miles in width, in which the land was generally poor with here and there a fertile tract. Then we passed through a country of alternate prairie and timber The prairie was mostly cult

vated. The com was good and the fields of wheat looked like a green carpet. We were informed that the cotton crop was below the average. At 12 o’clock we reached Faria. the county seat of county, a city of 500 or 600 inhabitants. About two-thirds of the population are negroes, so we judged from the number we met on the streets. On the next day at 2 o’clock we took the train for Sherman, passing tnrough the great gram bolt °l Texas, the lands here being the finest we have ever seen. High rolling prairies as far as the eye could reach covered with fields of cotton, corn and wheat, the cotton looking like bushes sovered with white roses. The river valleys are wooded with se veralvarieties of oak, walnut and other trees we cannot name, never having seen any similar. _ _ Q 1 At 8 p. m. bherman, a city of 7,600 inhabitants, fine public buildings, street cars, <fcc. About inehaif of the people are from the Northern States. We are well satisfied with the people and country, so far as we have seen it, and predict a great future for the hone Star State.

D. W. SHIELDS