Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1875 — Texas and the Great Southwest. [ARTICLE]

Texas and the Great Southwest.

The official Republican majority in lowa is about 29,000. The government sold one million dollars of gold last Thursday, at 116.58. The latest advices concerning the Ohio election, give Haves, the Republican candidate for Governor 5,100 majority, and the returns are not yet complete. The political complexion of the new Ohio Legislature is as follows: Senate, 21 Republicans and 14 Democrats; House, 65 Republicans, 45 Democrats and one Independent Ex-Senator Chandler, of Michigan, has been appointed Secretary of the Interior, to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Mr. Delano. Mr. Chandler was sworn in and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office last Tuesday. On the 13th inst. the Indianapolis Daily Journal, and the Ind ana State Journal, together with the material, franchises, good will, etc., appertaining thereto, weresold and tranaferreehQo E. B. Martindale and W. R. Holloway, who will publish them hereafter under the firm name of Martindale <t Holidx way. The job and book printing business will still remain in the hands of the Indianapolis Journal Company, which will continue to conduct it as heretofore. Success to the new firm.

From the Indianapolis Journal we clip the following interesting item, concerning a former minister of the Methodist church at this place, and who was in attendance at the recent soldiers’ ieunion at Indianapolis: Rev. N. L. Brakeman, chaplain of the ehl Twenty-first, (First Heavy • Artillery) was warmly greeted yesterday afternoon by the men of that command. Mr. B. is the only chaplain from the State who went into the war at the beginning and* stuck to the work in the field till the war closed* with but one leave of absence fronnduty during the entire time—and that was a sick leave of but sixty days Mr. W. 8. Lingle, of the LaFayette Cnrritr, and Gen. Reynolds were taking a pleasure ride in the suburbs of LaFayette last Sunday when the horses they were driving became frightened and started off on a run, upsetting the buggy and pitching its occupants out upon- the ground. Mr. Lingle received' injuries so severe that he was unconscious for some time, and it Was feared by his friends that they would prove fatal. Later advices state that bis reason is restored, and that the chances for his recovery are more favorable. General Reynolds escaped with a few slight bruises. T-lie Soldiers’ Reunion at Indianapolis, on Thursday and Friday of last week, was a grand success. The city was filled to overflowing with soldiers and visitors from all parts of the State, and on Friday fully 8.000 of the tried and true were to be seen in the street parade, marching with their old warlike tread, under the tattered and bullet-riddled flags of their country. Just such a meeting as this was never before held in this or any other State. It was a meeting not only of all surviving soldiers of the late war, but also of the war of 1812. It was a meeting i which all soldiers who had taken 1 their lives in their hands and gone! forth to battle for their country were to assemble in camp once more to revive in their memories the scenes through which they had all passed, and to relate the manv pleasant incidents that transpiied during their experience of camp life and while upon the battlefields. This is what brought the soldiers| <>f Indiana together at Indianapolis last week, and the reunion will b>ng be remembered by all who pwrticipated, as being one of the: happiest events in their lives. It Is estimated that at least 50,000 people were in. attendance.

We are tn receipt of a copy of the South Bead daily Herald, which is,a lively little sheet, teeming with interesting editorial and news matter. South Bend now enjoys the luxuries of three daily newspapers, allot which are a credit to that live, go-ahead city. Success to all of them. A writer in the Valparaiso Jfe*tenger, of week before last, adv os, cates the building of a narrow gauge railroad from Valparaiso to Rensselaer. He thinks there would be no trouble in securing the right of way, and estimates the cost of‘ grading and bridging at S6OO per mile, or $21,600 for the entire distance. Reckons the expense of purchasing ties and iron at SIOB,000; two passenger coaches, $1,000; twenty freight cars and fiats, $7,000; freight depots, $lO,000; and four locomotives, $32,000, making the total expense of building and equipping the road with rolling stock only $179,600, or about $5,000 per mile, having a road free from debt and owned and controlled by men who will run it as economically as possible. Citizens of Jasper county what do you think of such a project? It tvould be a great deal better than no road, and we say let the matter be agitated, and if there is anything in it take hold of the project and work it up. Rensselaer wants, and must have a railroad, and a road of this kind would greatly relieve the embarrassment of having no railroad communication with /the outside world.

Editors Union:—Thinking, perhaps, a brief account of my recent trip to the great Southwest would be of interest to some of your readers who may think of emigrating. I’ give a few items concerning country and places which I visited. I left Rensselaer on the morning of the 13fh of September, and arrived in LaFayette about 4 p. in., where I pitigook of the hospitality of Hon. W. D. Lee, Esq I remained over night, and *iext morn ing started on the six o'clock excursion train for Texas. Passing through the State of Illinois, the country is about like Jasper, but noticed small corn and wheat. Arrived at Hannibal, Mis souri, at 8 o’clock, p. in., going in a Southwesterly ” direction through the State of Missouri. Arrrived at Parsons, Kansas, September 15th, where I was compelled to wait about ten hours. Leaving this place, I passed through Indian Territory, and reached Sherman, Texas, September iGth, about 2 o’clock p. m. Sherman is a nice, inland, railroad town, und claims a population of 5,000 inhabitants. There is a cood trade here in cotton, wheat and other products, and business is lively. Every store-room, dwelling house and office in the place is occupied.

The surrounding country is the most beautiful I ever saw, consisting of rolling prairie, with timber growing along the ravines. These ravines drain the land in the best possible manner, and every inch of soil is' tillable. The whole of Northern Texas is of this character, but the Southern part of the State is low, flat prairie. The next place on my route was McKimjey, a thriving town with a population of 2,000, and surrounded by a nice country. Ballas is a prosperous city and contains many fine buildings, among which are several dedicated to educational purposes. Lawrence is a new railroad town loca.ed on the Texas & Pacific Railway. The citizens are mostly people from Illinois. In fact, the town was founded by a colony from that State. The town sire is naturally a beautiful one. The ground slopes angle forming 3 perfect, natural grade. Near the railroad* stands an elegant grove of native oaks, and skirting the town on the North and South are two ranges of hills, which complete the beauty of the location;*- The town is scientifically laid out, and well adapted for future growth and extension. There axe many other places of importance between Dallas and Houston, ’ among which may be

mentioned Corsicana, Hearne and ‘ others. On the road to Hearne, the cars . pass through « belt of woods where the trees are enveloped in m thick, gray moss, which hangs in festoops and makes the tVees look as if they were dressed in mourning. Houston is quite a city, and contains some fine business buildings. The country is low, wet prairie. I saw there sonic of the effects of the late storm. For fifty miles and on the route to Hous ton, the ground was literally strewn witlj the carcasses of cattle, that were Browned during the storm. Considerable damage was done to the cropland habitations. The “Lone Star SWte” is not behind the advance of All ti.g mechanical and agricultural implements used in the are found there. The tide of immigraj tion is very ’great. People empe pouring in from all directions': ■ Every day brings in six or eight i carloads of people who are seek ing hom-s. It is estimated thati i the immigration of the State, an- ; nually, is about 200,000. The | country is good, and there is a va I riety of soil, but, of course, it has ■ its drawbacks as well advantages. ■ In a dry season the country is subject to drouths. This year the I crops are abundant. The wheat

yield has been enormous, and thousands of bushels have been shipped to other States The Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, during the month of July, transported 500 carloads more. The cotton crop of the State is an assured success. The average is a bale to the acre, and it is thought that Texas will export at least 600,000 bales this season, bringing $75. —There was also an abundant harvest of rye, oats and barley, besides tobacco and the castor bean. Fruit raising is comparatively a new business; the orchards are young but thriving. Apples grow to a large size and have good flavor, but do not keep well through the winter. I cannot say much in fsuror of the climate. I found the days hot, nights cool and chilling winds from the North. I never met pleasanter people anywhere, than I found in Texas. They are kind, courteous and oblig ing to a stranger, and willing to render any assistance in their power to acquaint him with a knowledge of the country. No questions are asked regarding his politics or religion. One and all are treated in the same gentlemanly manner. I saw no Indians in Texas, and only two or three Spaniards, but plenty of Negroes. As 1 passed through Indian Territory I saw’ a great many Indians and Negroes. The’-e was an Indian fair at Muskogee. All the old Indian relics were exhibited but I did not stop to see them.

On my route home, I stopped at several places in Missouri. In the grasshopper region and where there was drouth last year, property can be bought very cheap, but business is dull. Good farms can be bought for half what the improvements cost. This year good crops of corn, tobacco and castor beans were raised, but the wheat was shipped from Texas. One of the advantages of this State, and also of Texas, is the attention given to the capse of education. Every town of any importance contains a good school house, and schools are kept open from six to nine months in the year. ” - Spring*'eld, Hl., is a thriving city, and abounds in objects of in terest and attraction, and of these I may mention Oak Ridge Ceme tery in which Pthridi- the Lincoln Monument. The grounds are beautifully laid out, and ornamented in a tasteful manner. The new State House now in course of erec-

tion, is an immense structure, and will be, when completed an impos ing edifice. The Water Works are by no means insignificant, and about the city are several other objects of interest and importance. In my tour of the city, I was accompanied by Master Frank Hop kins, who as a guide to a visitor, desiring to see the notabilities of the city, can not be ekcelled, as he shows a perfect acquaintance with their location, structure and design, Frank honorably acquited

himself as Page in the. House of the last General Assembly of Illinois. He now occupies the position of clerk inla prominent newsdealer s establishment, and enjoys the reputation of being the most expert salesman in the business. In conclusion, I would say to those who contemplate a change of residence, Texas is a good State, and holds out superior inducements to farmers, but like all other countries, it has its drawbacks, and the dispositions of men are such that all may not be suited "with the same locality. Therefore, I can only say, let every man go and see

for himself.

J. B. SPANGLE.