The parties to the contract made with the
Government of the Republic of Texas, under the special acts and
authority of the Congress, passed the 4th of February, 1841, and January
16th, 1843, with Peters and others, for the purpose of colonizing the
vacant and unappropriated lands of the Republic, having formed
themselves into an association called "The Texas Emigration and
Land Company: appointed the undersigned as Trustees, and invested them
with full power and authority to carry out and fulfil the objects and
purposes of the parties thereto;--We would therefore give notices to
those who may wish to avail themselves of the liberal terms offered by
this Company, to settlers in their colony, that we shall give to
emigrants who shall go to the grant and settle thereon, on or before the
first of July, 1847, the following amount of lands, to wit: to each
family 320 acres, and to each single man over seventeen years of age 160
acres of land, to be selected by themselves, upon the following
conditions, viz: before going thereon, each family shall remit to us
$20, and each single man $10, to pay us for the cost of the surveys of
the lands upon which they shall settle, upon the receipt of which, we
shall issue to all thus remitting to us, a certificate, which when
presented to our agent in the grant will entitle the parties holding the
same to their lands; provided they comply with the contract, which
requires each family or single man to build a cabin, fence in and
cultivate 15 acres of the land for three years, and be citizens of Texas
for that period, when this Company or the Government of Texas will
convey a clear and undisputed title, upon the simple payment of the cost
of the deed and record thereof. To all those, who may go on to our grant
and settle according to our contract, but do not remit us the money for
the surveys before emigrating, we will give to each such family 240
acres, and to each single man, over 17 years of age, 120 acres of land;
the families executing their notes to our resident agent for $15, and
the single man for $7.50, for the cost of the surveys, payable 12 months
after the date, with interest to maturity of note--the certificate in
such case will be issued by our agent.
By a family is to be understood, a man and his
wife, with or without children, a widow or widower, with two or more
children under the age of seventeen years; or if all girls they may be
over the age of seventeen years, also two men over the age of seventeen
years--males over seventeen years of age shall each be entitled to 160
acres of land, if the surveys be paid here before emigrating, or 120
acres if paid by note after settling on the grant, besides the 320 acres
given to the family of which they are members.
For the information of those not acquainted
with the very great advantages of settling in this beautiful country we
would respectfully represent, that our colony is now becoming rapidly
settled by an intelligent, industrious, and desirable population, and we
are advised that such large numbers are now preparing to go there, that
there can be no doubt but it will become in a very short time, the most
populous and valuable part of Texas.
Our grant lies between the 32d and 34th degrees
of north latitude, and between the 19th and 22d degrees of longitude
west from Washington, in the rich counties of Fannin, Nacogdoches,
Robertson, and Milam, beginning at a point on the south side of Red
River, 12 miles east of the mouth of the False Ouchita river, running
thence due south 10 miles, thence west 164 miles, thence north 100 miles
to Red River, thence east down the meanderings of Red River 164 miles to
the beginning.
We have now in our possession letters from
gentlemen of the highest standing and intelligence, and from the
colonists themselves, declaring that this country contains, for its
territory, the largest body of the richest and most fertile lands of any
in North America; and that no country is more abundantly watered by
rivers, creeks, rivulets, and springs of the purest and most wholesome
water.
The lands generally have a gently undulating
surface, and are so well proportioned with woodland and prairie, that
nearly every settler may have woodland enough for all the purposes of
fuel, fencing, and agriculture, and rich prairie enough to relieve him
of the tedious, expensive, and laborious work of clearing a plantation,
it requiring only to be fenced in, to be ready for cultivation.
The rich river bottoms and splendid prairies
cannot be surpassed by any lands on this continent for richness, and the
luxurient production of all the great staple articles grown in this
country, with as little labor to the cultivator.
This country is peculiarly adapted to the
growth of tobacco and cotton, as there are no early frosts to destroy
the crops. Indian corn, rye, barley, oats, peas, beans, melons, figs,
sweet and Irish potatoes, hemp, fruits, and grapes of the very finest
kind are produced in great abundance. It is not surpassed by any part of
the world for its abundant produce of the finest wheat, and grasses of
various kinds; the prairies abound in an ample range of wild nutritious
pasturage, affording the greatest facility for rearing cattle at the
very cheapest rates. Horses, cattle sheep, and hogs, all thrive there
with the usual care and attention.
The timber is composed principally of red,
white, post, and Spanish oak, cotton wood, elm, ash, and black walnut.
The climate, is mild and beautiful, and for
health and pleasure,. is not surpassed by any in the world, and in this
respect may be termed the Italy of America--the thermometer ranging from
30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the year, the winters are mild and
the summer months are relieved of their heat by a constant breeze which
plays over the country.
The planting season begins in February and
March, and continues on til July, but as the early crops are more
certain and productive, those intending to go on there would do best to
do so during the next Fall, or Winter, that they may locate and be
prepared to put in an early large crop. We would advise every one to
take with them all such necessary articles, which can be done without
too much inconvenience or expense; and every male over 17 years of age
should take with him a rifle or shotgun, with plenty of ammunition, by
which he will be enabled to procure an abundance of wild game, for the
mere trouble of shooting it and the cost of ammunition, as the country
abounds in buffalo, deer, wild turkies, prairie hens, quails, and grey
squirrels.
The Trinity river empties into Galveston Bay at
Galveston, and the Red River into the Mississippi river above New
Orleans, and are each navigable to our grant, which will afford a cheap
conveyance to the best markets of the country.
Emigrants going to our grant, from the States
of Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the northern parts of Illinois and
Indiana, should go through Missouri or Arkansas to Van Buren, Fort
Smith, Fort Towson, Coffee's Station, or Pine Bluffs, and thence to the
settlements at Dallas on the forks of the Trinity river. Those going
from other sections of the country should go to Memphis, Tenn., Columbia
or Helena, Arkansas on the Mississippi River, thence through Arkansas to
Fort Towson, Coffee's Station, or Pine Bluffs on Red River, and thence
to the settlements. The land route through Missouri and Arkansas, is
more expeditious, certain, and cheaper than the water route, unless Red
River is known to be high. Those wishing to go by water should, if Red
River is known to be up, go on to New Orleans and there take a Red River
boat to Fort Towson, or Pine Bluffs. It is often the case that Red River
is in a moderate stage, and thus boats can easily go to Shreveport, Fort
Caddo or Jefferson, and not higher; persons should therefore go prepared
to go on from Shreveport, Port Caddo or Jefferson, by land to our grant.
Mr. George M. Nichols a Merchant of Shreveport, will give Emigrants all
necessary information as to the cheapest and best route to the Grant
from that place at the time of arrival there.
We have heard from respectable sources, that
many emigrants have returned who have gone up to Shreveport and other
points on Red River, being discouraged by the circulation there of
reports prejudicial to the interests of this company and our grant;
alleging that we cannot give the lands, and that if we could do so that
they are miserably poor; to all those who have such tales told them we
would say, go on and see for yourselves. The country for some distance
between Shreveport and our grant is not desirable, but as you approach
our settlements the country is totally changed as it regards the soil,
woodland, water, and indeed is different in all respects.
Heads of families or single men may go on or
send an agent to the country to select and locate their lands, build the
cabins, and make the fences before removing, provided they are on the
grant as citizens of Texas on or before the 1st of July, 1847, to be
reported to the government as emigrants and colonists under the
contract.
When 20 families or more shall go on and
settle, and prefer having their lands surveyed within themselves, we
shall allow them to do so, provided they are correctly done under the
supervision of our agent and our chief surveyor.
We have now at Dallas and the Forks of the
Trinity and intelligent resident agent, Mr. Henry O. Hedgecoxe, who will
at all times be prepared to receive and locate to their satisfaction all
who may go on to settle.
All communications, post paid, addressed to the
undersigned, trustee, at Louisville, Ky., or to either of them, on
business of the company, shall meet with prompt attention.
WILLIS STEWART,
JOHN J. SMITH,
WM. C. PETERS,
Trustees of the Texas Emigrant and Land Co. Louisville, June, 1846.
_______________________________________________
PLEASE STICK THIS UP IN A PUBLIC PLACE
