The native American., 1837-09-02
GEOGRAPHY OF TEXAS.
COUNTY OF BEXAR.

GEOGRAPHY OF TEXAS.
COUNTY BExAR.
This county is portion of the former jurisdiction OF
Bexar. it's boundaries have not yet been Defined This
descrpon will he confined TO the section Of country
comprised between the valley Of the Rio Frio and the
eastern border of the valley of the Sbolo, embracing
the vaes Of tie Medina the San Antonio, and the
Sibon which, for fertility Of soil, salubrity of eli
mate, and beautiful scenery, may be considered the
garden Of Texas.
SuRFAcE-The whole section is continuous series
of undulations, forming what is termed the rolling
prairie, except small portion at the north few
miles above Bexar, where range of hills extends frcm
northeast southwest, across the country, forming
dividing range between the Gaudaloupe and Medina.
The streams are generally lined with narrow borders
or forests The remainder of the country is open and
decorated with numerous scattered Mesquite trees and
post oak groves which generally crown the summis oI
the rolling swels.
STREAMs.-The San Antonio, Medina, Sibolo, and
Solado. are the principal streams The San Antonio is
formed from four springs which issue from the loot OF
IA small emnence four or five miles above Bexar and
uniting their waters about mile above this city, form
river fifty Yards wide and four five feet deep this
stream is very rapid. it flows over pebbly bed, and
IT'S waters are rema kaby pure aud wholesome; such
is their transparency, that small fish may be seen dis
tnctly at the depth Of ten feet The Medina is about
one hundred miles longer than the San ntonlo; above
it's junction viii this stream, is however quite mar
row. being, generally, for hundred miles above It's
mouth. ony few yaIds wde--it isa sluggish stream,
flowing over mary bed. The So5olo resembles the
Medina, but is considerably smaller; it flows over a
rocky bed and its water is remarkably clear and whole
some. The Solado is short rapid stream, flowing
over marty bed; its waters, like all the streams o
Tho soo.ion, sweet, c1ear, and Wholesome.
MISrRM wArrRs.--Near the Slbolo, about thirty
three miles from Bexar. is mineral sprng-ils wa
tiers have for ages been held in high estimation by the
abnrignes for their medicinal qualities.
MlNERaLs.-Great quantities of limestone are fonnd
in all parts Of this sections; flint and several vae'ies
of sandstone abound the San Antonio and Slboo.
Here are also numerous beds Of natural cement, re-
sembling Stacked lime, which, when formed into NOR
tar, becomes hard as stone, and is much used as
building material
SmLa AND pRonUcTroNs.-The soil consists general
" Of dark sandy loan, exceedingly rich and Produc-
tive Some of this has been cultivated more than NJ
ty successive years. and yet seems to have lost none
Of its original fertility The facilities of Irrigation are
such in the vaes of these streams that their waters
NAV easily he dir ectc over surface OF one million OF
SQUARE acres capable of producing the most abundant
crops of corn cotton tobacco, indigo sugar, rye oats
miet, and various culinary vegetables; wheat, also
was formerly raised in considerable quantities. Ihe
Mesquite grass carpets the whole section, ara con
tinues green throughout the whole year. furnishing
never failing pasturage.
| The NnpaI, or Pricky Pear, ahounds in this Sec
ton and often forms dense impenet able hedges, eight
or ten feet high and covering whole acres OF ground
Its fruit atans extraordinary size and possesses an
excellent favor
FoR,sr TREEs.-There are few varieties of forest
trees the Live Oak predominaes the Pecan also Is
abundan and its fruit is exceedingly large, Cypress l.
found on the Medina the Mesquite tee is 'hny scat
tered over the whole connry this is species OF tht
ocust generally about the size Of peach tree, and
bearing long slender pod sweet to the taste and often
used by the Indians for food this tree also yields ex
cellent gum like gum arabic. Besides these, there
are the Red Oak and Post Oak.
| TowNs-BeXar, the county seat, is the only town
:. ~. naha
twenty miles above its junction with the Medina, and
is one of the oldest towns in North America, Contain
ing many ancient structures which REGAL to mind It's
former greatness and the many vicssudes OF fortune
which have characterized its singular and interesting
history. 1t cont lined few years since ellht or ten
thousand nhabtants--the present population is only
about one thousand. Nature seems to have destined il
to become one of the fist cities Of America.
1 The Alamo is situated the northeast part OF the
town. on the left bank Of the river. II is large OBJ
long walled enclosure containing about an acre o
GROUND; the wall is about eight ten feet high ant
three feet thick. Since the fall Of Travis and his he
roic hand it has been dismanted; and no longer for
ress it remains odesgnate the Thermopyle OF Texas
/ Below Bexar scattered along the banks OF the riv
er, are many large and beautiful edi6ces, built of mas
sive stone They are STYLED Missions, and generally
consist of fortress and church. In these the piou
fathers cf forme, days, with the sword IN one han,
and the bible in the other. gathered the wild bands
Of the prairie to bend the knee at the shrine of the
i HOLY Virgin.
/ Most of the inhabitants Of this county of Mexi
can descent Emgrarts from the eastern part of Tex
as and the United States continually arriving
with their families, and there is every TO be
lieve thar in few years this country will contain
more dense population than any portion of Texas.
/ CLIMATE-The climate OF this region is delightful
and probably no, surpassed by that of any portion
the globe The summers are never oppressively warm
but are admirably tempered by cool refreshing Sc;
breezes which prevail during the season tn,
winters exceedingly pleasant and comfortable
snow scarcely ever falls to the depth Of inch
and although Of the rainy weather durin.
winter, there but very few cloudy days. Indeed
such is the saubry of the climate, that previous Il
the there many Mexicans who had resided il
the vicinity of Bexar for than century, and still
enjoyed excellent health.