New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-26
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BExAR CouNrY. TrrAa Inln IGth. h

.9OuHt--tHe pISSpECG u u southern DOUulHtEO1l-
the country east Of San Antoaio-its igatey facii
! lies, etc, etc.
| During the past thirty years, Texas has afforded
more interesting and exciting matter for the news
paper press of the United States than any other por
tion Of the continent From the time OF the settle
ment of Ausn's colony, up to the close of the Mexi-
war, it was the greatest theater of wild and ex-
citing exploits in America It was powerful magnet
of attraction to those who loved the excitement Of the
buffalo chase or the deer hunt; to those who de-
| lighted in Indian warfare to those who wished to
escape the restraints Of civilization to those who de-
sired to get beyond the reach of their creditors to
| fugitives from Justice to men of ruined character
and to adventures of every description imaginable
from brutal assassins, thieves, robbers and uuprin
cipled gamblers, up to the most courageous, perse
vering, noble and high minded men, that the world
ever saw.
With the close Of the Mexican war Texas pre-.
sented entirely new phase. She was no longer de-
pendent on adyenturers Her difficulties with Mexico
were settled and placed beyond the possibility of a
revival. She relied on the Federal Government for
protection against hostile Indians and thus secure
in life and property, her people gradually settled
| down from state Of wild excitement turmoil and
uncertainty, to one of camness, peace and surety
The industrious speedily engaged in the develop
ment OF the natural resources Of the State by which
they proved to the world that Texas was one Of the
best agricultural and stock raising States in the
Union. The attractions which drew within her
borders reckless adVenuers no longer existed They
were succeeded by Others more peaceful and proata-
ble which consists of rolling prairies with soils unsur
passed in fertility, ready for the plough. Hills and
valleys, af6ordng luxurious and almost boundless
pasturage for cattle, sheep and horses and climate
well adapted to the growth of the staples of the
South, and of every variety Of cereals and fruits
grown in North America.
With these attractions Texas now looms up before
the Southern States Of this Union as the only reliable
field presented for the extension of Southern nsttu-
tons and Southern political power. That the South
will avail itself Of this opening, that Southern men
and Southern institutions will prevail here and that
in comparatveyshort space of time, this great ter.
ritory will be cut up into six slave States is my firm
conviction. Existing circumstances will, in spite of
all opposition, effect this much tobedesired result
From the Potomac to the Sabine the prices of good
lands range from ten dollars to fifty dollars per acre
and nearly all the lands that can be proftaby cult
vated have been taken up by actual settlers, conse
quenty the sons Of planters and others who wish to
engage in agriculture in slave State cannot obtain
good lands within convenient distance of shippng
points without paying exorbitant prices In Texas
there are millions of of good land as the sun
ever shone upon-equay as good for the cultivation
of corn and cotton as any in the South and better
than any on the continent for the raising of stock
which can be had at prices ranging from fifty cents
to three dollars per When these facts are taken
into consideration, and also the fact that the young
men of the South who are just entering upon the
stage Of action, inbued with a strong love tor
Southern Institutions and possess deeprooted pre-.
udice against anatcal free States the conclusion of
every sensible man must be that the present vacant
lands of Texas will be speedily occupied by the sons
Of the South
Impressed with this belief, am induced to think
that much may still be said of this country that will
be interesting to the readers of the Crescent and to
the people ofshe South generally. Therefore have
determined to send you descriptions of the country
accounts of such things of interest as may see hear
and experience, together with reflections and cont
ments thereon.
In pursuance of this determination / will com
mence with the locality where at present reside,
which is ten miles east of San Antonio six miles east
of the Salad river, and about ten miles west of the
Ciboo river which the nearest running streams
Consequently the residents of the country lying be.
tween these water courses have to depend on them
for the supply of their Stock or on the rain water
which accumulates in gullies. These gues are very
prevalent in this locality; they are formed by the
rain water, which runs from the rolling prairies into
the valleys After heavy rains these guilies present
the appearance of rivers swollen by freshet. For
many days, and sometimes weeks, the water runs
with great rapidty tearing away earth and trees on
each side, pilng up embankments of earth and rub
blsh IN some Elaees, and plowing deep basins in
others; thus furnishing dams and reservoirs by
which large bodies of the waters are retained. The
water thus secured is used by the stock and often for
domestic purposes. During seasons of extreme
drouh these reservoirs not being repenshed by rains
become dry, and then the distant running streams
are the only sources from which water can be OBJ.
tanned. This extreme drouth, however, is of rare oc
currence. 1t prevailed LAST year and the year before
but for eighteen years previously there had been an
abundant supply Of rain water for stock and domestic
uses This occasional failure in the supply of water
is the only inconvenience to which the stock raiser
subjected; but this Inconvenience may be obviated
by the erection of dams these gullies at differ
ent places capable of holding water In this way i'm,
mense bodies of water could be secured and as
there is an abundance of sandstone, limestone and
clay in the beds and along the banks of these gues
the expense of building strong dams would be COM
paratiyely light.
There is another mode by which sufficient guam
tity of water could be obtained to supply the demand
during the driest seasons, such as the digging of
series of tanks in the earth, making them waertght
and filling them by drains from the water courses
during the wet seasons but decidedly the best and
most reliable method of obtaining water for this
locality is by Of artesan wells, by which am
satisfied enough could be obtained for irrigation and
for stock and domestic Ny reasons for this be-
lief are, first, that many of the streams which flow
from the mountains in the northwest are said to sink
into the earth, often running short distance and do
not again rise to the surface second the scarcity of
springs, and the fact that where springs do appear
the water gushes forth with great force, and some
times affords supply sufficient to form rivers, as is
the case with the San Pedro, San Antonio and other
other springs that l might mention. The geological
formation, too snstains this belief few feet below
the surface is a strata of clay which dips at slight
angle toward the southeast. It is of variable thick
ness. ] have visited wells which have been dug in
this clay to depths ranging from sixty to hundred
feet without meeting with any other formation, and
consequently without getting water In other places
have seen water obtained at depths from forty to
fifty feet. This strata of clay extends over large
portion of the State It grows thinner toward the
northwest. 1t rests on strata OF sand and gravel
which has always, when reached yielded good sup
ply of excellent water. The water from the noun