The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-05-16

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Of Our rains come from the northwest.
Again, on the coast an east wind for
two or three days never fails 10 bring
rain, and If for several days, Il great
amount; while here in north Texas an
east wind Is not as apt 10 bring II ms
one from the west. The difference in
latitude averages about two hundred
and fifty miles. On the coast an east
wind carries moisture from the gulf
aud the mouths of the Mississippi. At
Dallas, an east wind comes from Nicks e
burg, largely over the sandy, pincy
woods of north Louisiana and east
Texas. But at Dallas, the northwest
winds come from the elevated table
lands lying just north of the semi
mountainous range of hills extending
northwest from near Red river in the
northeast corner of Jack county, to the
| Rio Grande ut or near Eagle pass. This
high rauge is covered with a luXuriant
growth of timber which rises material
ly above the surrounding country eth
er on the northwest or southwest. 1t
| is the province of science to determine
whether or not this elevated ridge, cap
ped with forest trees, does not so af'
feet the clouds floating on the sea
breeze from south to north, as to pre-
cipitate their moisture and cause
rain fall unknown near the coast. And
| If this be so, is not all the country
north and northwest of the ridge more
seasonable and better agricultural
country, the soil being equal, than the
regions between the ridge end the
coast? Such is our theory, and so be-
lieving, we hold that northwestern
Texas will become one of the finest agri-
cultural countries in the United States.
We mean all that scope of country
(where the soil is good) lying west of a
line drawn from the northwest corner
of Wise county, southeast to the head
of the San Saba river and the mouth of
Devils river on the Rio Grande or
thereabouts.
In the summer of 1859 we served in
command of II company of Texas ran
gers on the northwestern frontier.
During nearly the whole season show
ers of rain fell every two or three days,
resembling the commencement of the
rainy season in the valley of Mexico.
On reaching the country below, in Me-
Lehman and Bell, no rain had fallen in
all that time. That, truly, was but
single season and proved nothing. But
we eafterwards met an old pioneer from
Lamar county, who told us that for
seven summers he had gone to that
country to kill buffalo, and each time
had found the same general facts
abundant rains north of that range Of
timber-covered hills, while ii was more
or less drouthy below.
Again repeating our ignorance of
scientific matters, yet believing these
common sense observations of our eli
matte laws are worthy of consideration
by practical scientists, we invite their
attention to them. Science, except in
SO far as it benefits mankind, is worth
less. But when it taught the good
housewife how to make butter, cheese,
bacon, egg corn bread, biscuit andpies,
and the husbandman how to make
cotton, wOolen goods, plows, axes, hoes,
reapers, mowers, etc., it conferred q
benefit to mankind. All these sprang
from science, common as they are to-
day. The naked negro of central Africa
to this day understands neither one.
Hence we invite men of science to
consider the points to which we have
referred, and see if out of them they
cannot deduce great truths, to bring
blessings to our country.
While we expect to recur to this
subject, in connection with review of
the lamented Commodore Maury's
physical geography, the best of the
kind ever published, we desire to enlist
the attention of intelligent farmers
throughout our country. The basis of
all prosperity throughout the world is
the production of thesoil. The granger
movement may or may not be wise,
but if wise, it must avail itself of all
the natural laws which affect produc-
ton. They admit no one las we UNDER
stand their creed) to membership who
is not farmer. If this is true, they
are foolish men, for the good reason
that thousands of men are the best
friends of the farming interest who are
not, i'm fact, farmers. We claim to be OF
that class, and stand ready to compare
facts with any and all farmers In the
country. One idead men never made a
country. Well balanced minds, TAX.
ing in a wide scope of subjects, afford
the best average guaranty.