The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-30

attractions now presented, etc,
etc.
During the past thirty or forty years,
Texas has afforded more interesting and
United States than any other portion of
the continent. From the time of the set
Element of Austin's colony, up to the close
of the No xican war it was the greatest
theater of wild and exciting exploits in
America. 1t was powerful magnet of at
traction to those who loved the eX-
citement of the buffalo chase or
the desA hunt; 10 those who delighted
in Indian warfare to those who wished to
escape the restraint of civiliza-
ton to those who desired to get beyond
the reach of their creditors to fugitives
from justice; to men of ruined characters,
and to adventures of every description i'm
aginabe-from brutal assassins, thieves,
robbers and unprincipled gamblers, up to
the most courageous persevering, noble and
high minded men, that the world ever
saw.
With the close ofthe Mexican war, Texas
presented an entirely new phase. She was
no longer dependent on adventurers. 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 grad
ually settled down from state of wild ex-
element, turmoil and uncertainty, to one
of calmness peace and surety. The indus
trious speedily engaged in the development
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 border reckless adj
venturers, no longer existed. They were
succeeded by others more peaceful and pro-
fitable, which consists of rolling prairies
with soils unsurpassed in fertility, ready for
the plough, Hills and valleys, atfor ing
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 cereals ant
fruits grown in North America. With these
attractions, Texas now looms up before the
states of this union and that, in n compare
lively short space of time, this great terri
tory will be cut up into six states, is m,
firm conviction. Existing circumstance
will, in spite of all opposition effect thi
much to be desired result. From the Poto
mac to the Sabine the price of good land
range from twenty to fifty dollars per acre
and nearly all the lands that can be profita
cd hos baa cob bx,a nj, N
settlers, consequently those who wish to en-
gage in agriculture in the southern state
cannot obtain good lands within conven
lent distance of shipping points without pay
ing exorbitant prices. In Texas there ar
millions of acres of as good land as the su
ever shone upon-equally as good for til
cultivation of corn and cotton az any in tn
south, and better than any on the continen
for the raising of stOck-which can be ha
at price ranging from three to ten dollar
per acre.
I am induced to think that much ma
still be said of this country that will be in
terestng to the readers of the RUTLAN
DAILY GLOBE, and to the people of Vernon
generally. Therefore have determined I
write you descriptions of the country az
counts of such things ofinterest, that l hay
seen, heard and experienced, During r.
sidence of ten years. together with refle
tons and comments thereon.
In pursuance of this determination, / wi
commence with the locality where at on
time resided, which is ten miles east Of 81
Antonio, six miles east of the Cibolo rive
which are the nearest running streams co
sequently the residents Of the country lyiI
between these water courses have to depel
on them for the supply OF their stock, as
rat for xuhs .bn all M in MI IL
These gullies are very prevalent in this
cality; they are formed by the rain waite
which runs from the rolling prairies into I
valleys. After heavy rains the
gullies present the appearance
rivers swollen by freshet. +
many days, and sometimes weeks, t
water runs with great rapidly, tearing aw
earth and trees on each side, piling up Ell
Dankments of earth and rubbish in sol
places, and blowing deep basins in other
thus furnishing dams and reservoirs,
which large bodies of the waters are reta
ed. The water thus secured is used by I
stock, and often for domestic purpes
During seasons of extreme drouth the
reservoirs not being replenished by RAJ
become dry, and thus the distant runni
streams are the only sources from viii
water can be obtained. (This extre
drouth, however, is of rare occurrence
The occasional failure in the supply of v
ter is the only inconvenience to which
stock raiser is subjected; but this inct
venience may be obviated by the erect
of dams across these gulles at differ,
places capable of holding water. In t
way immense bodies of water could be
cured; and as there is an abundance
sandstone, limestone and clay in the b,
and along the banks OF these gullies,
expense of building strong dams would
comparatively light.
There is another made by which a s
flcient quantity of water could be obtair
to supply the demand during the dri
seasons, such as the digging of series
tanks in the earth making them water-ti
and filling them by drains from the wa
courses during the wet season; but dec
eddy the best and most reliable method
obtaining water for this locality is by me
of artesian wells, by which | am salts
enough could be obtained for irrigation
for stock and domestic use. My reas
for this belief are, first, that many of