The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-05-12

Again, on the coast an east wind for
two or three days never falls 10 bring
rain, and II for several days, n grenl
amounts while here In north Texas an
east wind is not ~ apt TO bring II ~
one from tho west, The difference IN
latitude averages about two hundrel
and fifty miles, ON the coast an east
wind carries moisture from the gulf
aud the mouths of the Mississippi N
Dallas, Nn east wind comes IpomNlcks'
burg, largely over the sandy, plney
woods Of north Louisiana and cast
Texas. But At Dallas, the northwest
winds come from the elevated table
lands lying Just north of the Seml-
mountainous range Of hills extending
northwest from nonr Red river IN the
northeast corner of Jack county, 10 the
Rio Grande al or near Eagle pass. This
high range Is covered with luxurlanl
growth of timber which rises material
~ above the surrounding country eth
er on the northwest or southwest IL
Is the province Of science to determine
whether or not this elevated ridge, cap
ped with forest trees, does not 10 nf'
feet the clouds floating on the sen
breeze from south 10 north, ~ TO pre-
clpinto their moisture and cause
rain fall unknown near the coast. And
IL this be 80, Is not all the country
north and northwest of1he ridge more
seasonabe aud better agricultural
country, the soil being equal, than the
regions between the ridge end the
coast? Such Is our theory, and so be-
lioyng, 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 II
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 Grnnde or
thcrcabouls.
In the summer of 1850 we served in
command of u 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 u
single season and proved nothing, But
weaiterwards 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
Undiscovered hills, while it 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 us IL benefits mankind, is worth
less. But when it taught the good
housewife how to make butter, cheese,
bacon, egg corn bread, biscuit andpies,
ard the husbandman how to make
cotton, wooden goods, plows, axes, hoes,
reapers, mowers, etc, it conferred u
benefit to mankind All these sprang
from science, common rs 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 n 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 the soil. 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 Gas 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, in fact, farmers. We claim to ba of
that class, and stand ready to compare
facts with any and all farmers in the
country. Oneidead men never made a
country. Well balanced minds, TAX
ing in n wide scope of subjects, afford
the best average guaranty.
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THE FRONTIER BATTALION.