The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-03
TIE PAN HANDLE or TEN AS.

4 correspondent of the Galveston
News gives that paper the following
description of the Pan Handle, North
west Texas, which is just beginning to
settle up:
The fort on the Sweetwater Ito be
christened "Eort lilliott,n) has been
nearly completed. The towns of Sweet
water and ST. Clair have continued in
permanentan and rapid growth Ranch
eros have pitched their tents, or con-
structed their stockadcs in every direc-
ton around them until now the heautis
full valley, which but few months
since was unknown and minhabited
has become popuiOus with the hardy
sons of toll, the pioneer advance Of
civilization.
Recen'lla colony of about forty fami-
lies of well-to.do farmers from Schuyler
county, Illinois, and vicinity, par
chased thirty sections OF land near the
confluence of Adobe creek with the
Canadian river, all of which land is
embraced within the rich and fertile
valley Of the lesser streams, and COM
prises body of land the superior of
which can not be found In that portion
of the State. These c0lonsts will inn
mediateIy take possession Of and i'm
prove their property.
Adobe Walls, near the mouth of the
stream bearing its name, was first Oc.
cuped by French Indian trader in
1919. About 1860 the old adobe rancho
was abandoned by its founder, since
which time il has been the favored re-
sort of hunters or Indians. Like all
frontier points of like nature, ii has
witnessed many thrilling scenes of
blood and violence, The last, and
probably the most extensive of these,
was the defense of fifteen hunters
against some five hundred Comanche
braves in the fail of 1873 at which
time the Indians We're repulsed with
great loss.
The same reasons that have hereto
fore made the Adobe favored resort
for the pioneer will hereafter recon-
mend it to the favor of civilization
and agriculture. The climate il health
full the soil rich the water pure and
abundant, the scenery surrounding is
picturesque and pleasing, and nothing
but its present isolation will initiate
against it.
A second colony headed by II. At
water, Esq, of Canton, Illinois, have
purchased about twenty thousand
acres of land located near the head OF
Pale DOrce Canon, and about fifteen or
twenty miles northeast from the Adobe
Walls colony. Mr.. AtWater and party
are ut present in the Pan Handle maxi
ing an examination of their purchase
preparatory to its immediate settle
ment. The country included in this
purchase is generally rolling prairie, q
deep, dark sandy loan being the pre-
Vailing soil. The timber of the canon
is principally blackberry, and in suili-
Gent quantities for the use of settlers
for some time to come. This settle
ment will be about sixty miles north
west from Fort Elliott, on the Sweet.
water, and about seventy miles from
the east line Of the State.
Messrs. w. s. Harding, G. w. Lev
ings and w. A. Dickerson, all of Paris,
Illinois, representing company of
capitalists, have recently purchased
one hundred and thirty sections of
land south of the Canadian, and imme-
diately north of and adjoining the
lands of the International and Great
Northern Railroad, on the heads of
the Prairie Dog Fork of Red River,
This will embrace Il plateau of gently
rolling prairie, on either side OF the
divide between the waters Of the Red
River and Canadian, including the
head of the Arrayo Boneto. The soil
of this section is universally good,
dark, sandy, loan, arid, rs usual in
the Northwest, and is regarded as SUI
perior for the production OF wheat
Numerous holes, ponds or lakes are
interspersed over these prairies, Dy
which means an ample supply OF
water is provided for stock, aside from
which there are number OF small
streams and fine springs, ailordlng
IL never-failing supply oftpure water.
Negotiations are now pending on the
part of the company bere referred TO,
to increase their purchase to three
hundred sections, and there are good
reasons for the presumption that the
additional purchase will be concluded.
1t is the intention of this company,
(Which is composed of farmers) to
commence u settlement and improve
ments as soon hereafter rs possible.
They desire to organize n county and
establish town as its capital on or
near the land purchased by them.
These purchases are not speculative
on the contrary, are for actual settle
ment by the various members embrac-
ing the colonies. Who can tell the
future of the Handle for the next
five wears? The most enthusiastic
claim that within that time It viii
rival the older portions of the State,
and none deny but that it has prom
Using future.