Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-03
Tie Great West.


GIINFsEs or rKxAs-Irs iSndENsE RK-
SOURCES, ETC.
Texas extends from the 18th TO the Seth
parallels Of the north latitude, and lies
between The 18th and seth meridians Of
longitude, west from Washington. IL
embraces an expanse Of country thar
reaches within One-half degree as far
south as the most southerIy limit OF Flor
ida, while its northern boundary is on
the same parallel as the northern bounda-
~ of TeHRessee. A section of country
so located must necessarily comprise
within limits every variety Of soil and
climate The substantial cereals OF the
northerly sections OF the United states,
the best fruits and products OF the Middle
States, and many OF the fruits of the
Tropics flourish in Texas. In point Of
climate, the thermometer never ranges as
high as in the latitude north OF us. For
the past twenty-five years the thermome-
ter at the city of Houston and other
places, has never shown a temperature
above s5" f., whilst at but one time In
the coolest weather has it reached as low
as TO-, aud rarely indeed does il 90 below
20s. Never has there been case OF sun
stroke IN the city Of Houston or Austin,
and but one Is now remembered Calves
ton. The average of the heated term,
one year with another, for "a hours is
about So. The climate and seasons are
emineHtiy conducive to the production OF
sugar, corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, oats,
rye, miIlet aud all the vegetables OF the
gardca-cabbage, Irish potatoes. sweet
potatoes, onions, lettuce, radish, beets
and every other variety that could be
me'Itionsd--apples, peaches, peas, figs, |
grapes, Plums, etc.
The soil varies In fertility according 10
location. While the greater portion Of
the country is prairie, either level or roll |
ing, and its soil Is a. productive as any
land of that character, and far more pro-
ductive than any unmaHured land in |
New England, New York or the British |
islands, and the continent of Europe.
There are considerable portions Of the |
country bordering on the rivers Of the |
most inexhaustible fertility. This soil is
alluvium, resting upon 4 stratum Of mari |
and clay; the soil itself is oftentimes |
from 10 20 20 feet in thickness, and crop |
Of corn, year after year for forty years,
upon the same ground, has failed to
weaken its resources. Fertilizers are al /
most unknown. Even the open prairie. |
OF which millions Of acres, now unfenced,
can be had at from % cents to one dollar |
per acre, has capacities OF production /
fully equal to the maintenance OF dense |
population. In the wheat region the
average production has been Is to 30
bushels per acre. This wheat region is
OF very broad extent; it embraces In ex-
panse of country, equal TO 10000 squire |
miles, Of which, doubtless four-ffths Is
arabic lands. This $4,000 square miles Is
capable itself Of supporting population
Of five millisns.
The wheat in all this region ripens in |
May, and can be harvested and sent to
New York before the wheat crop OF that
State begins TO grow in the spring.
The cotton region is co-extensiVe with
the wheat region, and embraces besides
near 10000 miles Of territory not adapted
to the production Of wheat.
The cotton crop raised by the owner Of /
the soil and with his own labor, is as pro-
ftabls as any crop in the country.
Twelve bales have been raised to the i
hand, ten bales is not unusual, and ak |
may be considered fair average, besides |
corn and other crops. And with the i'm |
proved machinery which is fast flowing |
into the country, it will not be out of
place to consider the possibilities Of pro- /
duction far above what has yet been ex-
perienced. The crop Of the State in 1870 /
was about half million bales, in 1876 /
about three-fourths Of a million.
The population Of the State is near two
millions, having increased near half a
million during the year 1875. The ex-
port value OF the cotton crop alone is /
over thirty dollars for every inhabitant, |
and when TO this is added sugar, beef, /
hides, wool, pecans, wine, etc., it viii \
amount to fifty dollars to each inhabi- /
tant. What other State, North or South,
East or West, can make such a showing |
for its agricultures
What shall we say Of the gardens-to- I
matOes seven months in the year in the
open air; beets, cabbage, lettuce and yam 4
potatoes the year round beans, peas and 1
other vegetables nine months; strawber- |
ries four months in the year; and dew
berries three months. These are a few 1
OF the inducements Texas offers TO the
immigrant. We do not mention stock /
raising, by which such vast fortunes have
been made, nor wool which can be pro-
duced at cost Of seven OF eight cents per
pound, nor wine from native grapes Of
which millions of barrels now mature
and are untouched every year.
To recite the list of productions open
TO the enterprising agriculturalist, would
require far too much space. Special men,
ton will be made Of staple production
further along. Notwithstanding the i'm
mense influx Of people from the older
STATES for the past five years, lands are
sun abundant in the market, and obtain
able at lower rates than in any other
State in the Union. So wide an area will
be long in filling up, and not until our
censns shows several millions Of people,
we 1Onl ~ 60 .basaa 1anda diflicnlf