San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-07

yet one thing is so adapred to another,
that there is generally plenty aud 70
spare produced. And by adapting the
system OF farming to the seasonf' ana
adopting Improved modes OF cultIva'
ton, no doubt much larger crops may
be regularly produced. The rainfall
is abundant, we're it weH distributed
but il is not. The BLACK land" which
is prevalent, however, stands the
drought wonderfully. but it is not OF so
warm a nature, nor so pleasant to cul'
tivate, as il is where there is more
sand.
Before leaving the subject OF eli
mate, it is but just to say that were
one halt the preparation made to guard
against the inclemency Of the weather
that is made in colder climates, 1T
would cause it to be almost unnoticed.
Really comfortable houses are com
para lively rare in Tevas, aud shelter
for animals and the practice OF feeding
them, even more rare. Yet there are
DAYS here in winter and spring-ferce
"northers" and chilling rain storms
following periods Of quite warm
weather-as hard on man and beast as
any on earth. Man generally escapes,
but the poor animals often perish BY
scores. But let not the country or
climate be blamed for mans heartless
improvidence.
In point of healthfulness, this coun-
to will compare iavorably with almost
any other located in so low latitude.
There is scarcely any malarious dis
ease, for there is very little to produce
any. Yet people do manage to get
sick and die here as well as in less
favored chimes, and as the population
increases, the country will no doubt
appear less healthy. Pneumonia APP
pears to be the most fatal disease,
though not very prevalent.
PRICES OF LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The price OF land here, as every
where else, varies according to the To-
cation, improvement, quality and man
ner of payment. Improved is worth
all the way from S. to $50 per acre,
and unimproved from 81 to Sl2, and
most of it can be bought on time to
suit purchasers. But honesty and
fair dealing with prospective imml-
grants compel us to say that the cost
| of making common improvements,
principally fencing, is such that by the
time they are made, unimproved land
will have cost the settler not less than
$25 per acre. We believe we are the
| first of all writer's of inducements to
immigrants to Texas to state this in
teresting fact. With the advent OF
the railroad. however, the expense OF
fencing and building material will di
minish so that farms may be improved
as considerably less cost. Heretofore,
besides stone, the chief material tor
fencing has been cedar, for rail and
picket fences, but the supply, save tor
posts, is not sufficient and pine boards,
brought from the eastern part of the
State, are now found to be cheaper.
Hedges of Gsage orange will do ad
mirably here, but the people so far,
have not had the time, skill or patience
to bring them to perfection.
POLITICS.
Although the Democrats are SO
largely predominant in the county, it
ought not to be understood that per.
sons of different political views, who
take moderate course, and are good
citizens, are not equally welcome. 1t
is believed there is no disposition
among the better part of the people
to prescribe others on account of poll
tics or religion.
NATURAL WONDERS.
\ correspondent Of a Northern
newspaper wrote from San Marcos in
1873 as follows:
THE San Marcos River is a grea,
natural wonder, well worth going a
long distance to see About a hall
mile above the town it surees up from
the rocky base of the mountains, a
full.born river, as Minerva sprang
armed cap.a-pie from the head of Ju-
piter, in classic fable. Fifty yards
| =. hnra Won hova M trana nj its aytSt-