The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-14
TEXAS NOTES.
The sam AntOniO Waterwarks - New
Buildings Going Up western Texas
as Field for EmIgrRnts.

Buildings Going UP Western Texas
as Field for Emigrants.
Especial Correspondence Of the N. o. Democrat
SAN ANTONIO, Texas. February 5. 1878.
Editor Demouat--1t Is promised that
THE WATERWonKs
shall be completed and In full operation by tho
first of July Largo numbers Of the pipes arc
already delivered, and Appearances favor the
belief that the work will be completed ut tho
time mentioned. Certainly sye oshall not get
them before they are needed.
The stockholders Of the city railroad have
held several tneetings lately; have surveyed
a number of routes, and say they mean bust
ness. Perhaps they do; b,t II so, they have
only recently walked up. and there are como
fears that their nap Is not yet out. Neverthc-
less, these and other improvements arc u
necessity, and are certain To be made without
any very great delay
BUILDING
was very active during the whole of last year,
and the new year opens with even increased
activity. There were some very handsome
buildings completed during the year, and
many more begun that will be finished in q
month or two The headquarters of the army,
u building just erected by one Of our citizens,
Is a very fine structure The postofIiee, built
by another OF our citizens, is also q beautiful
edihce. The Odd Fellows are erecting q very
neat ball, which will soon be finished and The
county has commenced u new Jail. Notwth-
standing the numerous stores and residences
recently completed, not one Is vacant and the
demand Is still for more. With all the activity
manifested all over town In the erection Of
tenement houses and the numerous handsome
residences built recentlynnd now in process Of
erection, the supply Is scarcely adequate to
The demand. In brief, San Antonio Is crowded
with newcomers and Is growing rapidly. The
spirit Of Improvement has reached the rural
districts.
Tho military depot, built by the United
States last year, is situated about n milo and
n half from the city. Since its completion
several elegant villas have been erected within
q half mile OF 1t. The farmers are enclosing
their lands ut great expense with good plank
fences and cedar posts The old brush fences
are fast disappearing, and new era Is OPEN
ing In the agricultural interests and processes
Of Bexar county, and. In fact, Of all Western
Texas.
The great interest Of Bexar county, fcrc-
tofore, has toeen
THE NATIVE STOCK,
cattlcoand horses But now this Is becoming
less and less the ruling interest with each
year. Among cattle the Durham, the Alder
ney and the Devon are being introduced. The
good animal Tho horse Is also being crossed,
and producing larger and finer animal. But
in Il much greater degree the attention, Of Che
Turner is turned to the cultivation Of the soil !;
which heretofore Inns been very sec
ondary interest indeed. IN fact, the
drouth has deferred many from entering
largely upon The cultivation of the
soil. and there Is no question that 1t renders
corn, and even cotton, rather uncertain crops.
But such crops us oats, barley, rye and wheat,
from drought, and sometimes give q very
large yield. Our farmers, accordingly, are
sowing a much larger area In these crops and
proportionntely less IN corn, etc. ] enter into
these details for the benefit Of those DESTROYS
Of emgtating to Texas. 1t is well they should
understand Texas as it is, and not MS 1t is
glowngly portrayed by immigration and rail-
road agents. 1T Is an unusually henlthycourl-
try, with delightful summer breezes and Sc
we're winter northers. The soil ls fertile, In
exhanstible. There IS grass all the winter,
but those who depend ON 1t alone sometimes
lose half their stock. But the winters are
short and the provision Of forage, etc, need
not be very large BY c'lltivating the #
SMALL GRAINS
they may farm successfully; and even corn
and cotton generally do well, notwithstnnd-
prevail almost uniformly throughout the
summer With good Judgment, hard labor
and rigid economy. the farmer can make q
living by the cultivation OF the soil alone; but
some capital to invest in stock Of some kind,
which, by close attention, always pay well.
Sheep, however, I believe pay better than any
thing else, and wool-growing Is likely to be
the leading interest Of Western Texas Tint
which recommends Western Texas TO my
mind more than any one thing Is its extreme
healthfulness. The salttbIfty Of
) THE CLIMATE
Is remarkable To those suffering from ma
larinl Diseases weak lungs, etc, this is u re-