San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-08-14


MARTIN HINNE. ESQ.
PALESTINE Texas.
Sir: l submit the following report
Of my examination Of the country be-
tween San Marcos and Blanco City,
made iu view Of building wagon road
between those points.
San Marcos is located at the juuo'
ton of the San Marcos river and Pur'
gatory creek, ard the ridge which separ'
atcs these streams terminates immedi.
alely in tho rear Of tho town in q
steep spur Of the mountains about
three hundred feet in height. This
spur divides, near the southern por'
ton of tho town. and the ravine be-
tween tho divisions affords tho best
approach to the summit.
Tho ascent is very gradual, rs it Is
nearly mile ere the road emerges
from the ravine. Thence II follows
the divide between Purgatory and
Sinking Spring creeks gradually rising
all tho time, with an occasional de-
preston, none Of which however any OBJ
staclc to easy travel, until point near
4 mile spring is reached.
Here arc the longest hills on this
portion of the road, but the ascent is
very gradual and the surface smooth.
From this point the country can be
seen in all directions for many miles,
and certainly at the present time pre-
sents a most attractive appearance.
While the surface is covered every
where with loose rock, there are no
cliffs or bold hills to be seen anywhere,
nothing but succession Of undula-
ting hills in all directions, covered
with grass, and dotted with Live Oaks
and other trees.
The road follows the divide up to
the Eve mile post, and then descends
into Wolf hollow, tributary Of Sink.
ing Spring creek. 1t follows this
stream and passes through a gap in
the divide rising gently and very grad
ually all the time, and at q distance
from San Marcos Of about eight miles
enters the valley of Purgatory creek,
From this point there is no noticea
bic change Of surface, as far as Purga-
tory Springs, which by the line we
have indicated would be about eleven
miles from San Marcos.
Purgatory Springs are two in num-
bor, each affording a stream Of: three
inches in diameter. They are situated
on tho bill side, above all danger of
overflow from the creek, and never fail.
As our examination did not extend
beyond this point Irely on what we
learned from Mr.. Stephenson, an old
settler and intelligent man, for my
knowledge of the remainder Of the
route to Blanco City. lie says, (and
all whom heard express any opinion
aged with him) that we had passed
over the only difficult portion Of the
road.
The conclusion at which | arrived is
that even in its present condition the
road is good one, and that with lit.
tie labor expended on the approach to
San Marcos and two or three other
rocky places. it would be remarkably
inc one.
There are no streams to cross, and
no steep hills to climb, nor do l think
it can fairly be called a mountainous
road at all, Certainly it is superior to
the road from San Marcos to Austin.
If once placed in proper order the
expense for repairs would be entirely
nominal, as there are only five places on
the portion of the road travcrscd at
all liable to be DAMAGED by the wash
of the rains.
would suggest that should any
money be exl ended upon it, that the
work be done Immediately at the town
of San Marcos. Once on the ridge no
difficulty will ever be encountered.
Respectfully, P. II. THOMPSON,
Asst, Eng'r
| mir. L. P. Reynolds has kindly fur
nished the FREE Press the following
addenda.-ED.l
In connection with the above Mr.
Editor, it may not be uninteresting
to publish statement Of
WHAT SAN MARCOS is DOING
toward the Improvement of the
above described road. A fund largely
composed of contributions from oul
citizens, with liberal donations from the
Il. II. Co., aud other sources, aggrega.
ting about $1,000, is now being iudicious
Is expended. Twenty laborers under
the direction Of a practical and euer.
getic superintendent are now making
smooth the rough places.
Within three weeks and ere the ad-