The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-08

Pass river. in Wilbareer county, and COM
menced my work thence up Pesse river on
the south side, 10 the west line OF haraeinsh
county thence down Peese river, on Inc
n orth side, 20 its mouth thence up req t'Ver
10 the mouth Of Wanderers creek, and up
lhs, creek 10 its souroa; thence north to Red
liver al The mouth of Groesbeeek creek
thence up Groesbeeck creek 10 its source, |
then crossed back to the south side Of Pease
river. nj the mouth Of Catfish creek. and up
that creek to its source, near the centre Of
Cottle county thence east to the head of
North Beaver creek, and down that creek TO
its mouth on the Big Wichita river,
In Wichita county, thence to tina head of the
north fork of the Little Wichita river and
down the Little Wichita to the three forks,
near the center of Archer county. | then
explored the middle and south forks Of the
river when again went north 10 the Big
| Wichita river and down II 10 lis mouth in
Clay county. | crossed over into the lodian
Territory and made hasty examination of
Cache creek. then crossed back into
Tsxas and went up tho Little Wichita river,
and thence up that river on the south lie to
the source OF the north fork; thence south to
the Brszts river; thence up that river
|
eastern line OF King county.
Rsporter-Whst OF the soil, timber,
grasses, crops, ETC., that you met with!
The soil is Of several varieties bu. IS prn'
cipslly Of rcd, sandy loan, the highest
level platesus being the most productive
along tho Little Wichita river, for the reason
that there has been large q iantiiie. Of clay
waehed down from tho surrounding hills,
. hur a
slight drOuth. The most productive land
along the Big Wichita Is tho bottom prairie,
whie along Poase river, the high level plat
eaus just back Of the drift sand hills which
border tho river, Is tho most fertile, tho
. blown upon them from tho surrounding
= hills. These lands arc very productive and
have the required qualities to produce
a abundant crops when tho season is favorable
but being SO close 10 the staked plains they
!, nre very much subject TO drouth and hot
y winds. There is more rain along tho valley
. of Red river than in any other part of the
country, and this year Is the only tune an
entire failure of crops has been made in the
last tiI years. West OF the eastern boundary
of Wichita county there il no corn, abso
lutey none. The corn this year WAS killed
- had Just commenced tassoling, and there had
y never been finer prospect for an abundant
crop. The ground was moist and
:, not dry blade on the stalk when
70 hot winds came and in three days the top Of
y every stalk OF corn was dead and all hopes of
% a crop were gone. Tho stalks aud bottom
= blades Of tho corn we're green for weeks after
tho winds came, aud had il not been for tho
| a. ,,,l no,
ed droulh there would have been good
70 crop. The water in the Little Wichita river
. Ia fresh and there Is quite number of springs
= IN Archer county that afford lasting waller
y Water is found by digging anywhere Ia
!" Archer county Mt n moderate depth and
10 when obtained in the sandstone is OF goou
:, quality but when the wells are sunk below tie
u sandstone and water Is found in the clay
., below 1t is always impregnated with gypsum
: TO greater or less extent. Water Ia found
. . in tho valleys ofthe Big Notwithstanding
. of good quality, but.very often 1t is so brack,
a ish as to DO very unpalatable. have seen
+ very few springs along the Big Wichita or
! its tributaries. Along Red and Beaver rivers
:, springs arc numerous and the water free
y from brackish or alkaline qualities There is
, plenty of timber along the Little Wichita
q INeI, pTnVlpHlly .hsu, elnli Culuii, Uurr OAk,
! blackberry and cottonwood, and on the
: prairies there Is often All abundance of mes.
! quito. Timber 10 scarce along the Big Wich-
!, ila and Red rivers, and almost nons
on Poase river. Tho grass is principally
y mesquite of three or four different varieties.
There Is also the common prairie grass and a
variety known "a bunch grsss. The mes
! quite grsss is very nulricious, both when
= green and whou it has been dried up BY the
, sun, or even when killed by the frost, Where
the stock can get this grass abundantly
they keep tat all winter. and will eat the dry
grass In winter limo in preference to the best
mown wild hay. My mules kept fat on
. three bushels Of corn each per month during
all last winter, and | did not feed them apy-
thing else except once for ton days, when the
ground was covered with snow. The grass
Is now nll dried Up, aud ia very Short and
unless It rainsycry soon, SO there eau bs !,
fall growth orgrass, do no! see how to
csttle arc to 1.-Two during next winter.
Thanking Professor Cummins for this OK.
plct account tho reporter retired.