San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13

described, only lower in some places,
having . tendency 10 marsh but covered
with rich grass. II was treeless, path
less, and 70 me waterless expanse Of
grass. There were many cattle and
sheep, but thought as before, not
many in proportion to the range. at
length saw the chimneys Of Q sugar
house, and arrived somewhat tired and
suffering for water at the Bryan planta-
ton, in clump or knot, as it is here
called, Of live oaks, where found all
the characteristics Of fertility belonging
to this country.
On marble slab covering brick
tomb beneath a beautiful live oak, ]
was very much surprised to read the
name Of
GEN. STEPHEN FULLER AUSTIN,
at least one of the great historic char
acters, If not the father of Texas. No
eulogy, no history, was recorded, sim
ply the name and the place of birth and
death.
The place is neither o deserted nor a
neglected one, but is at least an obscure
one; but, perhaps, the great pioneer of
Texas rests here as we'll as he would in
her proudest city, with marble piled
around.
"Can stored urn or animated bust
Back TO its mansion call the file. ting BREATH"
I soon reached the Brazoria road.
Allow me, Mr.. Editor, at the close of
my somewhat personal narrative of my
glimpse of this portion of Texas, to
sum up and review. for the BENEFIT of
your readers interested in the future of
The great Southwest, what may have
been learned of the capabilities, par
ticularly of Brazoria county; and what
may be said of this county no doubt
applies to large portion of the gulf
region of Texas, extending from the
pine regions southwest along the coast,
to the sands in the neighborhood of the
Nueces, and back two or three counties
in width, in all embracing number of
counties-with perhaps this exception,
that Brazoria is supplied with naviga-
BILE streams.
oOlLs
The soil of Brazoria county general
ly is rich beyond all reasonable expec-
tations. I have examined the deep
banks, of the Brazos and find no diff
ference for thirty feet down to the wa
ter's edge, and am told that the depth
of these soils is positively unknown.
The origin of this wonderful fertility,
we are told by the geologist, lies in
vast beds and deposits of fertilizing
ingredients in upper Texas, which the
rivers have for ages been carrying down
and depositing on the low land, vast
laboratory "where natures chemic pow
ers work out the great Designers will.
Suffice it to say the great bottoms of
the Mississippi, or the delta of the Nile
are not more fertile than the bottom
lands of lower Texas.
This fertility is found in connection
with warm and equable climate that
may be called semi-tropical; though
frosts and sometimes freezing takes
place, the extreme of heat is not great
er than that of the Northern States in
midsummer To this we may add that,
unlike other parts of Texas, there is
almost always sufficient moisture.
These are then the chief conditions
in any country for vegetable produc-
ton. I have taken pains to inquire in
to the capacity of this country for each
particular product, and where possible
to examine the growing crops. First
as to
I have never seen larger corn than
saw in the Brazos bottom, though it is
planted much further apart. than with
us q know no reason for this), but from
sixty to seven-fve bushels can be raised
to the acre in one crop, and two full
crops have no doubt been taken from
the same ground in one year, yet the
price of corn is always good.
COTTON.
Cotton may be called the staple crop
of Texas. The land here produces
about twice as much as in the upper
lands of Texas and other States. 1t is
safe to calculate on one bale to the acre,
worth about $50. In cotton one hand
can raise much more than he can pick,
but picking cotton is light work for
women and children, and crop can be !
on either large or small scale,
without much capital.
TOBACCO.
The production of this abominable
plant is almost incredible. have seen
now, the Goth of August, very heavy
tobacco nearly ready to cut, which had
already been cut twice, and the old
colored man who raised it thought it
was good for the fifth cutting. About
four cuttings can be relied on of good
tobacco.
leave tobacco planters TO make
their own calculations. If it pays in
other places to get one crop, what will
it do here? The tobacco is said to be