The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-13
DALLAS COUNTY.
Its Soil, Climate, Productons-Tho CITY OF
Dallas, the County Seat and Commercial
Emporium of North Texas


min. longitude west from Greenwich, cross
each other near its centre. Area, 900
square miles.
Population In 1870. ..................... 1884
Population in 1850 a. 95S colored) $50. 80 ass
Assessed value taxable property 1870 49, l93, i77
Assessed value taxable property ISL 1900 lSC
Assessed value taxable property lSs2. .l0,6l9,C9C
Assessed value live steck 1882 ......... 7i169i
About three-fourtbs Of its area is high
rolling prairie rising in some portions into
hills of 800 feet in height, and again stretch,
ing out into broad valleys. The hills are
generally highest on the south side of the
large streams, and in the southwest corner
of the county is range Of low mountains
which overlook the wide and beautiful val.
legs Of Mountain creek, which flows at the
base, The Elm and West forks of The
Trinity, and Mountain creek about eoui-
distant from each other, flow in from the
westward and unite their waters near the
centre of the county, forming the main
river. which. passes out near the southeast
corner. All along and between the forks of
the river, and on the main stream, MS well
as in several other portions of the county
is found suiliciency of post oak, burr oak
Spanish oak, cedar, pecan, black walnut
hickory, bois dare, elm, blackberry, ana
cottonwood for fencing. fuel and other do.
mestic purposes, not great deal of il, how
ever, being suitable for lumber or bnild.
ing, except for common log bonses
In addition to the Trinity and its forks
there ire Cedar, Five Mile, Ten MiIe
WEt*Rock, Duck, Rowlett's and Wilson'S
credfs, and many smaller streams, which
distribute an uniailing supply of water
throughout the county, Pure water for
domestic use is obtained from springs, and
also from wells at depth of from eighteen
TO llity ieet, nut clstern water is preferred
and generally used.
Nine,tenths of the area is good farming
ianu Oh whEn hot exceeding 0ne-iifth is in
cultivation The praries are generally of
black, tenacious, waxy soil, the timbered
portions light sandy, and the river md
creek bottoms dark loan, all easily titled
aud very productive. With ordinarily r..
vorable seasons and proper cultivation. the
yield per acre is, of cotton, one-third to
three'iourths OF q bale; corn, 30 bushels,
wheat, ID TO 20; oats, ~ to co; rye, 10 IN IL.
barley, 80 to 40, millet, 2 tons. All thc
vegetables common to this latitude are n
sure and abundant crop. The mean animal
rainfall is thirty-eight inches, and. rs n
rule, the seasons are regular. Peaches
pears, apples of the early varieties. plums
grapes and strawberries are successfully
raised. Dewberries and blackberries ara
native TO the soil and yield abundantlv
Fencing constructed generally of plank
ana Darbed WIRE, the usual fence of one
plank ana Two wires costing 1928 per mile.
Lumber is worth from $50 to 500 per thnn.
sand feet Bots dare hedges have nroved
only moderately successful Wild lond 10
worth from so to $50 per acre, accordiny IN
location and quality. Tracts with a portion
in cultivation, and the necessary buildings
range IN price from $l5 to $50. The rentaI
value OF cultivated farms Is from 81 IN ~
per acre, or Tor one.fourth the cotton and
0Dc.third OF other crops; or, where everv~
thing is furnished by the Landlord evcant
family supplies one.half the crop. Farm
laborers command SIP to SIS per month.
with board. '''"'
Bat little stock is raised on the oman
range, most of 1t being confined in
pastures, The assessment rolls Iss9,
credit the county with HOO horses
ana mules' 2o,i9i cattle, 5000 sheep, and
io,ofo hogs' In severe winters stock require
lobe ied 10 greater or less extent. Work
horses range IN price from $25 to $50, mules
from $50 to $780, and oxen fro n slI, ~ SG9
per yoke. In the local market beef retSiIs
al s cents per pound mutton, 10. nork a >
bacon, II, and flour from S.. 90 to 81 nor ,0b
pounds. sheep are generally of ordinary
quality, and the average weight of fleece Is
from to o pounds, 20
The lloustone& Texas Central ho
Texas u Pacific, the Dallas G.
Wichita, the Texas Trunk Tin"
and the Chicago, Texas & Mexican Tnu,
trail railways, all centre at the citv Of pni-
las, and there are l22 miles OF railway
within the county. The rate of frei"h ft ~
Galveston, the nearest gulf port, il 81, cen,s
per hundred pounds. The railroad stations
IN tho county are Hutchlns, richardson
Mesquite, Eagle. Ford, Dechman, Carol,
ton, Riley Pralrie, Seago, Hale, Duncan,
more or less importance. ''' VI
The city of Dallas is eigiblv loc,,oa -,
tho east bank of the Trinity river
and has many large and I'M
posing churches and other public hpiid.
ings, and handsome private residences II
is the great railway centre of northern
Texas, and has an estimated population. nj
the present date, OF 1900, and nm csti
mated wholesale and retail trade in gancraI
merchandise of S27 ,0O0, 900 per annum mo
trads Of the city in cotton, grain and othar
productions OF the SURROUNDING cnnn, r,,
amounts to about 5000, 900 annually "na
in 1881 new buildings to the yalue If ovor
$500, 900 were erected. Its manur,ctpr;na
establishments consist of a cotton seed al
mill, one of the largest in the state ,ha
Dallas Car works, for the manufactures or
railway cars, wagons, carriages and nirni.
turc, on large scale; Trinity Iron and
Rmss foundry, doing u business of Sl5O oNo
per annum Two soap factories, and fac.
tpry for making ice; one for bakiny now ,"v
der, one for vinegar and champagne cider
. barrel, broom, and wagon and carriage
factory. Water.works, on the IIolIv avs.
tSnn, owned by the city, Is in successful an.
Grafton. Electric lights have been intrp.
duced. and are being rapidly adopted. Tbe
manufacture Of cotton goods on a LARGE
scale Is projected by company already or.
ganised. The assessed value of real estate
merchandise, and personal property of thn
city in 1872 was S922,I70. The assessment
OF 1882, showing an increase of over 800 per
cent. in ten years, is as follows;
iteal csule ''''''''''''.. ..,,.,,,. e. l67, go
Personal property ",,,,,.,,....,,, bgT 7os
--
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 7bi7 sh
Thcncxt most important town ia Lancas.
ter. near the southern boundary of The conn.
ty with population of700, and an estimated
annual trade Of $4,000, and surrounded
by dense population of thrifty and we'll.
TODD farmers.
Water power OF large capacity Is afforded
by the Elm and West Forks of the Trinity
and by Five Mile and Ten Mile creeks.
In season, there IRE ployer, grouse, wood.
Ia -. 4.