Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-18
Ell LLANO ESTACADO.

West of the upper Brnzos, the Colorado
and the basin Of the Red River, there is
gentle ascent To the Ilano Estncado, or
"Stnked Plain of Texas. North and
South, the PERCEPTIONS bluffs aud broken
character forms almost an impossible bar
rier, save To the 1.-THE and hardy mountain.
eer, and his not less strong and sure footed
mustang, TO this remarkable plain. The
edge, or border of the "Slaked Plain" is
not one continuous bluff but il deeply in.
dtnIed and borderel bv detached hills
remnants Of the plain from which it is
evident to the geolngist they have been
severed by the action of water in by gone
ages. On reaching this tobleland. or llano,
view presents itself as boundless as the
ocean. Not tree or shrub in sight, t. re.
lieve the mOnotony of an apparently linz
itless expnnse of grass. The greatest
breadth of this great plain il, starting
from the source of the Red River, about
l25 miles. It's general attitude is sbou,
1000 feet above the sea. The surface is
rolling. 1t attains gradually its greatest
elevation near the boundary of New Mexi.
co where sand ridges form "a divide
This plateau, with the exception of some
Sand BELTS" or channels, rarely exceeding
three or four miles in width, and gravelly
ridges narrow, and fort like in appearance
rising abruptly, and here aud there II
cenical hill of no great magnltude-rem-
nants Of a former elevated plain ms their
s,ratification attests, is thickly covered
with nutritious grasses including "gnma'
the most abundant, the 'mesquite." blue.
stem, sedge grass, "buffalo" grass and
many other varieties. As n stock region
it is not surpassed anywhere. 1t would
afford abundant pasturage during the uholt
year t. unlimited herds OF cattle.
Perhaps there Is no country in the
world more famous than Texas for its
wild grasses which everywhere cover the
untitled soil, even in the tlmbered por.
tions, with sea OF the greenest verdure
OF these there are several kinds, the most
noted Of which Is the "mesqrile" and the
'gama." The mesquite" is native o
Middle and Western Texas, very hardy
grows rapidly, may be cut from four to siS
times IN year, and is hut liule affected
by dry weather. All kinds pf stock are
fond OF it and it ia nutritious and fattening
There are two varieties of "gama," tht
"bearded," nnd the 'curly," the latter par
ticnlarly adapted to sheep and horses. L
delights In dry nplands and is found in it,
grea test glory in the "Staked Plain" ant
east To the Rio Pecos and along the uppe
Rio Grande. High droulhy table land
covered with dense growth Of The "gama,
although IL may he brown and sere in ap
pearance, ia yet green aud succnlent nea
its roots in the greatest dronlhs. Stock o
all kinds are exceedingly fond of it, reve
upon lis succnlent leaves, and keep rollin,
Fat all the year ronnd. Cultivated grasse
! in time will I've introduced TO aid nature
and will he found desirable prodnct, ex
cepting perhaps the perennial" Bermuda.
Al some Seasons "f the year, csleciall
"the rainy season." the rniniall is ahun
dnnt, but the soil, a reddish loan prnci
pnlly-ai tile surface like lhat of the Pan
Handle ia general, is loose aud soon be
comes dry on account of the rapid perco
luton OF water through 10 the imperviou
subslraluol OF clay. Near The Brazo
gypsum nnderlies vast areas. In man
places, water collects in depressions Of Il,
I surface tormIng ponds. Often these POM,
are oil large size called "lag,inns, nor lake
led by springs and are the sources prope
OF The Double Mountain, Colorado an
Concho rivers. Occasionally, salt sprin
ora salt "lngnne" or n"ujo." hot sprin,
I varying in temperature from lepidity I
the boiling point, Is seen. Although +
many oi these springs have no apparei
D outlet channels and rayines lead from thei
J.. and they are contiguous TO the above mer
toned "sand.bets." These belts invariabl
D they lead TO, that IL, weslwardly and sas
I erly direction. These "belts" are con
a posed OF pure qnarlzes sand. BY diggin
two TO three feet water here may be ioun
cool, pure and abundant even in the dr.
5 season. 1t appears therefore that the,
8 singular white "sand belts" whose trend /
4 as before stated, are only natural reservoir
- and aeqneducis conveying the surpl,
rainfall of this region into the river
: This theory IL lenab.e. am not one
: those who believe everything in nature
e hut the result Of blind chance. We zee Il
hand OF benelicient nature in many thinl
!, working Tor man better than lie can wor
Tor himSelf. We see everywhere amp
provision made for all animated nature [
4 mn everwnichfnl Providence.
Here il the lavorite resort Of the bnffa
= (bison Americanus). wild horse (mli.tanp
k 1 deer, antelope, wolves prairie dog4, d
!. singular liaynina, or Mexican wild ho
"a &C.. d.; and birds of varions kinds.
The towering plants of this region ID
= | OI vnriOus kinds and very llenniiilI