Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-10
BELLE PLAIN, TEX.
An Excellent Country for Sheep and
Cattle, with n kfch Soil for All
Kinds of crops.


Special Correspondence of the Appeal
BELLE PLAIN, October 5.-Callahan coun-
~ lies west OF Eastland and south of Shack
elford. II is newly organized county, and
is situated in the midst OF the finest grszing
district of northwest Texas. The soil is rich
and very productive. II l we're TO tell you
of the enormous size TO which some articles
of produce grow in this county fear you
would doubt my statement, for il would sound
unreasonable to a reasonable person who did
not know it; vet 1t is the truth aud facts
which l know myself Watermelons grow
to weigh 100 pounds and beets to the size of
fifteen pounds each; turnips, potatoes, cab
bage and other garden vegetables grow in
proportion. Cotton, corn and wheat can be
raised in abundance. In a dry season We
are sometimes a little short of plentiful
supply of water, but we have several streams
running through the county which afford
an abundance of water to these liv-
ing near them, and those who do not
live near them have large ponds, here
called tanks, at little or no expense at all,
and can be hauled most anywhere on the
praiIies. As for timber, we have scanty sup
ply for building purposes, but plenty OF
wood for fuel, and poles can be had for
fencing purposes. In the mountains we have
cedar which, if it had not been for fires
wears ago, would have afforded plenty of &C.
dar fencing; however, we get enough TO an
swer as it is The principal growth of tim
Der is scrubby post oak, mesquite and live
oak, cottonwood; willow, walnut and pecan
line the banks OF the principal streams. Any
kind of stock can be and is raised in this
country. Cattle is the staple OF the country.
This section is being filed up by sheep,
which are pouring in by thousands. Rail-
road and school lands are upon the market
and for sale at 81 so per acre, and twenty
years time TO pay for it in. Deaf and dumb
asylum lands are for sale at 81 90 per acre,
and ten years given to make payment. Other
companies have lands, but they are not on
the market. Callahan county has 49, 900
acres of school land for sale.
The county seat OF Callahan is Belle
Plain. 1t is situated in the center of the
county, in beautiful plateau, surrounded
BY rich and productive lands. A stream OF
water washes the western boundary. The
town numbers about fifty houses, all told, OF
which eight are business houses, one hotel
and one is the county Jail. We have no
courthouse built yet, but have a good, strong
stone Jail. L suppose the commissioners
will take steps toward building a court
house soon. A good school Is in operation,
conducted by able teachers.
Baird six miles north of Belle Plain, lie
the principal railroad station In the county.
Ii has a roundhouse and is division head
quarters. 1t also has an editor, who runs
country paper, and he gives Baird the hnish-
ing touch. We have two railroads in the
county-the Texas Pacific, running through
the center Of the county from east to west,
and the Texas Central, which runs across
the northeast corner of the county. We
have good indications Of another road rum
ming through the center of the county, from
north TO south, ria Belle Plain: You can
easily see what we have in the way OF rail-
roads.
Schools are convenient in any portion OF
the county, and generally conducted by good